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.
National Median
$129,480
Best State (Net)
$110,374
Washington
Take-Home TX
$99,766
No state tax
Job Growth
BLS projects 38%
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)
Salary by Experience Level
New Grad NP (year 0-2)
$110,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$86,215
BSN→MSN/DNP · ANCC/AANP cert · entry primary care or specialty
Mid-Career NP (3-7 years)
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,121
FPA states higher · MD-collaboration RPA states · 1099 telehealth side income common
Senior NP / Specialty (8-15 years)
$155,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$117,209
PMHNP / acute care / aesthetic / dermatology specialty · partnership track
NP Owner / Solo Practice / Aesthetic (15+ years)
$215,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$159,975
FPA-state solo practice · cash-pay aesthetic · S-corp + Solo 401(k) + Section 199A QBI
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
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $145,000 | $110,374 | |
| $158,000 | $106,756 | |
| $138,000 | $105,589 | |
| $138,000 | $105,589 | |
| $145,000 | $103,344 | |
| $145,000 | $102,416 | |
| $130,000 | $100,121 | |
| $132,000 | $98,591 | |
| $138,000 | $98,409 | |
| $138,000 | $98,134 | |
| $125,000 | $96,704 | |
12Colorado | $130,000 | $95,109 |
| $130,000 | $94,448 | |
14Oregon | $138,000 | $94,317 |
| $132,000 | $93,959 | |
| $125,000 | $92,866 | |
17Illinois | $128,000 | $92,563 |
18Hawaii | $132,000 | $92,501 |
19Ohio | $122,000 | $91,733 |
20Maryland | $130,000 | $91,297 |
| $118,000 | $90,823 | |
22Iowa | $122,000 | $90,629 |
| $122,000 | $90,006 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
28Michigan | $122,000 | $89,719 |
29Utah | $122,000 | $89,224 |
| $122,000 | $88,882 | |
31Vermont | $122,000 | $88,711 |
32Virginia | $122,000 | $88,399 |
33Indiana | $118,000 | $88,392 |
34Delaware | $122,000 | $87,942 |
| $118,000 | $87,644 | |
36Nebraska | $118,000 | $87,178 |
37Idaho | $118,000 | $86,697 |
| $115,000 | $86,658 | |
39Montana | $118,000 | $86,537 |
40Missouri | $115,000 | $85,304 |
41Oklahoma | $115,000 | $85,103 |
42Maine | $118,000 | $84,790 |
43Georgia | $115,000 | $84,743 |
44Kansas | $115,000 | $84,115 |
45Kentucky | $112,000 | $83,820 |
| $112,000 | $82,753 | |
47Arkansas | $108,000 | $80,983 |
| $108,000 | $80,751 | |
| $105,000 | $78,590 | |
50Alabama | $105,000 | $78,401 |
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.
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Nurse Practitioner Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$78,401
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$105,589
net
Arizona
$98,591
net
Arkansas
$80,983
net
California
$106,756
net
Colorado
$95,109
net
Connecticut
$98,134
net
Delaware
$87,942
net
FloridaNo state tax
$89,733
net
Georgia
$84,743
net
Hawaii
$92,501
net
Idaho
$86,697
net
Illinois
$92,563
net
Indiana
$88,392
net
Iowa
$90,629
net
Kansas
$84,115
net
Kentucky
$83,820
net
Louisiana
$86,658
net
Maine
$84,790
net
Maryland
$91,297
net
Massachusetts
$103,344
net
Michigan
$89,719
net
Minnesota
$93,959
net
Mississippi
$78,590
net
Missouri
$85,304
net
Montana
$86,537
net
Nebraska
$87,178
net
NevadaNo state tax
$105,589
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$100,121
net
New Jersey
$98,409
net
New Mexico
$90,006
net
New York
$102,416
net
North Carolina
$87,644
net
North Dakota
$90,823
net
Ohio
$91,733
net
Oklahoma
$85,103
net
Oregon
$94,317
net
Pennsylvania
$92,866
net
Rhode Island
$94,448
net
South Carolina
$82,753
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$89,733
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$89,733
net
TexasNo state tax
$96,704
net
Utah
$89,224
net
Vermont
$88,711
net
Virginia
$88,399
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$110,374
net
West Virginia
$80,751
net
Wisconsin
$88,882
net
WyomingNo state tax
$89,733
net