Nurse practitioners in the US earn a median of $132,300 a year in base pay. The middle half earn between $117,990 and $156,700, and the top 10% earn more than $174,420 (BLS OEWS May 2025). To negotiate, aim for the part of that range that matches your experience — with 3–5 years, for example, $132,000 to $157,000 — and open slightly above it.
How much do nurse practitioners make?
| Percentile | Annual base pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,340 |
| 25th | $117,990 |
| Median | $132,300 |
| 75th | $156,700 |
| 90th | $174,420 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Nurse Practitioners, national, about 323,040 jobs. BLS figures are base pay including commissions and production bonuses; they exclude year-end bonuses, stock, overtime and benefits.
Where nurse practitioners earn the most
| State | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | $209,350 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | $170,530 |
| Washington | $156,100 | $169,500 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | $168,700 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | $172,000 |
Pay also differs within a state — big metro areas often pay more. Use your state's numbers when you set your target.
What should you ask for as a nurse practitioner?
| Experience | Suggested target range | Open with about |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 years | $118,000–$132,000 | $139,000 |
| 3–5 years | $132,000–$157,000 | $165,000 |
| 6–10 years | $142,000–$163,000 | $171,000 |
| 10+ years | $157,000–$174,000 | $183,000 |
The ranges follow national percentiles by experience (25th–50th, 50th–75th, 60th–80th, 75th–90th); the opening number is the top of the range plus about 5%, rounded. Guidance, not a guarantee — check your state and experience, and see how to negotiate salary.
What drives nurse practitioner pay?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) diagnose and treat patients, often with their own panel. Pay depends on specialty, state practice rules, setting and the productivity model — and on things that are easy to overlook in an offer, like administrative time, collaboration fees and CME.
- Specialty and population focus, such as family, psychiatric, acute care or pediatrics.
- Productivity bonuses tied to visits or RVUs.
- Practice authority in your state and any collaboration requirements.
- Admin time, CME days and allowances, license and DEA fees.
Your leverage as a nurse practitioner
- A specialty in short supply, such as psychiatric mental health.
- Patients you can see from week one, or a panel you bring.
- Prescriptive authority and credentialing already in place.
- Coverage of evenings, weekends or a second site.
- Bilingual skills that serve the practice's patients.
Only use leverage you really have. Never invent a competing offer.
Nurse practitioner objections and how to answer
| They say | You can say |
|---|---|
| “We pay NPs a set rate per visit.” | “What's the guaranteed base if visit volume is low in the first months?” |
| “Our NPs don't usually get sign-on bonuses.” | “I'd be happy with a sign-on or a CME allowance — whichever is easier for you.” |
| “The collaborating physician fee comes out of your pay.” | “Could that fee be covered by the practice, given the base you're offering?” |
| “You're a new NP, so we start lower.” | “My [number] years as an RN in [specialty] count. Could we start at [number] with a review at six months?” |
Sample counter offer for a nurse practitioner
Thank you — I'm excited to join the practice. Based on the market data for NPs in [specialty] and my experience with [patient population], I'm asking for a base of [number], [number] CME days with an allowance of [amount], and a review at six months. The national median for nurse practitioners is $132,300.
Then stop talking and let them respond.
Asking for a raise as a nurse practitioner
Bring panel size, visit numbers, patient satisfaction and any new services you started. If your role expanded into supervision or new sites, ask for pay that matches.