What States Have the Most Job Openings for Nurse Practitioners?

When you get a higher degree in your field, you generally raise your earning potential. One of the other perks is that you can afford to be slightly less flexible with your location desires, since you are likely to receive more job offers no matter where you live. As a nurse practitioner, this is often the case, since many hospitals and other healthcare facilities are hiring nurses in these advanced positions to take over some tasks traditionally done by doctors.

States That Hire the Most Nurses

You might find it hard to find a job depending on your specialty or the type of employer you want. To increase your chances of getting that perfect job, start by applying in states that hire the most nurses, in relation to general population. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, those states are as follows:

• California: 240,030 nurses hired
• Texas: 176,330 nurses hired
• New York: 169,710 nurses hired
• Florida: 158,390 nurses hired
• Pennsylvania: 130,930 nurses hired

States That Pay Nurses the Most Money

In all of these states, the average salaries for nurses range from $44,190 to $95,130, and with your master’s degree in nursing as a nurse practitioner, you can expect to make at least that, if not more. If salary concerns you, though, you should perhaps look to the states that pay their nurses the most money. As of most recent reports according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, those states are as follows:

• California: $87,480 per year, on average
• Massachusetts: $84,990 per year, on average
• Hawaii: $82,130 per year, on average
• Alaska: $79,350 per year, on average
• Maryland: $76,450 per year, on average

Cities that Employ and Pay the Most

There’s also always a higher demand for medical staff members in cities than in more rural areas, in most cases. Moving to a city opens you up for more numerous job opportunities, many of which come attached to higher paychecks. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cities with the most jobs available are as follows:

1. Durham, North Carolina
2. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
3. Rochester, Minnesota
4. Gainesville, Florida
5. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio
6. Florence, South Carolina
7. Saginaw, Michigan

The highest-paying jobs can be found in the following metropolitan areas:

1. San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, California: $116,150 per year, on average
2. Oakland – Fremont – Hayward, California: $100,900 per year, on average
3. San Francisco – San Mateo – Redwood City, California: $97,600 per year, on average
4. Salinas, California- $97,450 per year, on average
5. Napa, California: $97,090 per year, on average
6. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California- $96,620 per year, on average
7. Vallejo-Fairfield, California- $95,420 per year, on average

Most Common and Highest Paying NP Careers

There are two types of Nurse Practitioners: Clinical and Administrative. Within these two types are a variety of specialties to choose from such as Pediatric, Family and, Adult care, Geriatrics, Women’s Health, Neonatal, Acute care, and Occupational Health. Each specialty has its own value and urgency when it comes to pay and employment rates. Below are several of the most common and lucrative nursing specialties:

Clinical Careers

• Clinical Nurse Specialist: A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an advanced-practice nurse who provides care to a specific age group or health concern. CNS salaries range from $62,985 – $106,133 according to Payscale.com.
• Nurse Anesthetist: A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a trained expert with advanced skills in the organization and management of anesthetic agents. CRNA salaries range from $80,123 – $171,695 according to Payscale.com.
• Nurse Midwife: A certified nurse mid-wife (CNM) provides prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal maternity care to expectant mothers, they also offer gynecologic examinations and often prescribe medication. CNM salaries range from $67,222 – $100,640 according to Payscale.com.
• General Nurse Practitioner: A nurse practitioner (NP) offers patient care in various sub-specialties such as cardiology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, primary care, pediatric oncology, among other areas. NP salaries range from $57,810 – $100,289 according to Payscale.com.

Administrative Careers

• Clinical Nurse Leader: A clinical nurse leader (CNL) steps into a leadership role by overseeing patient care and casework management while also motivating staff to perform at high expectations and standards. A CNL salary starts at $76,000 according to Indeed.com.
• Nurse Administrator: A nurse administrator is typically high-ranking or the head nurse at a hospital or health clinic and they are responsible for various administrative tasks while providing managerial support to an entire department. A nurse administrator salary starts at $77,000 according to Indeed.com.
• Nurse Educator: A certified nurse educator (CNE) trains new practitioners in a clinical/field setting, develops a curriculum and other instructional strategies. A CNE salary starts at $73,000 according to Indeed.com.
• Nurse Manager: Nurse managers are accountable for both administrative and nursing roles by directing and monitoring staff as well as managing patient care. A nurse manager salary starts at $80,000 according to Indeed.com.

With your MSN degree, the sky really is the limit when it comes to finding a job you love with a salary deserving of your time and educational level. Remember, some employers even pay for you to go on to get your doctorate with tuition reimbursement programs, so consider all of your job options carefully before you accept an offer. Visit our list of accredited schools and degrees to find a MSN program that meets your needs, and begin your career training today.

Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a graduate-level degree. While in most states RNs currently need only a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree to become nurse practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has proposed that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) be the minimum requirement for all advanced practice nurses by 2015. Listed below are the best online colleges offering accredited MSN and DNP degrees.

MS in Family Nursing MS in Midwifery/Women's Health	Georgetown University — The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies offers two online Master of Science in nursing degrees. The MS in family nurse practitioner program prepares students for careers as family nurses. The MS in midwifery / women's health nurse practitioner program perpares students for careers as nurse practitioners who specialize as midwives and caring for female patients. Click Here Click Here
MS in Nursing MSN/MBA Dual Degree MSN/MHA Dual Degree MSN in Health Education MSN in Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available. Click Here Click Here
MSN in Nurse Admin MSN in Nurse Informatics	Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more. Click Here Click Here
MSN in Clinical Nursing MSN in Nurse Midwifery MSN in Psychiatric Health MSN in Women's Health	University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse midwifery, and psychiatric & mental health nursing. Click Here Click Here
MSN for Nurse Practitioners	South University — South University has built a reputation on class flexibility and affordability. Their MSN program for nurse practitioners is no exception. This program is ideal for registered nurses who may be too busy with work for full-time campus classes, but looking for professional advancement in their respective careers by earning an online degree. Click Here Click Here
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