APRN Salary + Outlook for 2023 (2024)

Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN

Advanced practice registered nurses are among the highest paid nursing professionals, many earning six-figure incomes. If you are a registered nurse or are considering becoming one and want to pursue a master's or higher degree, the potential to make a generous APRN salary may be appealing to you. In this article, we will discuss different types of advanced practice registered nurses, what their roles and responsibilities are, and examine how an APRN's salary is determined.

What are the 4 Different Types of APRNs, and What are Their Roles & Responsibilities?

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) have been educated at either a master’s or post-master's level. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has established guidelines that define and regulate the role of APRNs. The NCSBN recognizes four different types of APRNs. Their roles and responsibilities include the following.

Nurse Anesthetist:

A nurse anesthetist provides anesthesia-related care to patients for surgery or other medical procedures. They work in collaboration with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to provide care for patients of all ages. Some of a nurse anesthetist's clients have no significant health issues, while others may have acute health issues, including immediate and/or life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Nurse anesthetists work in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient surgical sites, and in-patient surgical centers.

Nurse Midwife:

Nurse midwives provide primary and specialty care for women. Although they are often associated with pregnancy-related care, they are also considered primary care providers for women during their lifespan. Their care involves performing examinations, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions. They counsel and educate patients regarding immediate health issues and potential health risks. Additionally, nurse midwives may treat their client's male partners for sexually transmitted diseases, and they provide care for newborns up to 28 days old.

Nurse Practitioner:

Nurse practitioners, also referred to as certified nurse practitioners or CNPs, provide care to clients in areas such as family practice, internal medicine, women's health, geriatrics, and pediatrics. They may practice as primary care providers or acute care practitioners. Nurse practitioners are responsible for diagnosing and management of acute and chronic illnesses and diseases. They provide care that is focused on health promotion and maintenance, prevention of diseases, and patient education.

Clinical Nurse Specialist:

Clinical nurse specialists help establish and implement treatment plans to help find solutions to psychiatric or medical issues based on a patient's individual needs. They are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of health issues, the management of diseases, and the prevention of illness and at-risk behaviors among patients, families, and communities. Additionally, a clinical nurse specialist may work as a nurse consultant to help improve patient care provided by healthcare professionals.

What Is the Starting APRN Salary?

One of the perks of becoming an advanced practice registered nurse is the opportunity to earn a higher income. An APRN starting salary range may be anywhere from $76,430 for clinical nurse specialists to over $127,000 for those who practice as nurse anesthetists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, on average, entry-level APRNs earn approximately $88,580 yearly.

What Is the Average APRN Salary?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an APRN average salary is almost $127,000. Clinical nurse specialists who appear to make the least still earn over $100,000 annually on average. Nurse anesthetists are the highest income earners among advanced practice registered nurses earning an APRN salary over $180,000 each year.

How Much Does the APRN Salary Grow with Experience?

Generally, the more experience a person has in their chosen field, the more money they can expect to make. APRN salary comparison shows that work experience has a significant impact on income potential.

For example, an entry-level nurse anesthetist earns approximately $127,480 each year. With ten years of work experience, the income typically increases by seventy thousand dollars or more. A nurse anesthetist with twenty years of experience may earn well over $200,000 yearly.

Nurse midwives begin their careers earning yearly pay around $70,000. With as little as one to four years, they can increase their salary to almost $87,000. By ten years in the field, a nurse midwife can earn over $100,000 yearly, and with twenty or more years, he or she may experience an income of almost $159,000.

Entry-level nurse practitioners earn a little over eighty thousand dollars in their first year. With ten to nineteen years, they can increase their salary by over $45,000 annually. After twenty years in the field, they may more than $152,000.

APRN Salary by Practice Setting

There are several factors that may influence an APRN salary. Geographical location, years of experience, and specialty area are among those. Additionally, the practice setting where an advanced practice registered nurse chooses to work may also impact his or her potential earnings.

Advanced practice registered nurses who work in colleges, universities, and professional schools or who are employed in physician's offices usually earn the lowest APRN salary, between $105,000 and $108,000 each year. APRNs who practice in hospitals or outpatient care centers typically make up to ten thousand dollars more each year.

APRN Average Salaries in Every State, Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics

As mentioned above, geographical location often influences an individual's earning potential. Typically, areas that have a higher cost of living expenses tend to offer higher or more negotiable salaries than those with lower costs of living.

Currently, the U.S. Board of Labor Statistics reports that the potential APRN salary for nurse practitioners in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee is just under $100,000 annually. Hawaii offers nurse practitioners an average yearly salary of $124,000. With its high cost of living, California pays nurse practitioners the highest salary at almost $137,000.

Nurse midwives in Alaska and Florida earn between $84,000 and $86,000. Those who practice in California, on the other hand, may make almost twice as much with an average yearly income of $154,000.

Even in the states with the lowest average income, nurse anesthetists make close to $145,000 annually. Montana and Wyoming pay nurse anesthetist salaries between $239,000 and $243,000 yearly.

APRN Average Salaries in Your City, Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics

A geographical area is a large determinant of earning potential, regardless of one's degree or career path. Larger cities and highly populated states typically offer higher salaries. At the same time, more rural areas or areas with a less dense population often pay wages that are closer to the lower end of the national average for those jobs.

If you are an APRN or are considering becoming one and want to know which cities may offer the best APRN salary, take a look at the table below. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some cities the offer generous income opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses to work include the following.

In San Francisco, California, a nurse anesthetist makes approximately $254,860. Nurse midwives and nurse practitioners earn between $156,450 and $157,150. Toledo, Ohio, offers APRNs who are nurse anesthetists a salary of around $266,000. In the same city, nurse midwives earn about $129,000, and nurse practitioners generally make a little more than $106,000 each year.

It is essential to keep in mind that some employers offer benefits such as paid personal and sick leave, insurance and retirement plans, or incentives such as higher pay for working evening or night shifts or working weekends. Therefore, if you are trying to negotiate an APRN salary, be sure to ask potential employers what benefits or incentives, if any, they offer.

Where Do the Majority of APRNs Practice?

APRNs have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, depending on their preference of specialization. Nurse midwives often work in private practices, hospitals, and birthing centers. Nurse anesthetists work in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and physician's offices that perform any procedures requiring anesthesia. Nurse practitioners typically work in doctor's offices or clinics. However, they may also work in healthcare centers, long-term care, or assisted living centers and hospitals.

What Is the Salary Outlook for APRNs?

Because the demand for qualified healthcare providers continues to rise, the salary outlook for APRNs is promising. Whether the increased need for healthcare providers is attributed to the baby boomer population reaching retirement age, people living longer, or the alarming number of both acute and chronic illnesses and diseases that are prevalent in society, the market for an advanced practice registered nurse is significant. In fact, the estimated increase in APRN jobs by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is indicative of the chances of the APRN salary being more favorable, giving APRNs negotiating power.

What Is the Job Outlook for APRNs?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated that it expects APRN jobs to grow by as much as 28 percent from 2018 to 2028. It reports that nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists will see close to a seventeen percent growth in job opportunities. The BLS also projects that nurse practitioners will see new employment growth of over twenty-eight percent.

Conclusion

The nursing industry is an ever-growing and expanding industry that offers would-be nurses the chance to achieve higher-level education and certification and to earn a significant income. With the anticipated increase in the demand for advanced practice registered nurses, it is possible to expect a generous APRN salary, even in entry-level positions. If you are considering becoming an APRN, there is no better time than now to begin the journey!

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Our Expert

How can I negotiate an APRN salary that I am happy with?

If you want to negotiate a salary that you are comfortable with, the first thing you need to do is realize your value as an APRN. Have confidence in knowing that your presence helps reduce the occurrence of medical complications, improves patient satisfaction, and may shorten a patient's length of stay in a hospital or reduce the rate of readmission. Take the time to research what the going rate for an APRN is in the area where you hope to practice. Also, don't sell yourself short by being the first one to discuss a suggested salary. If a potential employer asks you how much money you'd like to make, you can respond by saying things such as, "I am not sure yet what I think is a fair salary. What do you think is an appropriate salary range for the position you have available?" Remember, if you give a number that you think is appropriate before a potential employer does, it may be less than what they had planned to offer you, and you may end up making less than they would have been willing to pay you.

Can an APRN practice independently?

While most states do allow advanced practice registered nurses to work independently, there are some that require APRNs to have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. Before beginning practice as an APRN, it is advisable to contact your local board of nursing to verify your state's practice authority.

What is the difference between a clinical nurse specialist and a nurse practitioner?

Both clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who have earned a master's or post-Master of Science degree in nursing. Nurse practitioners typically focus on direct patient care. Their typical duties include taking health histories, assess, diagnose, and treat illness, prescribe medications, and refer patients to specialists if needed. Clinical nurse specialists incorporate patient care and management of patient populations to their approaches to nursing care. Clinical nurse specialists focus on improving patient care and engaging in roles as a clinician, researcher, educator, and manager of patient care.

Do continuing education hours affect an APRN’s salary?

Generally speaking, continuing education hours should not affect an APRN's salary. However, not keeping up with continuing education requirements can be detrimental to an APRN's career. APRNs must recertify with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or American Nurses Credentialing Center every five years. Depending on an APRN's area of specialization, there are guidelines that determine the minimum number of clinical hours of practice and how many continuing education hours should be completed.

Where can APRNs get certified?

Certification for advanced practice registered nurses is available through both the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners offers Family Nurse Practitioner Certification, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification, and Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers various certifications in several specialty and practice areas, including Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification, and Family Nurse Practitioner Certification.