Nurse Practitioner Career Overview

Nurse practitioners (NPs) often specialize in specific patient populations and hold advanced nursing degrees. Depending on their choosen specialty, NPs may focus on areas like acute care, family healthcare, oncology, or mental health. NPs are licensed as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and can earn national board certification in their nursing specialty areas.

NPs can also serve as primary care providers who perform many of the same services as physicians. They often have greater autonomy than registered nurses (RNs). Depending on state regulations, some jurisdictions allow full practice authority, while others require a collaborative agreement with a doctor.

Continue reading to learn more about NP careers.

NPs provide clinical care for patients and are authorized to diagnose health conditions, order tests, and prescribe medications. Their scope of work varies depending on their specialization area, the population they serve, and the state where they practice. In many places, NPs help address the nation’s ongoing shortage of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

In some states, NPs must work under the supervision of a physician or in collaboration with one. In other states, they have full practice authority, which gives them professional autonomy. Check your state to learn more about NP practice authority for your area.

NP specializations often correspond to specific patient populations. For example, pediatric nurse practitioners work with patients from birth to age 21, and women’s health nurse practitioners serve women.

Depending on the setting, an NP’s key skills and responsibilities may include:

Medical offices employ more than 45% of nurse practitioners in the U.S., followed by hospitals at 25% and outpatient care centers at 8%. However, NPs can pursue significant diversity in work settings, including in-home healthcare. Examples include:

NPs generally serve as primary care providers or specialists in hospital outpatient settings. They assess and diagnose patients, prescribe treatment, advise patients on care, and refer patients to physicians for additional care.

In a hospital inpatient setting, NPs assess and diagnose patients and prescribe treatment as part of a patient’s ongoing care. They may also lead nursing teams and oversee the work of other clinical staff.

In a private group practice, NPs may serve as primary care providers or specialists. They see patients, assess conditions, and prescribe treatments, referring patients to a physician or specialist NP as necessary.

Becoming a nurse practitioner is a multi-step process that starts with an undergraduate nursing degree and an RN license. After gaining experience as an RN, aspiring NPs complete a graduate nursing program, followed by board certification and advanced practice licensing.

Popular NP specializations focus on women’s health, family health, and neonatal health. Salary and certification requirements vary by state, specialization, and work setting, among other factors.

Salary figures for the positions listed below were sourced from Payscale (July 2025).

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) comprise the largest percentage of NPs. FNPs care for patients of all ages and life stages, providing preventative care and treatment for illnesses, conditions, and injuries. They work in clinics, hospitals, and private practice.

Average Salary: $107,520

Adult-gerontology NPs (AGNPs) specialize in acute or primary care and see patients in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. AGNPs perform physical exams and provide diagnoses for adults of all ages. Acute-care AGNPs treat existing illnesses and are more likely to work in hospitals, while primary-care AGNPs focus on preventative care.

Average Salary: $107,690

Working in clinics, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and substance misuse centers, these professionals focus on behavioral and mental health. Often specializing in patient populations, such as military/veterans or pediatrics, psychiatric NPs diagnose conditions, formulate treatment plans, and educate patients and caregivers.

Average Salary: $124,590

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) specialize in primary or acute care of infants, children, and teens. PNPs see patients in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. Acute care specialists work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and urgent care clinics.

Average Salary: $104,070

After choosing a main specialty, NPs can also get certified in various subspecialties, including:

NPs are among the highest-paid nursing professionals. They earn a median annual salary near $130,000, although exact figures vary based on factors like experience and specialty.

For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NPs at hospitals make a median salary of $137,790, while those employed at physicians’ offices earn $129,820.

NPs in California earn the highest salaries in the U.S. However, the cost of living in the Golden State is the highest in the nation.

Job prospects look especially promising for NPs. The BLS projects a 46% rise in employment for NPs from 2023-2033, the third-fastest growth rate among occupations nationwide.

The table below lists the top five states in terms of average NP salaries.