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)
$110,110
Washington
Take-Home TX
$99,502
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):
$85,973
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):
$99,857
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):
$116,945
PMHNP / acute care / aesthetic / dermatology specialty · partnership track
NP Owner / Solo Practice / Aesthetic (15+ years)
$215,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$159,846
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 | $110,110 | |
| $158,000 | $105,696 | |
| $138,000 | $105,325 | |
| $138,000 | $105,325 | |
| $145,000 | $103,610 | |
| $145,000 | $101,205 | |
| $130,000 | $99,857 | |
| $138,000 | $99,175 | |
| $132,000 | $98,299 | |
| $138,000 | $97,490 | |
| $125,000 | $96,440 | |
| $130,000 | $95,257 | |
13Colorado | $130,000 | $94,797 |
14Maryland | $130,000 | $94,395 |
15Oregon | $138,000 | $93,148 |
| $125,000 | $93,063 | |
17Illinois | $128,000 | $92,897 |
18Hawaii | $132,000 | $90,694 |
19Ohio | $122,000 | $90,644 |
| $122,000 | $90,002 | |
21Michigan | $122,000 | $89,842 |
| $132,000 | $89,700 | |
23Utah | $122,000 | $89,521 |
| $115,000 | $89,491 | |
| $115,000 | $89,491 | |
| $115,000 | $89,491 | |
| $115,000 | $89,491 | |
| $118,000 | $89,026 | |
| $122,000 | $88,718 | |
30Delaware | $122,000 | $88,504 |
31Indiana | $118,000 | $88,357 |
32Iowa | $122,000 | $88,290 |
33Virginia | $122,000 | $88,237 |
| $118,000 | $86,709 | |
35Vermont | $122,000 | $86,257 |
36Idaho | $118,000 | $85,627 |
37Nebraska | $118,000 | $85,586 |
38Montana | $118,000 | $85,524 |
| $115,000 | $85,241 | |
40Oklahoma | $115,000 | $84,741 |
41Missouri | $115,000 | $84,541 |
42Kansas | $115,000 | $84,491 |
43Maine | $118,000 | $84,237 |
44Georgia | $115,000 | $84,001 |
45Kentucky | $112,000 | $83,015 |
| $112,000 | $81,172 | |
47Arkansas | $108,000 | $80,474 |
| $108,000 | $80,381 | |
49Alabama | $105,000 | $78,856 |
| $105,000 | $78,856 |
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
$78,856
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$105,325
net
Arizona
$98,299
net
Arkansas
$80,474
net
California
$105,696
net
Colorado
$94,797
net
Connecticut
$99,175
net
Delaware
$88,504
net
FloridaNo state tax
$89,491
net
Georgia
$84,001
net
Hawaii
$90,694
net
Idaho
$85,627
net
Illinois
$92,897
net
Indiana
$88,357
net
Iowa
$88,290
net
Kansas
$84,491
net
Kentucky
$83,015
net
Louisiana
$85,241
net
Maine
$84,237
net
Maryland
$94,395
net
Massachusetts
$103,610
net
Michigan
$89,842
net
Minnesota
$89,700
net
Mississippi
$78,856
net
Missouri
$84,541
net
Montana
$85,524
net
Nebraska
$85,586
net
NevadaNo state tax
$105,325
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$99,857
net
New Jersey
$97,490
net
New Mexico
$90,002
net
New York
$101,205
net
North Carolina
$86,709
net
North Dakota
$89,026
net
Ohio
$90,644
net
Oklahoma
$84,741
net
Oregon
$93,148
net
Pennsylvania
$93,063
net
Rhode Island
$95,257
net
South Carolina
$81,172
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$89,491
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$89,491
net
TexasNo state tax
$96,440
net
Utah
$89,521
net
Vermont
$86,257
net
Virginia
$88,237
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$110,110
net
West Virginia
$80,381
net
Wisconsin
$88,718
net
WyomingNo state tax
$89,491
net