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Nurse Practitioners

Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $132,300/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$101,340$174,420

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +40.1% projected growth, 20242034 — much faster than average.

About 29,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Reading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making
Top knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageBiologyPsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEducation and TrainingSociology and Anthropology
Core tasks

Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.

Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.

Provide patients with information needed to promote health, reduce risk factors, or prevent disease or disability.

Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.

Diagnose or treat complex, unstable, comorbid, episodic, or emergency conditions in collaboration with other health care providers as necessary.

Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.

Diagnose or treat chronic health care problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Nurse Practitioners?

The median pay for Nurse Practitioners is $132,300 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Nurse Practitioners?

Employment for Nurse Practitioners is projected to change +40.1% from 2024 to 2034 - much faster than average.

What education is typically required for Nurse Practitioners?

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Nurse Practitioners?

About 29,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.