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A nurse practitioner treats patients by evaluating a patient's health, administering diagnostic tests, designing a patient's health care plan, and prescribing medication. They generally specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as family practice, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, or acute care. To become an nurse practitioner, a person must be a registered nurse, hold a graduate degree such as a master's degree or doctorate, and become certified by the National Board of Nurse Practitioners, according to the American College of Nurse Practitioners.

The Nurse Practitioner Salary

The nurse practitioner salary can be estimated using two credible sources: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey from 2008 and a survey conducted by the professional organization, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, in 2009.

• BLS: Nurse practitioners are a subset of registered nurses. As a group, registered nurses made between $44,000 and $93,000 per year in 2008. Nurse practitioners, however, are among the most highly trained, educated, and independently practicing of those working in the nursing profession. Thus, nurse practitioners are likely to earn towards the very high end of the pay scale.
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: According to results from a survey conducted in 2009 by this professional association, nurse practitioners made an average of $90,000 per year, confirming their salaries are near the highest among registered nurses.

Job Outlook for Nurse Practitioners

The BLS notes that nurse practitioners should be in high demand through 2018, especially those that practice in rural areas or the inner city. The high demand for qualified nurse practitioners now and in the future assures a competitive and generous salary.