Best cities for a nurse practitioner
The best cities for nurse practitioners are Anchorage, AK, Stockton, CA, and Glendale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for nurse practitioners vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for nurse practitioners in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a nurse practitioner or considering a move, this list of the best cities for nurse practitioners to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for nurse practitioners. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a nurse practitioner. While the absolute best city for nurse practitioners is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for nurse practitioners in 2024.
If you're looking for a nurse practitioner job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for nurse practitioners in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Nurse practitioner jobs in AnchorageTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $122,087 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 1.03 2. Stockton, CA
Nurse practitioner jobs in StocktonTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $126,538 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location quotient: 1.98 3. Glendale, AZ
Nurse practitioner jobs in GlendaleTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $101,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 1.25 4. Fresno, CA
Nurse practitioner jobs in FresnoTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $124,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000 Location quotient: 1.50 5. Henderson, NV
Nurse practitioner jobs in HendersonTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $102,336 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.70 6. North Las Vegas, NV
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $102,528 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.68 7. El Paso, TX
Nurse practitioner jobs in El PasoTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $101,151 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location quotient: 0.81 8. Las Vegas, NV
Nurse practitioner jobs in Las VegasTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $102,601 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.65 9. Albuquerque, NM
Nurse practitioner jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $101,613 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 0.90 10. Bakersfield, CA
Nurse practitioner jobs in BakersfieldTotal nurse practitioner jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $121,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 1.49
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Best cities for nurse practitioners
- Anchorage, AK
- Stockton, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Fresno, CA
- Henderson, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- El Paso, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Bakersfield, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a nurse practitioner
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $122,087 | $68,000 | 298,192 | 35 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $126,538 | $72,000 | 307,072 | 47 |
| 3 | Glendale, AZ | $101,878 | $58,000 | 245,895 | 23 |
| 4 | Fresno, CA | $124,214 | $71,000 | 522,053 | 56 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $102,336 | $57,000 | 292,969 | 13 |
| 6 | North Las Vegas, NV | $102,528 | $57,000 | 238,702 | 5 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $101,151 | $57,000 | 683,080 | 31 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $102,601 | $57,000 | 632,912 | 102 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $101,613 | $55,000 | 559,277 | 80 |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $121,876 | $70,000 | 376,380 | 45 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $106,106 | $59,000 | 245,255 | 28 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $101,402 | $58,000 | 530,706 | 58 |
| 13 | Gilbert, AZ | $101,706 | $58,000 | 237,133 | 10 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $107,603 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 145 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $126,819 | $72,000 | 495,234 | 69 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $101,687 | $57,000 | 484,587 | 17 |
| 17 | Corpus Christi, TX | $97,318 | $56,000 | 325,733 | 13 |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $127,271 | $73,000 | 420,005 | 27 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $86,308 | $43,000 | 385,809 | 73 |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $120,179 | $69,000 | 324,722 | 20 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,834 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 138 |
| 22 | San Antonio, TX | $97,866 | $55,000 | 1,492,510 | 93 |
| 23 | Lubbock, TX | $96,498 | $52,000 | 252,506 | 11 |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $98,233 | $57,000 | 257,156 | 4 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $120,684 | $70,000 | 3,976,322 | 249 |
| 26 | Hempstead, NY | $101,980 | $51,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 27 | Long Beach, CA | $120,489 | $70,000 | 470,130 | 17 |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $91,340 | $46,000 | 672,795 | 65 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $89,710 | $45,000 | 264,488 | 18 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $88,598 | $45,000 | 1,567,872 | 177 |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $101,726 | $57,000 | 246,645 | 16 |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | $120,340 | $69,000 | 334,217 | 11 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $85,068 | $43,000 | 278,508 | 15 |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $93,739 | $49,000 | 465,101 | 120 |
| 35 | Buffalo, NY | $98,559 | $49,000 | 256,902 | 51 |
| 36 | San Diego, CA | $119,822 | $69,000 | 1,406,630 | 131 |
| 37 | Anaheim, CA | $120,390 | $69,000 | 351,043 | 9 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $109,001 | $58,000 | 704,352 | 111 |
| 39 | San Francisco, CA | $127,466 | $73,000 | 870,887 | 70 |
| 40 | New Orleans, LA | $82,603 | $45,000 | 391,495 | 44 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $84,090 | $43,000 | 287,027 | 27 |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $89,470 | $47,000 | 638,367 | 46 |
| 43 | Newark, NJ | $103,402 | $52,000 | 281,764 | 34 |
| 44 | Fremont, CA | $126,863 | $72,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 45 | Arlington, TX | $92,734 | $50,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 46 | Tulsa, OK | $87,002 | $45,000 | 403,090 | 24 |
| 47 | San Jose, CA | $126,513 | $72,000 | 1,025,350 | 38 |
| 48 | Irvine, CA | $120,274 | $69,000 | 266,122 | 32 |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $80,413 | $42,000 | 389,902 | 32 |
| 50 | Chandler, AZ | $101,746 | $58,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for nurse practitioners
| Rank | City | Avg. nurse practitioner salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, CA | $127,474 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $109,414 |
| 3 | Salem, OR | $109,393 |
| 4 | Edison, NJ | $103,435 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $102,601 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $101,834 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $101,808 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $101,613 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $101,420 |
| 10 | Hartford, CT | $100,493 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,265 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $97,866 |
| 13 | Newark, DE | $96,916 |
| 14 | Providence, RI | $95,369 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $93,832 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $93,789 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $93,739 |
| 18 | Salem, NH | $93,652 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $91,340 |
| 20 | Chicago, IL | $90,673 |
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Updated January 8, 2025