According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) May 2021 data, the average annual salary for nurse practitioners was around $120,680 a year — or about $58.02 per hour (with the bottom ten percent making $79,470 and the top 90th percentile making $163,350). That said, NPs who choose to focus on a particular specialty could make much, much more.
Below, we’ve provided a ranked table of 10 NP specialties that have a median salary of more than $100,000 per year, ranked in order of highest to lowest. (As a refresher, the median is the number that’s right smack in the middle of a range of values. In this instance, it would be the salary that’s right in the middle of a range of salaries for a given NP specialty. Since averages can be skewed by outliers, we thought median salaries would give you a more realistic idea of the earning potential of each specialty.)
To keep things as "apples to apples" as possible, we pulled all income data from Salary.com. Keep in mind that nursing professionals in any specialty may make more (or less), depending on factors like facility type, experience, geographic location, and tenure.
The 10 Highest Nurse Practitioner Salaries by Specialty
| Rank | Specialty | Median Salary Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | $131,754/year |
| 2 | Emergency Nurse Practitioner | $125,660/year |
| 3 | Cardiac Nurse Practitioner | $120,806/year |
| 4 | Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner | $119,803/year |
| 5 | Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner | $119,519/year |
| 6 | Oncology Nurse Practitioner | $119,465/year |
| 7 | Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $117,082/year |
| 8 | Family Nurse Practitioner | $116,880/year |
| 9 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | $113,468/year |
| 10 | Surgical Nurse Practitioner | $113,126/year |
The 10 Highest-Paying Nurse Practitioner Specialties, Explained
You’re probably thinking: “Well, it’s great to know how much money I could make… but how do I get there? This specialty sounds interesting, but how do I know if it’s right for me?”
These are all great questions and ones we’re determined to help you answer. We researched each specialty and collected information on the points we thought would be most helpful to you. They are:
- Estimated Average Salary
- Typical Salary Range
- Relevant National Associations To Know About
- Duties & Responsibilities
- National Certification(s) Available
For each specialty, we also provided a link to Indeed.com so you can see real-life job postings. In any kind of job hunt, reading through listings often can give you the best idea of whether a particular job or specialty is the right fit for you. Through this “recon” work, you’ll be able to see the specific skills, certifications, and educational backgrounds that prospective employers are looking for. And, ultimately, you’ll be able to decide whether it sounds like the right fit for you or if you need to keep looking.
Good luck and happy job-hunting!
1. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $131,754/year
- Typical Salary Range: $121,111 - $142,451
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP) should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of a NNP can include:
- Collaborating with physicians and nursing staff to provide continuous care for premature, sick, or critically ill newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Assessing patients and providing diagnoses
- Educating patients’ families on how to provide the proper care for their newborn
- Prescribing and administering medications
- Ordering and performing diagnostic tests
- Performing various medical procedures (e.g., intubation, starting/maintaining IVs)
- Monitoring and managing equipment (e.g., incubators, ventilators)
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that this is the most common certification that NNPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a NNP.
2. Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $125,660/year
- Typical Salary Range: $115,220 - $139,750
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important organizations that aspiring emergency nurse practitioners (ENP) should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of an ENP can include:
- Assessing and admitting patients across the lifespan
- Triaging and prioritizing patients based on acuity level
- Discharging patients from the emergency room
- Diagnosing acute conditions
- Prescribing medications, as well as non-pharmacological therapies
- Transferring patients’ care and referring to specialists as needed
- Ordering diagnostic scans, X-rays, and tests, and interpreting their results
- Performing a variety of bedside procedures (e.g., intubations)
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that these are some of the most common certifications that ENPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as an ENP.
3. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $120,806/year
- Typical Salary Range: $113,657 - $128,898
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important organizations that aspiring cardiac nurse practitioners should know about:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American College of Cardiology (ACC)
- American Heart Association's (AHA) Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing (CVSN)
- Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA)
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of a cardiac NP can include:
- Working alongside cardiologists to care for patients who suffer from either acute or chronic cardiovascular conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmias
- Diagnosing, treating, and managing various cardiovascular ailments
- Helping patients manage their conditions by prescribing medications and/or other treatments
- Evaluating and monitoring patients' cardiovascular devices (e.g., pacemakers, defibrilators)
- Performing a range of cardiac tests and assessments, including screenings, stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and CT coronary angiograms
- Educating patients, as well as the general public, about cardiovascular health and disease prevention and/or management
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that these are some of the most common certifications that cardiac NPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a cardiac NP.
4. Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $119,803/year
- Typical Salary Range: $112,272 - $127,097
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring hospitalist NPs should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s scope of practice laws, the duties and responsibilities of a hospitalist NP can include:
- Collaborating with hospital physicians to manage care for patients with stable and chronic illnesses.
- Assessing patients and providing diagnoses
- Prescribing and administering medications
- Making recommendations for treatment plans and therapies
- Making patient rounds
- Ordering, interpreting, and recording results of clinical tests and reporting them to physicians
- Planning and coordinating rehabilitation, home healthcare, and follow-up services for patients with acute health issues.
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that, though there isn't a single hospitalist certification, hospitalist NPs are able to get certifications in particular specialties. These are the most common ones that they tend to pursue, according to Medtigo:
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification – Adult Gerontology (ACNPC-AG)
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Certification
- Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) Certification
- Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®)
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Certification (ONP-C)
- Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP)
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a hospitalist NP.
5. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $119,519/year
- Typical Salary Range: $111,645 - $127,087
- Relevant National Association(s): The following are two important associations that aspiring orthopedic NPs should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of an orthopedic NP can include:
- Providing recovery care (e.g., replacing dressings, emptying drains)
- Setting broken bones, applying casts
- Some may be able to assist with surgeries
- Performing physical exams
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, scans (e.g., X-rays), and treatments
- Prescribing medication to help with patients’ pain management
- Caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions across the lifespan
- Prepping for surgery
- Informing and educating patients and their families regarding their rehabilitation journey and on how to care for patients once they’ve left hospital
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that this is the most common certification that orthopedic NPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as an orthopedic NP.
6. Oncology Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $119,465/year
- Typical Salary Range: $112,510 - $123,858
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring oncology NPs should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of an oncology NP can include:
- Caring for cancer patients at all stages of their treatment journey, including end-of-life care
- Performing cancer risk assessments and screenings, as well as oncology-specific procedures (e.g., bone marrow biopsies, thoracentesis)
- Educating individuals on cancer prevention strategies
- Ordering and/or supervising chemotherapy administration
- Helping patients with symptom and pain management
- Providing patients and their families with the support they need, whether it’s in the form of emotional support or information about their loved ones’ conditions
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that this is the most common certification that oncology NPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as an oncology NP.
7. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $117,082/year
- Typical Salary Range: $110,410 - $125,501
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP) should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of an acute care NP can include:
- Providing advanced care for patients of all ages who suffer from either acute or chronic conditions that tend to be life-threatening
- Working in a variety of settings, such as ERs, ICUs, and trauma units, as well as on medical evacuation and transport units
- Monitoring hospitalized patients and tracking their progress
- Admitting and discharging patients
- Performing procedures to keep patients stabilized (e.g., intubation)
- Developing complex treatment plans to address various conditions
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that these are some of the most common certifications that acute care NPs tend to pursue:
- Critical Care Nursing (CCRN®) - Adult
- Critical Care Nursing (CCRN®) - Pediatric
- Critical Care Nursing (CCRN®) - Neonatal
- Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K®) - Adult
- Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K®) - Pediatric
- Critical Care Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K®) - Neonatal
- Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN®) - Adult
- Progressive Care Knowledge Professional (PCCN-K®) - Adult
- Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC®)
- Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC®)
- CNS Wellness through Acute Care - Adult Gerontology (ACCNS-AG®)
- CNS Wellness through Acute Care - Pediatric (ACCNS-P®)
- CNS Wellness through Acute Care - Neonatal (ACCNS-N®)
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as an ACNP.
8. Family Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $116,880/year
- Typical Salary Range: $108,460 - $126,980
- Relevant National Association(s): Although we weren’t able to find any associations specifically devoted to family nurse practitioners (FNPS) in our research, the following is a list of some important general NP associations to know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of aN FNP can include:
- Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients across the entire lifespan – which includes pregnancy/OB care
- Performing routine checkups and physicals
- Tracking patients’ health histories
- Educating patients and their families on strategies for supporting and maintaining good health and wellness, as well as giving them preventative strategies
- Designing and implementing treatment plansOrdering and interpreting various diagnostic tests, scans, and lab results
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that these are some of the most common certifications that FNPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field:
- Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a FNP.
9. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $113,468/year
- Typical Salary Range: $101,427 - $124,458
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMH-NP) should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of a PMH-NP can include:
- Assessing and diagnosing psychiatric disorders
- Developing and implementing treatment plans to address the patients’ mental health issues, which can involve therapeutic and medicinal interventions
- Running counseling sessions in either a group, family, or one-on-one setting
- Providing patients and their families with information about mental health issues, as well as guidance on how to support patients through their care journey
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research found that this is the most common certification that PMH-NPs tend to pursue:
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a PMH-NP.
10. Surgical Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary Estimate: $113,126/year
- Typical Salary Range: $100,934 - $121,923
- Relevant National Association(s): The following is a list of some important associations that aspiring surgical NPs should know about:
- Summary of Duties & Responsibilities: Depending on your particular state’s nurse practice act, the duties and responsibilities of a surgical NP can include:
- Discussing patients’ options for surgery
- Managing the patients’ pre- and post-operative care (e.g., answering questions regarding the procedures, assessing patients’ healing)
- Assisting the surgical team with various tasks during an operation, based on the surgeon’s needs (e.g., suturing wounds, operating surgical cameras)
- Monitoring patients during surgery and alerting surgeons to any signs of complications
- Helping patients with their pain management post-op
- National Certification(s) Available: Our research wasn’t able to uncover any advanced practice nursing certifications for this specialty. However, we did find that aspiring surgical NPs have the option to pursue the following certification: Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®).
- Additionally, those NPs who are interested in getting more involved in surgeries can consider pursuing a path as an RN first assistant (RNFA). In this role, the NP would enjoy a more expanded role in the perioperative setting and act as the “first assistant at surgery.” Our research found that these are the most common RNFA certifications that NPs can pursue: Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA®) OR Registered Nurse Assistant at Surgery - Certified (RNAS-C)
- Where to Find Jobs in This Field: Click here to find real-life examples of jobs you could get as a surgical NP.
Last updated on October 10th, 2022.
Originally published on February 15, 2019.
Image courtesy of iStock.com/FatCamera