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These States Pay the Lowest Salaries for Nurse Practitioners | ThriveAP

Written by Erin Tolbert, MSN, FNP-C | Apr 16, 2020 8:25:26 AM

Whether you’re considering entering the nurse practitioner profession or are an experienced NP looking to relocate, salary is certainly a major deciding factor. While a state’s average salary won’t dictate your exact income, it can at least give you a general idea of how much you may be able to make; plus it’s always fun to look at the numbers and how they compare across the country. Each year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics collects salary information for various professions and publishes data for the prior year. While the 2019 NP stats aren’t available quite yet, the 2018 stats are, and these ten states ranked the lowest on the list. 

Keep in mind that although these states have the lowest paying salaries for NPs, many of them have also have a low cost of living; which is something you should take into consideration if you’re serious about relocation. Because other factors like the number of employed NPs in these states, and whether or not there are state income taxes are also pertinent, we’ve included these stats to give you an even better picture of the numbers.

 

1. Alabama

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $46.14

Annual Mean Wage: $95,970

 

Cost of Living: 89.3%

Number of employed NPs: 3,680

State income tax: 2% to 5%, the highest rate applies to incomes over $3,000 

 

 

2. Tennessee

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $46.15

Annual Mean Wage: $95,990

 

Cost of Living: 88.7%

Number of employed NPs: 7,010

State income tax: A flat rate of 2% on unearned income only

 

 

3. Pennsylvania

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $47.24

Annual Mean Wage: $98,250

 

Cost of Living: 101.7%

Number of employed NPs: 7,280

State income tax: A flat rate of 3.07%

 

 

4. Kansas

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $47.80

Annual Mean Wage: $99,430

 

Cost of Living: 89%

Number of employed NPs: 2,270

State income tax: 3.1% to 5.7%, the highest rate applies to incomes over $30,000

 

 

5. Kentucky

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $47.97

Annual Mean Wage: $99,790

 

Cost of Living: 90.9%

Number of employed NPs: 3,160

State income tax: Flat rate of 5%

 

 

6. South Carolina

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $48.03

Annual Mean Wage: $99,910

 

Cost of Living: 95.9%

Number of employed NPs: 2,260

State income tax: 1.1% to 7%, the highest rate applies to incomes over $12,250

 

 

7. West Virginia

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $48.41

Annual Mean Wage: $100,690

 

Cost of Living: 91.1%

Number of employed NPs: 1,080

State income tax: 3% to 6.5%, the highest rate applies to incomes $60,000

 

 

8. South Dakota

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $48.41

Annual Mean Wage: $100,690

 

Cost of Living: 99.8%

Number of employed NPs: 540

No state income tax

 

 

9. Florida

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $48.61

Annual Mean Wage: $101,100

 

Cost of Living: 97.9%

Number of employed NPs: 10,590

No state income tax

 

 

10. Ohio

 

Hourly Mean Wage: $49.02

Annual Mean Wage: $101,970

 

Cost of Living: 90.8%

Number of employed NPs: 7,510

State income tax:  1.98% to 4.997%, the highest rate applies to incomes over $217,400

 

Which states were you most surprised to see not make the list?

 

Sources:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/cost-of-living-index-by-state/ 

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm#(2) 

https://www.thebalance.com/state-income-tax-rates-3193320