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Best states for a nurse practitioner
Quoted expert
Kathleen Sellers Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like nurse practitioners are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for nurse practitioners aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for nurse practitioners in America. The best city in America for nurse practitioners with the highest pay is Richmond, CA.
The median salary for nurse practitioners in Alaska is $119,141. Compare that to the median salary in Alabama of $75,187, which ranked worst for nurse practitioners, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a nurse practitioner, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for nurse practitioners in 2026
1. Alaska
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 483 Average annual salary: $119,141 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
2. Montana
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 762 Average annual salary: $103,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. Washington
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 4,217 Average annual salary: $106,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. New Mexico
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 1,226 Average annual salary: $101,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. Massachusetts
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 5,969 Average annual salary: $99,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
6. Oregon
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 2,010 Average annual salary: $107,660 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
7. Nevada
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 1,051 Average annual salary: $102,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
8. Texas
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 12,670 Average annual salary: $94,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
9. California
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 10,699 Average annual salary: $120,826 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
10. Arizona
Total nurse practitioner jobs: 3,088 Average annual salary: $101,460 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
Nurse practitioner jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a nurse practitioner
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a nurse practitioner
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $119,141 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 483 |
| 2 | Montana | $103,339 | $57,000 | 1,050,493 | 762 |
| 3 | Washington | $106,739 | $60,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,217 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $101,207 | $58,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,226 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $99,472 | $53,000 | 6,859,819 | 5,969 |
| 6 | Oregon | $107,660 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,010 |
| 7 | Nevada | $102,570 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,051 |
| 8 | Texas | $94,901 | $54,000 | 28,304,596 | 12,670 |
| 9 | California | $120,826 | $73,000 | 39,536,653 | 10,699 |
| 10 | Arizona | $101,460 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,088 |
| 11 | New York | $100,129 | $55,000 | 19,849,399 | 8,227 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $92,167 | $48,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,210 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $99,064 | $54,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,942 |
| 14 | Delaware | $95,880 | $52,000 | 961,939 | 696 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $97,198 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,109 |
| 16 | Maine | $88,700 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,014 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $101,812 | $56,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,850 |
| 18 | Indiana | $86,553 | $46,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,474 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $87,621 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 7,667 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $88,578 | $48,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,761 |
| 21 | Michigan | $90,522 | $48,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,089 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $94,313 | $50,000 | 1,059,639 | 533 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $88,216 | $48,000 | 579,315 | 322 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $90,101 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,689 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $87,690 | $48,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,164 |
| 26 | Ohio | $83,761 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,637 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $82,672 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 661 |
| 28 | Maryland | $92,873 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,566 |
| 29 | Colorado | $92,454 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,017 |
| 30 | Vermont | $83,230 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 540 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $81,649 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 917 |
| 32 | Florida | $82,589 | $46,000 | 20,984,400 | 12,365 |
| 33 | Illinois | $89,654 | $48,000 | 12,802,023 | 5,226 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $82,465 | $45,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,021 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $83,648 | $45,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,264 |
| 36 | Utah | $86,941 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 710 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $77,909 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 760 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $93,111 | $50,000 | 693,972 | 393 |
| 39 | Idaho | $85,886 | $47,000 | 1,716,943 | 730 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $77,320 | $41,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,906 |
| 41 | Iowa | $80,767 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,933 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $81,663 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,172 |
| 43 | Virginia | $85,525 | $46,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,881 |
| 44 | Kansas | $79,650 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,711 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $80,408 | $43,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,333 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $103,030 | $83,000 | 1,427,538 | 274 |
| 47 | Georgia | $81,363 | $44,000 | 10,429,379 | 5,500 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $75,375 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,050 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $75,759 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,557 |
| 50 | Missouri | $79,694 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,796 |
| 51 | Alabama | $75,187 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,830 |
Highest paying states for nurse practitioners
| Rank | State | Avg. Nurse Practitioner Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $119,141 |
| 2 | Montana | $103,339 |
| 3 | Washington | $106,739 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $101,207 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $99,472 |
| 6 | Oregon | $107,660 |
| 7 | Nevada | $102,570 |
| 8 | Texas | $94,901 |
| 9 | California | $120,826 |
| 10 | Arizona | $101,460 |
| 11 | New York | $100,129 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $92,167 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $99,064 |
| 14 | Delaware | $95,880 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $97,198 |
| 16 | Maine | $88,700 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $101,812 |
| 18 | Indiana | $86,553 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $87,621 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $88,578 |
| 21 | Michigan | $90,522 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $94,313 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $88,216 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $90,101 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $87,690 |
| 26 | Ohio | $83,761 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $82,672 |
| 28 | Maryland | $92,873 |
| 29 | Colorado | $92,454 |
| 30 | Vermont | $83,230 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $81,649 |
| 32 | Florida | $82,589 |
| 33 | Illinois | $89,654 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $82,465 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $83,648 |
| 36 | Utah | $86,941 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $77,909 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $93,111 |
| 39 | Idaho | $85,886 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $77,320 |
| 41 | Iowa | $80,767 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $81,663 |
| 43 | Virginia | $85,525 |
| 44 | Kansas | $79,650 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $80,408 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $103,030 |
| 47 | Georgia | $81,363 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $75,375 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $75,759 |
| 50 | Missouri | $79,694 |
| 51 | Alabama | $75,187 |
Expert opinions on the best states for nurse practitioners
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for nurse practitioners to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Sellers Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Nursing, SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Opportunities are available throughout the country with a particular need in rural areas. Central New York in particular has a need for creative healthcare leaders due to the constraints of financial reimbursement.
Nurse practitioner best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025