Nurse Practitioners

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

Median salary

$132,300/yr

Typical range

$117,990 – $156,700

Education

Master's degree

Time to entry

About 6 years (bachelor's + ~2-year master's)

What a Nurse Practitioners does

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who diagnose illnesses, order tests, prescribe medications, and manage patient care independently or collaboratively with physicians. They work in primary care, specialty clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a master's degree. About 6 years (bachelor's + ~2-year master's).

Estimated cost of that path: ~$70,000. Estimated payback: ~3 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

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