Nurse Practitioner Hourly Pay: 2020 BLS Data and Influencing Factors

Per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2020):

• Median hourly wage: $37.07
• 10th percentile: <$30.13
• 90th percentile: >$56.06
• Median annual: $111,680 (2,080 hrs)

Key Factors Influencing Compensation

Factor	Impact
Education	DNP > MSN; specialty certifications add $2–5k/yr
Experience	Steep early curve; 10+ yr NPs earn 15–25% more than new grads
Geography	CA, WA, MA, NJ, NY top states ($55–70/hr); rural often lower but COL-adjusted may exceed urban
Practice Setting	Hospital/outpatient > private practice > academia; specialty (acute care, psych, neonatal) > primary care
Specialty Certification	ACNP, PNP-AC, NNP, PMHNP, AGACNP command premiums
Practice Authority	Full practice authority states (26+ DC) correlate with higher wages
Shift Differentials	Nights, weekends, holidays +10–25%
Benefits	Total comp (benefits, CME, loan repayment, malpractice) adds 25–35%

2023–2024 Context

Post-COVID demand surge pushed median offers to $55–65/hr for locums; permanent roles $50–60/hr in high-need areas. Telehealth NP roles $40–55/hr.

Negotiate total package: base, bonus, benefits, schedule, autonomy, development.