Nurse Practitioner salary variations are nothing new, but they can pose problems for those new to the industry.

Understanding the field of nursing is somewhat difficult, given the wide range of specialties and disciplines involved. If you’re considering entering the industry as a Nurse Practitioner, then you’ll need to know a bit more about Nurse Practitioner salary variances in order to determine where you’ll be able to earn the most money, as well as applying your skills to the best effect.

Nurse Practitioner salary difference

You’ll find that Nurse Practitioner salaries vary considerably throughout the industry. This is due to a number of factors. You’ll find that your education, your experience, the healthcare facility at which you are employed and even your geographic area play roles in determining what your salary might be. However, the two single largest factors in your earnings potential are your education and your experience.

All NPs are required by federal law to hold a master’s degree. However, some nurses choose to go beyond this point. The more education you have and the stronger the Nurse Practitioner programs you're involved in, the better your chance of earning a high salary. In addition, you can expect those new to the world of nursing and lacking in experience to earn considerably less than a nurse who has a vast pool of experience on which to draw.

Specialization plays a role in Nurse Practitioner salary

If you choose to specialize in a particular form of care, you will have a higher salary than those who do not. In addition, if you opt to leave the hospital setting (which is where 80 percent of the positions are), you will also enjoy a higher pay rate. Most nurses working in home healthcare can expect to earn an average of $54,000 per year. However, those working in nursing home environments might only earn $52,000 per year.

The more specialized your education, the higher your pay rate. However, you must also remember that this comes with a decrease in the number of available jobs. Therefore, you’ll need to balance your salary requirements against the ease of locating a position that fits your needs.

Other resources

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides considerable information about Nurse Practitioner salary ranges.
PremedGuide.com can help you understand Nurse Practitioner careers and salary variances.
The AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) can help you understand Nurse Practitioner salary ranges and many other aspects of the industry, as well.

< Prev		Next >