Nurse Practitioner Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses with master's (MSN) or doctorate (DNP) degree, board certification through ANCC or AANP, and prescriptive authority. Six population foci: Family (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary or Acute Care (AGNP-AC/PC), Pediatric (PNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP), Women's Health (WHNP), and Neonatal (NNP). BLS projects 38% growth 2022-2032. NP scope of practice varies by state: Full Practice Authority (24 states + DC), Reduced Practice (16 states), Restricted (10 states). PMHNP highest-paid specialty post-2020 mental health crisis ($145K-$220K). Aesthetic NP (cash-pay Botox/fillers/med spa) uniquely lucrative 1099 path. CRNA path ($240K-$320K) and CNM path ($120K-$155K) are sister APRN tracks.
US Average
$137,300
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$117,590
California
Take-Home TX
$101,092
on $131,420 · No state tax
Job Growth
BLS projects 38%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171)
Key Facts — Nurse Practitioner 2026
BLS median: $129,480 for nurse practitioners (BLS May 2023 OES); PMHNP $145K-$220K; aesthetic NP cash-pay $200K-$400K+ owner draw
Full Practice Authority (24 states + DC) allows NP independent practice without physician supervision; Reduced/Restricted states require collaboration agreement
DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) increasingly preferred over MSN — AANP/AACN movement to all-DNP entry by 2025-2030
PMHNP highest-paid specialty post-2020 mental health crisis; telepsychiatry 1099 at $150-$200/hr
Aesthetic NP (Botox / fillers / med spa) cash-pay 1099 + S-corp election + Section 199A QBI — uniquely lucrative tax structure
Solo 401(k) for 1099 NP up to $70K/year (2026 limit); S-corp election at $80K+ net SE saves $4K-$8K/year SE tax
PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) for hospital-employed NPs — 10 year qualifying-payment + 501(c)(3) employer = $0 tax-free debt forgiveness
Schedule II controlled substance prescriptive authority varies by state (FPA states fuller authority; some RPA states limited)
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Nurse Practitioners across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$101,340
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$80,123
25th percentile
$117,990
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$91,836
Median
$132,300
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$101,693
75th percentile
$156,700
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$118,370
Top 10%
$174,420
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$130,482
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| PMHNP (Psychiatric-Mental Health) | $200,694 | +55% |
| CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist) — sister APRN track | $271,908 | +110% |
| Aesthetic NP (Botox / fillers / med spa) | $187,746 | +45% |
| Acute Care NP (ICU / step-down hospitalist) | $168,324 | +30% |
| Dermatology NP | $174,798 | +35% |
| Telehealth NP (Hims/Hers/Talkiatry/Done) | $155,376 | +20% |
| New Grad NP (year 0-2) | $103,584 | -20% |
Best States for Nurse Practitioners — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State — All 50 States
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $176,760 | $117,590 | |
| $152,180 | $115,281 | |
| $149,120 | $113,190 | |
| $155,750 | $109,336 | |
| $152,320 | $107,981 | |
| $153,900 | $107,448 | |
| $138,070 | $105,637 | |
| $137,410 | $105,186 | |
| $155,780 | $104,363 | |
10Arizona | $140,600 | $104,254 |
| $143,510 | $103,654 | |
| $143,150 | $102,811 | |
| $132,680 | $101,953 | |
| $131,420 | $101,092 | |
| $142,340 | $100,815 | |
| $130,410 | $100,401 | |
17Iowa | $136,940 | $100,313 |
18Vermont | $139,400 | $99,836 |
19Hawaii | $142,910 | $99,471 |
20Utah | $137,060 | $98,847 |
21Oklahoma | $134,200 | $97,498 |
| $132,070 | $97,481 | |
23Montana | $135,290 | $97,454 |
| $135,160 | $97,133 | |
| $125,160 | $96,813 | |
26Colorado | $132,540 | $96,734 |
27Michigan | $132,790 | $96,635 |
28Idaho | $133,420 | $96,496 |
| $126,370 | $96,456 | |
| $135,890 | $96,313 | |
31Nebraska | $131,710 | $96,177 |
| $130,870 | $96,003 | |
33Arkansas | $130,260 | $95,679 |
34Missouri | $130,970 | $95,566 |
35Maine | $134,210 | $94,945 |
36Delaware | $132,900 | $94,673 |
37Illinois | $130,940 | $94,427 |
| $126,630 | $94,394 | |
39Indiana | $126,600 | $94,092 |
40Georgia | $128,800 | $93,622 |
41Maryland | $133,360 | $93,342 |
| $126,780 | $93,003 | |
43Virginia | $129,060 | $92,872 |
| $125,340 | $92,654 | |
45Kentucky | $125,010 | $92,453 |
46Kansas | $127,940 | $92,374 |
47Ohio | $122,910 | $92,330 |
| $124,170 | $90,633 | |
| $115,510 | $90,091 | |
50Alabama | $110,970 | $82,368 |
Job Market Outlook
BLS projects 38% growth 2022-2032 — one of fastest-growing US occupations. Full Practice Authority adoption accelerating (NY 2022, KS 2022, NC pending) — 24 states + DC FPA as of 2026. PMHNP demand structurally durable post-2020 mental health crisis. Aesthetic NP cash-pay 1099 market expanding 15-20% annually. AANP/AACN movement to all-DNP entry by 2025-2030 raising educational barrier + comp tier. Telehealth multistate licensure (Nurse Licensure Compact NLC + APRN Compact in development) opens 1099 telepsychiatry + telehealth at scale.
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Nurse Practitioner
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
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Nurse Practitioner Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$82,368
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$113,190
net
Arizona
$104,254
net
Arkansas
$95,679
net
California
$117,590
net
Colorado
$96,734
net
Connecticut
$100,815
net
Delaware
$94,673
net
FloridaNo state tax
$100,401
net
Georgia
$93,622
net
Hawaii
$99,471
net
Idaho
$96,496
net
Illinois
$94,427
net
Indiana
$94,092
net
Iowa
$100,313
net
Kansas
$92,374
net
Kentucky
$92,453
net
Louisiana
$94,394
net
Maine
$94,945
net
Maryland
$93,342
net
Massachusetts
$107,981
net
Michigan
$96,635
net
Minnesota
$96,313
net
Mississippi
$92,654
net
Missouri
$95,566
net
Montana
$97,454
net
Nebraska
$96,177
net
NevadaNo state tax
$105,186
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$105,637
net
New Jersey
$109,336
net
New Mexico
$103,654
net
New York
$107,448
net
North Carolina
$96,003
net
North Dakota
$96,456
net
Ohio
$92,330
net
Oklahoma
$97,498
net
Oregon
$104,363
net
Pennsylvania
$97,481
net
Rhode Island
$102,811
net
South Carolina
$90,633
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$96,813
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$90,091
net
TexasNo state tax
$101,092
net
Utah
$98,847
net
Vermont
$99,836
net
Virginia
$92,872
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$115,281
net
West Virginia
$93,003
net
Wisconsin
$97,133
net
WyomingNo state tax
$101,953
net