Shockingly low NP pay !

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I have been a nurse for 20 years and have felt fairly compensated for the work I do. This coming spring I will graduate from CSU in Georgia with an FNP degree. Being the curious one that I am, I started googling NP jobs on indeed.com yesterday. It appears the pay listed for Emory University NP jobs is 72,000 to 105,000. The lower half almost matches my RN pay to the T. Seeing how the NP is billed almost exactly the same as an MD with services provided, it doesn't make much sense to start off NPs at such a low figure. Just had to rant. Guess with the churning out of NPs from diploma mills the pay will drop even lower :(

Guess I had a job and they went up $20 an hour like it was nothing when I said I won't work for what they offered I probably could have went up higher. The director at the last site I was working at as it MD was offered double when he quit. Sure location is a lot but your ability to negotiate and demonstrate value is a large factor in what you will get

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Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.
I am in Georgia and I make far less than the 72k that you quoted. This is a state that is very backward for NP's. If I could sell my house and leave I would. I have given it thought. We also have an exit of NP providers in this state. The young ones recognize early and leave. There are NP's making 40 to 45k in this state.

I'm in Georgia and an FNP this is crazy as I make 6 figures I would NEVER do this for 40-45K

Bobbi

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Most RN's in California are making $120,000+. Looking at starting pay for NP's is pretty depressing.....I have seen NP jobs offering as low as $100,000. Most seem to be $125,000. The market has been flooded by so many online programs. Too many graduates, too few jobs and too many "Dr nurses" willing to work for peanuts.

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There are plenty of places rns make 22 an hr as well. California taxes are super high so is cost of living. Youd be better off making 85k in ohio than 120k in the bay area. I have heard in California though a lot of places it may not be worthwhile to be an NP but sure you can find an RN it's on a weekend program or has a special gig where they're making more than end piece but in general the pay is roughly 50% more

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Going back 20 or 30 years, there was never any expectation that an NP degree would get you a large raise. Just regular hours, no weekends or holidays, much more autonomy. It seems that is still the case.

When we went from the one year certificate programs to the MSN, it was a good step in the direction of more money and respect. Unfortunately, the MSN programs were largely non-rigorous and packed with fluff courses.

Even so, considering what we bring in annually in billing, at least 300k, the pay is ridiculously low. Someone is making big money off us.

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I realized about half-way through my NP program that we have a big problem brewing, and it is not rocket-science, but basic supply and demand. I would love to now discuss with the educators who talked about NPs like we are the health care saviors who will be in such high demand. Just check out PA program admission standards. And the programs themselves. I will not share my opinion on those that I checked out, but anyone who has been able to work and go to NP school like I did will quickly see there is not room for working while in PA school. Obviously, medical school is well-known. Then, look objectively at the trade schools like Walden, their admission requirements and then online promotion of ease. And actually, beyond the trade schools, just about any NP school now. It doesn't take much to get into NP school, and all those students are being churned out in astounding numbers. But, my point, we are creating our own low pay issues, and it is so sad.

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I worked full time in NP school. I mostly took one class a semester. It took 5 years to get my degree.

I worked in my field, and did extensive self preparation on that very daily basis.

The whole thing is sad, but predictable.

The NP degree never did pay much more the the RN, and it won't anytime soon in the future, because the profession has not limited their numbers.

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Specializes in Rheumatology NP.
There are plenty of places rns make 22 an hr as well. California taxes are super high so is cost of living. Youd be better off making 85k in ohio than 120k in the bay area. I have heard in California though a lot of places it may not be worthwhile to be an NP but sure you can find an RN it's on a weekend program or has a special gig where they're making more than end piece but in general the pay is roughly 50% more

In my BSN program, the nurse residency programs are coming to talk to us and new grad RN pay is $22ish. Some differentiate between BSN and ADN and others don't, I think.

From what I see/hear for new NP salary, it is in the $75-85K for primary care; maybe $90K for inpatient or specialty if you are desired. Heck, maybe it's even less than that. I can't be totally certain.

I can't figure out PMHNP around here.

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Specializes in ER LTC MED SURG CLINICS UROLOGY.

Gives me something to look forward to when I graduate í ½í¸‚í ½í¸‚í ½í¸‚

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I went into a specialty after graduating because Family Practice doesn't pay. My hospital system offered me $74k/year to work in Family Practice. I make $108k/yr in Palliative. Looks like I will continue to have goals of care discussions and assist with symptom management.

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I went into a specialty after graduating because Family Practice doesn't pay. My hospital system offered me $74k/year to work in Family Practice. I make $108k/yr in Palliative. Looks like I will continue to have goals of care discussions and assist with symptom management.

I agree. I always suggest for new NPs to gravitate towards Specialty practice, such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, GI, ID,occupational health etc.

Starting salary is much more satisfactory than Primary Care.

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Specializes in Rheumatology NP.
I realized about half-way through my NP program that we have a big problem brewing, and it is not rocket-science, but basic supply and demand. I would love to now discuss with the educators who talked about NPs like we are the health care saviors who will be in such high demand. Just check out PA program admission standards. And the programs themselves. I will not share my opinion on those that I checked out, but anyone who has been able to work and go to NP school like I did will quickly see there is not room for working while in PA school. Obviously, medical school is well-known. Then, look objectively at the trade schools like Walden, their admission requirements and then online promotion of ease. And actually, beyond the trade schools, just about any NP school now. It doesn't take much to get into NP school, and all those students are being churned out in astounding numbers. But, my point, we are creating our own low pay issues, and it is so sad.

I'm starting to wonder if this whole 'find your own preceptor' thing is one way of trying to reduce supply. Or maybe it's just happened naturally, I'm not sure. But there are TONS (scientific word) of programs out there and not enough preceptors. I'm suspecting that even the "B&M" supposed "top-ranked" schools are migrating towards this methodology. I do not have confirmation, but I spoke to one yesterday that gave me a VERY shady, vague answer about finding preceptors even LOCALLY for their program. IMO, if you find preceptors for your students, you just say, "Yes, we find preceptors." You don't have to talk around it.

Is this a way of reducing enrollment? Or is it literally because they are running out of preceptors for the insane number of students?

I will say this - I will NOT pay the amount of money that school charges per credit hour just to hunt down my own preceptors. No way. Something is very wrong with this picture.

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