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Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Salary
By Allison Skoglind, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 27 2011
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What is the average neonatal nurse practitioner salary?
According to the 2009 National Salary and Workplace Survey of Nurse Practitioners, the average salary for nurse practitioners (including neonatal nurse practitioners)
employed throughout the United States was approximately $81,397 in 2007. However, by 2009 this average climbed to $89,579 indicating a 10% salary increase for nurse practitioners in just two years.
What do education and experience influence salaries for neonatal nurse practitioners?
The type of work setting a nurse practitioner is employed in can often influence earnings. Fortunately, neonatal units like NICUs are among the top five highest paying work settings in the United States. Here, neonatal nurse practitioners typically achieve an annual salary of $95,280. On the other hand, NNPs that work in educational settings like colleges and universities as teachers and professors can expect a slightly lower average salary of $81,981.Another factor that impacts salary figures is a neonatal nurse practitioner's education. Neonatal nurse practitioners that hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree may earn almost $10,000 more each year than NNPs that hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Not surprisingly, the number of years of past work experience a nurse practitioner acquires also influence salaries. For instance, according to National Salary and Workplace Survey of Nurse Practitioners, in 2007 NPs with up two years of experience in the field earned an average of $80,000/yr. while those with between eleven and fifteen years of experience earned closer to $90,000/yr.
How can subspecialty training influence salaries for neonatal nurse practitioners?
Furthermore, professionals that seek training in subspecialty areas tend to benefit from higher salaries as well. Some subspecialties for neonatal nurse practitioners include palliative care nursing, electronic fetal monitoring, and neonatal pediatric transport.Studies also show that neonatal nurse practitioners that work on-call can earn better salaries then those that do not. An estimated 47% of NPs employed in neonatal units take call.
How can location influence salaries for neonatal nurse practitioners?
Finally, because economic conditions, general populations, and health care demands can differentiate between states, a neonatal nurse salary can differ widely according to geographic location as a result. As of 2009, the top five highest paying states for nurse practitioners were California ($106,481/yr.), Alaska ($102,710/yr.), New Jersey ($98,896/yr.), Nevada ($97,836/yr.) and Arizona ($97,242/yr.) On the other hand, the states with the lowest average nurse practitioner salaries were Nebraska ($79,782/yr.), Alabama ($79,733/yr.), and South Dakota ($77,129/yr.). As such, neonatal nurse practitioners that can relocate for a position are more likely to improve their earning potential.Learn more about neonatal nurse practitioner programs.
