The advanced practice provider workforce remains in high demand as health systems navigate physician shortages, outpatient care growth and rising inpatient acuity. At the same time, compensation growth among APPs shows signs of stabilizing after years of significant increases, according to a survey conducted by SullivanCotter.
The “2025 Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Survey” draws data from more than 785 health systems, hospitals and physician group practices representing more than 155,000 certified anesthesiologist assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Here are seven trends from the survey, released Oct. 29:
1. Median base salary for hospital-based specialties grew 6.2% from 2024 to 2025, while median total cash compensation — which includes base salary and annual incentive awards — rose 5.7% during the same period.
2. Median total cash compensation for primary care specialties grew 4% year over year, while medical and surgical specialties saw increases of 2.8% and 2.4%, respectively.
3. From 2022 to 2025, median total cash compensation for CRNAs increased 22.9%, and median total cash compensation for CAAs climbed 40.7%.
4. While year-over-year growth is still high for these providers with a 5.2% increase for CRNAs and a 6.4% increase for CAAs, the change is not as significant as in past years.
5. Incentive pay continues to be a common practice, with 55% of organizations using incentive pay for at least some of their APPs as of 2025.
6. Shift differentials and extra shift pay also continue to be common practices, with 66% of organizations providing these differentials to at least some departments.
7. Eighty-two percent of organizations provide pay for extra shifts for some or all APPs at a median rate of $85 per hour, or 25% of base pay.
