---
title: "Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Salaries: State Breakdown | ThriveAP"
description: "Occasionally, patients or acquaintances ask me why I did not become a doctor. I can always tell salary is on their mind. “Why would she choose to work a similar job for less?”, they wonder. Admittedly, compensation was a significant part of my own decision making process as I selected my career path. I became … Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Salaries: State Breakdown Read More »"
---

# Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Salaries: State Breakdown

Occasionally, patients or acquaintances ask me why I did not become a doctor. I can always tell salary is on their mind. “Why would she choose to work a similar job for less?”, they wonder. Admittedly, compensation was a significant part of my own decision making process as I selected my career path. I became an NP knowing full well that my salary would be significantly lower than that of a physician. Just how much lower are nurse practitioner salaries compared to those of physicians?

Several factors come into play in comparing salaries of healthcare providers with location and specialty being the primary influencers. Comparing NP and MD salaries on a state-by-state basis gives a more in-depth picture of differences in compensation between the two professions. Remember, nurse practitioner scope of practice regulations also affect NP salaries and may account for variations as well as inconsistent comparisons with MD salaries across state lines.

Overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, family and general practice physicians earn a mean annual wage of $186,320. Nurse practitioners earn, on average, $97,990. So, primary care physicians earn about $88,330 more annually than NPs. Physician salaries listed below are broken down by state and reflect data for family and general practice physicians. 

**Alabama**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $186,640

Hourly Rate: $89.73

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $91,000

Hourly Rate: $43.75

 

**Alaska**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $228,340

Hourly Rate: $109.78

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $115,670

Hourly Rate: $55.61

 

**Arizona**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $171,980

Hourly Rate: $82.68

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $102,720

Hourly Rate: $49.38

 

**Arkansas**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $202,110

Hourly Rate: $97.17

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $97,680

Hourly Rate: $46.96

 

**California**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $198,160

Hourly Rate: $95.27

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $115,460

Hourly Rate: $55.51

 

**Colorado**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $186,690

Hourly Rate: $89.75

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $101,290

Hourly Rate: $48.70

 

**Connecticut**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $177,910

Hourly Rate: $85.53

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $99,180

Hourly Rate: $47.68

 

**Delaware**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $105,210

Hourly Rate: $50.58

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $97,300

Hourly Rate: $46.78

 

**District of Columbia**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $192,590

Hourly Rate: $92.59

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $91,430

Hourly Rate: $43.96

 

**Florida**

*Physician *

Annual Salary: $194,040

Hourly Rate: $93.29

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $92,530

Hourly Rate: $44.49

 

**Georgia**

*Physician *

Annual Salary: $223,710

Hourly Rate: $107.55

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $90,490

Hourly Rate: $43.50

 

**Hawaii**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $231,110

Hourly Rate: $111.11

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $115,870

Hourly Rate: $55.71

 

**Idaho**

*Physician *

Annual Salary: $188,470

Hourly Rate: $90.61

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $94,040

Hourly Rate: $45.21

 

**Illinois**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $162,890

Hourly Rate: $78.31

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $85,410

Hourly Rate: $41.06

 

**Indiana**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $176,120

Hourly Rate: $84.67

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $93,200

Hourly Rate: $44.81

 

**Iowa**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $217,460

Hourly Rate: $104.55

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $92,770

Hourly Rate: $44.60

 

**Kansas**

*Physician *

Annual Salary: $222,090

Hourly Rate: $106.77

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $84,270

Hourly Rate: $40.51

 

**Kentucky**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $181,810

Hourly Rate: $87.41

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $93,230

Hourly Rate: $44.82

 

**Louisiana**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $182.790

Hourly Rate: $87.88

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $96,510

Hourly Rate: $46.40

 

**Maine**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $169,550

Hourly Rate: $81.51

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $94,400

Hourly Rate: $45.39

 

**Maryland**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $171,480

Hourly Rate: $82.44

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $93,020

Hourly Rate: $44.72

 

**Massachusetts**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $209,050

Hourly Rate: $100.51

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $107,230

Hourly Rate: $51.55

 

**Michigan**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $181,590

Hourly Rate: $87.30

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $92,260

Hourly Rate: $44.36

 

**Minnesota**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $183,010

Hourly Rate: $87.99

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $102,640

Hourly Rate: $49.35

 

**Mississippi**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $205,360

Hourly Rate: $98.73

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $99,080

Hourly Rate: $47.64

 

**Missouri**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $149,430

Hourly Rate: $71.84

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $89,690

Hourly Rate: $43.12

 

**Montana**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $191,730

Hourly Rate: $92.18

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $92,800

Hourly Rate: $44.61

 

**Nebraska**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $222,480

Hourly Rate: $106.96

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $90,240

Hourly Rate: $43.38

 

**Nevada**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $158,270

Hourly Rate: $76.09

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $95,450

Hourly Rate: $45.89

 

**New Hampshire**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $206,440

Hourly Rate: $99.25

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $100,000

Hourly Rate: $48.08

 

**New Jersey**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $162,360

Hourly Rate: $78.06

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $106,060

Hourly Rate: $50.99

 

**New Mexico**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $172,700

Hourly Rate: $83.03

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $100,490

Hourly Rate: $48.31

 

**New York**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $187,140

Hourly Rate: $89.97

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $104,510

Hourly Rate: $50.24

 

**North Carolina**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $200,710

Hourly Rate: $96.49

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $96,020

Hourly Rate: $46.16

 

**North Dakota**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $173,590

Hourly Rate: $83.46

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $88,520

Hourly Rate: $42.56

 

**Ohio**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $184,450

Hourly Rate: $88.68

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $92,830

Hourly Rate: $44.63

 

**Oklahoma**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $136,990

Hourly Rate: $65.86

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $82,880

Hourly Rate: $39.85

 

**Oregon**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $182,880

Hourly Rate: $87.93

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $111,160

Hourly Rate: $53.44

 

**Pennsylvania**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $190,470

Hourly Rate: $91.57

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $88,480

Hourly Rate: $42.54

 

**Rhode Island**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $193,800

Hourly Rate: $93.17

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $101,130

Hourly Rate: $48.62

 

**South Carolina**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $184,860

Hourly Rate: $88.88

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $88,460

Hourly Rate: $42.53

 

**South Dakota**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $203,320

Hourly Rate: $97.75

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $90,210

Hourly Rate: $43.37

 

**Tennessee**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $167,370

Hourly Rate: $80.47

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $91,950

Hourly Rate: $44.21

 

**Texas**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $196,380

Hourly Rate: $94.41

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $102,070

Hourly Rate: $49.07

 

**Utah**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $191,440

Hourly Rate: $92.04

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $93,110

Hourly Rate: $44.76

 

**Vermont**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $147,070

Hourly Rate: $70.71

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $91,030

Hourly Rate: $43.77

 

**Virginia**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $178,130

Hourly Rate: $85.64

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $96,420

Hourly Rate: $46.35

 

**Washington**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $190,600

Hourly Rate: $91.63

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $100,530

Hourly Rate: $48.33

 

**West Virginia**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $173,080

Hourly Rate: $83.21

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $88,780

Hourly Rate: $42.68

 

**Wisconsin**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $198,120

Hourly Rate: $95.25

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $93,170

Hourly Rate: $44.79

 

**Wyoming**

*Physician*

Annual Salary: $165,550

Hourly Rate: $79.59

*Nurse Practitioner*

Annual Salary: $90,400

Hourly Rate: $43.46

 

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

***How does your salary compare?***

 

[General NP Information](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/tag/general-np-information) , [Nurse Practitioner Career Advice](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/tag/nurse-practitioner-career-advice)

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