Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide

If your current rate of pay isn’t competitive, you can take steps to increase your salary by negotiating with your employer, focusing on your professional development or changing nursing jobs. The following are specific ways you can potentially increase your nurse practitioner wages.

Most NP certifications require a Master of Science in Nursing, but educational opportunities for nurses don’t stop there. Many accredited nursing schools offer post-graduate certificates and Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs. Gaining additional education opens the door to a higher-paying position or allows you to negotiate a raise with your current employer.

Additional certifications can expand your career opportunities or enable you to take on additional responsibilities to increase your pay in your current position. Explore the requirements for related specialties. For example, if you already have Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, you might pursue the Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management credential from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists to focus on the care of older adults with diabetes.

Moving to another city or state where nurse practitioner hourly rates are higher is one way to earn more money, but you don’t necessarily need to relocate to increase your pay. Shifting your practice setting may also lead to better wages. Use our NP salary info to determine who the top-paying employers are in your area. You may find that long-term care facilities, specialty hospitals and other institutions are paying more than your current wages.

Employers often have difficulty filling second and third shifts and pay more to NPs willing to work them. Volunteering to work rotating shifts also may result in a pay increase. Some hospitals and other healthcare facilities may also offer higher base pay for weekend and holiday shifts.

More goes into your salary than just your wages. Your overall compensation also includes paid time off, holiday pay, employee benefits and retirement plans such as 401(k) plans. If
your current employer’s budgetary restrictions prohibit a raise, you may be able to negotiate for more paid time off. When comparing offers for new jobs, factor in your out-of-pocket cost for health insurance and any contributions prospective employers may make to your retirement account, too. Looking at all the numbers helps you see the big picture of your total compensation.