The highest average hourly wage for NPs is in California, but the state also holds the nation’s third-highest cost of living, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. After adjusting for cost of living, California falls all the way to number 36 on the list.
Here is every state, ranked by its living cost-adjusted average PA wage:
|
Rank |
State |
NP hourly mean wage |
Cost of living as % of US avg. |
Living cost-adjusted NP pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Iowa |
$58.35 |
89% |
$65.56 |
|
2 |
Oklahoma |
$56.08 |
85.7% |
$65.44 |
|
3 |
Illinois |
$57.92 |
91.4% |
$63.37 |
|
4 |
Mississippi |
$53.73 |
84.9% |
$63.29 |
|
5 |
Minnesota |
$61.06 |
96.8% |
$63.08 |
|
6 |
Texas |
$56.68 |
90.9% |
$62.35 |
|
7 |
Indiana |
$54.56 |
88.9% |
$61.37 |
|
8 |
New Mexico |
$56.96 |
93.6% |
$60.85 |
|
9 |
Kansas |
$52.27 |
86.4% |
$60.50 |
|
10 |
Georgia |
$52.67 |
87.8% |
$59.99 |
|
11 |
Wyoming |
$55.06 |
91.8% |
$59.98 |
|
12 |
Wisconsin |
$56.24 |
94.8% |
$59.32 |
|
13 |
Nebraska |
$54.17 |
91.5% |
$59.20 |
|
14 |
Ohio |
$54.08 |
92% |
$58.78 |
|
15 |
Louisiana |
$54.16 |
92.8% |
$58.36 |
|
16 |
Pennsylvania |
$56.38 |
97.9% |
$57.59 |
|
17 |
South Dakota |
$54.00 |
93.8% |
$57.57 |
|
18 |
Arkansas |
$51.48 |
89.9% |
$57.26 |
|
19 |
Michigan |
$52.30 |
91.6% |
$57.10 |
|
20 |
North Carolina |
$54.20 |
95% |
$57.05 |
|
21 |
West Virginia |
$50.36 |
88.5% |
$56.90 |
|
22 |
Nevada |
$59.46 |
105.4% |
$56.41 |
|
23 |
Alabama |
$49.24 |
87.5% |
$56.27 |
|
24 |
Missouri |
$49.76 |
88.6% |
$56.16 |
|
25 |
North Dakota |
$54.19 |
96.7% |
$56.04 |
|
26 |
New Jersey |
$65.87 |
118.6% |
$55.54 |
|
27 |
Washington |
$62.90 |
113.9% |
$55.22 |
|
28 |
Arizona |
$57.65 |
106.9% |
$53.93 |
|
29 |
Delaware |
$55.88 |
103.9% |
$53.78 |
|
30 |
Kentucky |
$51.00 |
95.2% |
$53.57 |
|
31 |
Rhode Island |
$60.94 |
113.8% |
$53.55 |
|
32 |
Montana |
$55.63 |
104.8% |
$53.08 |
|
33 |
Utah |
$54.29 |
102.4% |
$53.02 |
|
34 |
South Carolina |
$49.45 |
94.2% |
$52.49 |
|
35 |
Virginia |
$54.00 |
103.2% |
$52.33 |
|
36 |
California |
$72.99 |
139.8% |
$52.21 |
|
37 |
Colorado |
$54.13 |
105.1% |
$51.50 |
|
38 |
New Hampshire |
$58.05 |
113.2% |
$51.28 |
|
39 |
Oregon |
$61.63 |
120.6% |
$51.10 |
|
40 |
Tennessee |
$45.73 |
89.5% |
$51.09 |
|
41 |
Idaho |
$50.62 |
99.7% |
$50.77 |
|
42 |
Connecticut |
$57.91 |
116.7% |
$49.62 |
|
43 |
Florida |
$50.40 |
103% |
$48.93 |
|
44 |
Maine |
$55.95 |
116.9% |
$47.86 |
|
45 |
New York |
$64.39 |
136.8% |
$47.07 |
|
46 |
Vermont |
$54.11 |
116.7% |
$46.37 |
|
47 |
Maryland |
$55.63 |
125.1% |
$44.47 |
|
48 |
Alaska |
$54.72 |
126.7% |
$43.19 |
|
49 |
Massachusetts |
$62.28 |
147.9% |
$42.11 |
|
50 |
Hawaii |
$61.29 |
189.9% |
$32.27 |
Methodology
Figures in the far right column are calculated by multiplying the state’s average NP wage and its cost of living modifier.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.