NP Salary/Pay Let's Be Transparent

Transparency is important so we can negotiate. As a new grad nurse practitioner I accepted a ridiculously low paying position and I assumed that was the pay in the new city I move to. I have grown over the past couple years and I understand I was taken advantage of. I hope that this doesn't happen to others. Therefore, I believe it is critical we know what other nurse practitioners are being compensated so we are able to negotiate our salary and benefits packages.

I'm an FNP-C in Houston area working in Surgery (first assist, preop, and follow up post op care) Salary is 110k (negotiating to 115k), 3 weeks pto, 9 paid holidays, 1500 CME/yr, paid DEA, malpractice, 401k without match, 4 day work week (40-50hrs), on-call practically all the time (but only get calls on surgery days 2-3days/week). Overall I'm happy with the work I do.

What is your compensation package look like?

[RN_SummerSeas, MSN, APRN, NP]

jnb1740 said:

So if a FP NP makes LESS than a PMHNP, why would someone choose the FP NP route?  I'm an RN for 30 yrs myself, but thinking (I know late) of getting an NP and wondering what kind to get.

I have zero desire to be a psych NP, some metal health issues are so complex and you have to want to treat those conditions.  I do some psych for my primary care patients, but only basics like anxiety, depression, ADHD.  I worked as a telehealth mental health NP in my first year of practice so I am comfortable with those Dx and RX.  I want to treat patients medical/physical health problems and their basic MH if needed.  I don't make as much as the PMHNPs around here but it is what it is, they chose their path and I chose mine. I think overall NP's are undervalued.  It's never too late to do something you want to do. I was no Spring chicken when I got my ASN, then BSN and finally MSN. Do what makes you happy! I love this role and am happy I took this path ?

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

FullGlass said:

People pick the specialty they are interested in and want to work in.  FNP pay is really going up, at least on the West Coast, and is approaching PMHNP pay.  Mental health is a difficult specialty - it can be very emotionally draining.  A lot of people just do not want to deal with the mentally ill nonstop 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  So please do not pick a specialty just based on pay.  Pick what you have a passion for and enjoy.  That will help you be a good provider.

^ The exact truth. @jnb1740

I went into FNP knowing that I did not want to do FP/ at all but it was the baseline to get in order to get into other specialties. There are definitely well compensated jobs outside of FP, it just may take some time and also just depends on what you want to do do. From my experience and hearing from fellow PA's and FNPs, decently compensated gigs outside of FP are wound care, annual wellness visits, and mobile primary care gigs. And more recently, VA medical examiner is definitely something worth looking into for a well compensated job that requires no experience.

But as always, go for something you are interested in, but sometimes you won't know until you try it out!

[gcupid]

jessaaro said:

Just sharing my insight, I think Nurse Practitioners (NPs) don't even make enough compared to nurses, but I guess it's because they have less bedside load. I have been working as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse for 20 years and I am now a new PNP with experience in both acute and primary care. As a PICU nurse (MD) in a big hospital, my base pay is $49 per hour plus a 10% night differential, a $4 location benefit, and a 15% weekend differential. I also get 40 hours of vacation time and 5 days of sick leave. If I do overtime, I get paid 1.5 times my regular rate and I may also receive a bonus for the shift, like $200.

Now, as an NP, I have given three interviews and have received nearly the same offer from each.

1. If I work in the same hospital's outpatient department, my pay will be $52 per hour, with no differential or location allowance. I will receive $1000 for Continuing Medical Education (CME), one-time DEA and CDS. Other benefits will be the same as every staff member in the organization, such as discounted medical insurance and vacation and sick leave. I will work for 30 hours.

2. Another hospital ,If I work as a Peds Inpatient ICU NP, I will earn a flat rate of $62 per hour with no benefits. I will only work for 12-hour shifts but only one shift at a time. I guess this may be a start, but I was hoping for better, as being an NP would be a serious hit in pay.

Please don't keep your hopes high, as the pay for new NP in MD is around $50-60 per hour.

I'm sorry but this is horrible.  

[MentalKlarity, BSN, NP]

FullGlass said:

$50-60 per hour is about $100-120K per year if FT.  That is not bad for a brand new NP.  Pay will go up with experience.

Unfortunately, pediatrics tends to be a poorly paid specialty, even for MDs.  

This highlights the importance of doing research on pay per NP specialty when deciding whether or not to become an NP.  Also, new grad NPs with RN experience may take a pay cut or only make a little more at first because they are starting a brand new career.

$50 per hour is 100,000 per year if you work 40 hours per week and take off only 2 weeks per year. That's literally miserable. If you take 4-6 weeks and work 35 hours (9-5 with 1 hour for lunch) you make only 82K a year. A joke!

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

MentalKlarity said:

$50 per hour is 100,000 per year if you work 40 hours per week and take off only 2 weeks per year. That's literally miserable. If you take 4-6 weeks and work 35 hours (9-5 with 1 hour for lunch) you make only 82K a year. A joke!

Agreed, but my point that people who want to be NPs should research their likely pay stands.

Also, pay varies by location.  The OP said she is in MD, so I am surprised by her low pay.  MD generally pays decently.  It might depend on where in MD she is and also, peds is a lower paying specialty

When I was in nursing school from 2013 to 2016, psych hospitals in the Baltimore area were starting new PMHNPs around $150K per year, which is good for a new grad.  If I recall correctly, back then a new grad FNP or AGPCNP could expect around $100K for a FT job w/benefits.  The pay should be higher now.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

MentalKlarity said:

Massive oversupply of NPs = salary falls overtime. No one advocating for these joke diploma mill schools seems to understand that. 

I am sick of the diploma mills, as well.

Out of curiousity, I checked job listings for NPs on Indeed in MD and overall pay has increased since I was there.  Generally pay is around $110K to $150K per year.  Some specialties, like psych and pain, pay more.  Saw an NP position in a pain mgt practice, FT w/benefits, up to $200K per year.  Several PT positions in different specialties up to $100 per hour.  CVS paying $50-$103 per hour for FT NPs.  Wound care position up to $250K per year FT.  So, there are positions that pay well in MD.

I think doing the FNP provides more employment options.  I obtained an AGPCNP originally.  If I had stayed in that role instead of becoming PMHNP, I would have done a post-master's certificate to become an FNP.  There are fewer positions for PNP and as previously stated, peds tends to pay lower than other specialties.