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Nursing (NP) is reported to be the fastest growing profession in the United States. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
NP is an important part of preventive medicine. As clinical authority grows across the United States, NPs provide physician-like services, lowering barriers to healthcare and helping to bridge the growing primary care shortage. But how much do nurses earn?
This article details what NPs do, how their locations and industries affect their bottom line, and the promising employment prospects for these professionals.
What kind of work do nurses do?
What is a Nursing Practitioner? Nursing practitioners are post-graduate, professionally trained and certified registered nurses in advanced practice. NPs work independently or in partnership with health professionals to prevent disease and manage the overall health of their patients.
NPs have a broader range of duties than registered nurses and perform the following duties:
- Treatment and diagnosis of acute and chronic diseases
- Ordering, running or interpreting diagnostic tests
- Prescribing drugs or treatments
- Patient counseling and education
NPs can specialize in patient populations and therapeutic areas such as acute care, family medicine, geriatrics, and pediatrics. Learn more in our guide on how to become a nursing practitioner.
Benefits of looking at NP
NPs are highly trained and prepared to provide comprehensive preventive care to patients at a time when primary care is in short supply across the country. In addition to patient education, NPs participate in health policy and patient advocacy at local, state, national and international levels.
NPs provide emergency services, increase access to health care in underserved communities, promote better lifestyle choices for patients, and reduce potential future serious health problems and costs. Reduce. BLS predicts that NP employment will grow very rapidly (46%) from 2021 to 2031, and reports that these professionals will also earn six-figure incomes.
How much does a nurse earn?
Nursing practitioners earn the highest salaries in the nursing field. As of May 2022, BLS reported that the median annual wage for NPs is $121,610.
Specialization, location, and work environment all affect an NP’s bottom line, as explained in the next section. All data below are from BLS.
NP Salary by Location
States with the highest nurse salaries
NPs working in California earn the highest salaries in the United States, nearly $15,000 more than other high-income states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon and Nevada.
The median annual income for NPs in California is $158,130, followed by New Jersey at $143,250, Massachusetts at $138,700, Oregon at $136,250, and Nevada at $136,230. .
Cities with the highest nurse salaries
Nine of the ten cities with the highest NP salaries are in California. The highest paying metropolitan area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, where the average NP salary is $199,630. Other high-wage areas include San Francisco, Napa, and Vallejo/Fairfield.
But these high-wage neighborhoods almost always have a higher cost of living as well. Working as an NP in California will likely mean increased housing, food, transportation and utility bills.
Salaries in states with the most jobs
NPs can find jobs anywhere in the country. However, some states employ more NPs than others. As of 2022, California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Tennessee are the states with the most jobs, with between 13,000 and 20,000 nurses in each state.
Here is a breakdown of average annual NP salaries for the three states with the highest employment rates:
- California, $158,130
- Texas, $124,660
- Florida, $110,310
Highest paying industry for nurses
The industries with the highest salaries for nurses are:
- Home medical service
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations
- Granting grants and providing services
- Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospital
NPs working in these industries earn about $135,000 to $150,000 annually on average. Specialties, experience, certifications, and location all affect your earnings.
demand for nurses
The demand for nurses is staggering, outstripping all other professions. BLS predicts that the NP workforce will grow by 46% between 2021 and 2031, more than nine times the projected growth rate for all occupations.
Employment outlook by industry
The demand for NP jobs in the healthcare industry is very high. The industries that will see the highest demand for NPs in 2021-2031 are:
- State medical and surgical hospitals, 79.7%
- Doctor’s office, 64.1%
- Outpatient medical services, 59.1%
- Other healthcare worker offices, 58.1%
- Outpatient care center, 55.3%
Why is the demand for NPs so high?
The demand for NPs is correlated with multiple factors, but shedding light on the acute shortage of nurses and doctors in the United States. NPs have expanded mandates, allowing them to assume primary care roles similar to physicians while prioritizing preventive care. As the shortage of doctors becomes more serious, the demand for NPs to make up for the shortage is increasing.
In parallel with shortages of nurses and doctors, the U.S. population is growing and aging disproportionately, with the population aged 65 and over growing 42.4% from 2019 to 2034, the report said. there is Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The population over the age of 75 is expected to grow by 74% over the same period.
As the patient population ages, so too does the healthcare workforce. The AAMC reports that two of her five physicians will reach retirement age in the next decade, and aging NPs will retire as well.
The growing demand for NPs also reflects their role in increasing access to healthcare. Demand will grow as health care becomes more accessible to historically underserved, rural patients and those without health insurance.
Finally, there are many uncertainties about the short- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers and the American public. Demand is expected to rise further as pandemic-related burnout accelerates turnover among healthcare workers.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in medicine, pursuing a career as a nurse can lead to six-figure earnings and lifelong employment security. NP is the fastest growing profession in the United States, and you can expect consistently high demand.
NPs’ clinical authority will be extended across states, allowing NPs to work independently, prescribe drugs, open clinics, and play an important primary care role. NPs can work closely with patients to provide comprehensive preventive care, medical education, patient advocacy, and influence health policy.
Nurse Salary Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the highest paid nurses?
Clinics and hospitals employ most nurses, but the highest paid NPs reportedly earn an average of $148,960 a year working in home health services. BLS. By location, NP in California has the highest wages, with an average annual income of $158,130.
Where are the lowest paid nurses?
The lowest paid nurses work in dental offices, with an average annual salary of $53,240. BLS report. By location, the state with the lowest NP salaries is Tennessee, where NP professionals earn an average of $99,330 annually.
