Members are discussing the salaries and job opportunities for nurse practitioners in different specialties, such as primary care and psychiatric mental health. Some members are comparing the pay differences between different NP specialties, while others are sharing their personal experiences and reasons for choosing a specific specialty. Overall, the discussion revolves around the factors influencing NP career choices, including salary, job satisfaction, and personal interest in a particular field.
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.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
PMHNP in California. Working permanent job with benefits, telehealth. $95 per hour with "okay" benefits. I currently work 32 hours per week. This practice is very flexible, so most of our providers work part-time, but anyone who wants to can work full-time.
PMHNP in California. Working permanent job with benefits, telehealth. $95 per hour with "okay" benefits. I currently work 32 hours per week. This practice is very flexible, so most of our providers work part-time, but anyone who wants to can work full-time.
Seems low for California unless you're seeing only 1 patient per hour or it's a community health clinic?
Question for the NPs that take call. Do you guys just have a base call pay or call pay plus extra when you actually have to go in? And if so, how much?
I'm a sub-surgical specialties NP inpatient. We get paid a measly $20/hour (this is weekends only 7a-7p) but if we get called in or have to go in assist with a case or even to round, we get 4 hours. If we get called in again later for a new consult for instance, another 4 hours.
Yikes, like you, I didn't negotiate and it really hurt me in the end.
I am with the same practice I started with 5.5 years ago.
I am now part time but will give you my FT specs before I decreased my hours.
As a NP with 5+ years experience.. Detroit MI, Cardio NP, M-F and every other weekend, all holidays except Easter and Christmas, 103k + 50% health insurance for me and my family, 401k with profit sharing (about 10-12k/year), paid maternity leave (4-8 weeks) see about 40 patients a day (Hospital rounds)
Yikes, like you, I didn't negotiate and it really hurt me in the end.
I am with the same practice I started with 5.5 years ago.
I am now part time but will give you my FT specs before I decreased my hours.
As a NP with 5+ years experience.. Detroit MI, Cardio NP, M-F and every other weekend, all holidays except Easter and Christmas, 103k + 50% health insurance for me and my family, 401k with profit sharing (about 10-12k/year), paid maternity leave (4-8 weeks) see about 40 patients a day (Hospital rounds)
M-F AND every other weekend? Did you ever figure out your hourly pay, because it sounds like it would be very, very low. 40 patients a day, I cannot even imagine what you are pulling in revenue-wise.
I figured I would throw in a military perspective for an FNP. I returned to active duty Air Force. So there's a different breakdown compared to civilian. Bear in mind these numbers vary with location and nursing/NP experience.
I came on as a NP with 3 years NP experience and 9 years RN experience prior which hit me the rack of 03/capt.
base pay:4849.80/mo taxed to 3540.35
housing allowance (non taxed based on location/higher with dependents) 2082/mo
Monthly food allowance (not taxed):311.88/mo
speciality pay (all NPs have a specialty): 500/mo
total take home: 6434.23/mo
This is not including an accession bonus of $20000 for initial 3 year commitment or $30000 for initial 4 year commitment.
After your initial commitment, you're looking at a retention bonus structure dependent on amount of years of your commitment and specialty (up to $36k/yr for 6 year option on FNP scale).
My personal take home per paycheck is way more than when I finished as a civilian NP with a guaranteed 4 hours of weekly admin time and other patient load decrements based on actual military duties.
Hey, I am on the fence about joining as an experienced PMHNP. Can we chat, please?
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
MentalKlarity said:
Seems low for California unless you're seeing only 1 patient per hour or it's a community health clinic?
Low? Are you kidding? $95 per hour = $197,600 per year if FT. At 32 hours per week, that is $158,080. I'm not aware of hordes of NPs in California making almost $200K per year as an employee.
Low? Are you kidding? $95 per hour = $197,600 per year if FT. At 32 hours per week, that is $158,080. I'm not aware of hordes of NPs in California making almost $200K per year as an employee.
Depends on how many patients you see per hour. If it's one, great. If it's 2+, you'd make more getting a share of the collections. It's not about what other NPs make, it's about are you making a fair share of what you bring in.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
MentalKlarity said:
Depends on how many patients you see per hour. If it's one, great. If it's 2+, you'd make more getting a share of the collections. It's not about what other NPs make, it's about are you making a fair share of what you bring in.
No, pay is set by the market, like it or not. If you know of a bunch of PMHNPs making $95 per hour as an employee for seeing one patient per hour, please share that information with us and the source. If the market rate for a PMHNP employee is $150K per year, then that is what most employed PMHNPs are going to make. (I'm not talking about self-employed or contractor NPs).
An individual NP can try to negotiate increased pay with their employer or they can decide to set up their own practice or become a contractor.
The pay range I am seeing, and I am in California, which is the highest-paying state for NPs, is $150K to $200K per year for PMHNPs who are employees. Benefits are worth money, too.
For independent contractor PMHNPs, I am seeing $90 to $240 per hour, depending on the insurer, type of work, etc.
The norm for all psych providers now, including MDs, is 15 to 20 minutes for a follow up appointment, and 40-50 minutes for a new patient intake.
The average salary for a PMHNP in Calif is $160K per year. That seems kind of low to me, but a lot of places do not pay well. Also, a lot of mental health providers work part-time, which would pull the average down.
Frankly, I see a lot of PMHNPs who provide poor quality care. Earnings should also reflect an employee's competence and value contributed to the workplace. PMHNPs are not all created equal. Unfortunately, all too many NPs seem to be choosing psych because they think they will make more money and it is "easy."
As far as money, I am seeing incredibly good pay and benefits being offered to FNPs in states like California and Washington. One FQHC here is trying to recruit FNPs and is offering salary based on experience, $75K sign on bonus, $75K mortgage subsidy, paid health insurance for employee, and is eligible for loan repayment.
Even most psychiatrists do not make huge bucks. The average psychiatrist salary in California is $236K per year. Even in cities like San Francisco, it's not a huge amount: $308K per year.
A PMHNP is NOT worth as much as an MD. I have yet to meet a PMHNP with the level of knowledge and expertise of a psychiatrist.
Frankly, NPs in California are paid VERY well for the level of their education and training. Within a few years, many will have the option to set up their own practices, if that is what they want.
The number of private medical practices in this country is declining rapidly. MDs can make more money with their own practice, but they simply do not want the hassle. It is not easy to have one's own business. Yes, for those who can do it, they can make a lot more money, but it is also a lot more work.
"In the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic shift in physician practice ownership as less than half of doctors now work in private practices, according to a new analysis . . .
Four of five physicians flagged the need to better negotiate favorable payment rates with payers as a very important or important reason in the decision to sell their practice to a hospital or health system, the analysis found.
Doctors who participated in the survey also highlighted the need to improve access to costly resources and the need to better manage payers' regulatory and administrative requirements. Each was flagged by about 70% of physicians as a very important or important reason.
The AMA's biennial analysis of physician practice arrangements found that economic, administrative and regulatory burdens have driven physicians to shift traditional business models for medical practices."
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7 Posts
No problem! Let me know if you have any questions!