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

Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.

MS in Family Nursing MS in Midwifery/Women's Health	Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Click Here Click Here
MSN in Nurse Admin MSN in Nurse Informatics	Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 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 — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Click Here Click Here
RN to MSN MSN in Case Management MSN in Infection Prevention MSN in Management MSN in Nursing Informatics	American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. Click Here Click Here
MSN in Nurse Educator MSN in Nurse Educator Bridge	Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Click Here Click Here
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