Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
Top 10% Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)
The top 10% of nurse practitioners earn $177,591 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $137,270 (lowest-paying metro) to $252,047 (highest-paying metro).
90th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Most senior and management nurse practitioners earn at the 75th-to-90th percentile band. The median (50th percentile) is the right anchor for typical workers; the 75th percentile fits experienced specialists. See "Senior nurse practitioner salary" for the 75th-percentile band.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Top Pay |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $252,047 |
| San Diego, CA | $229,850 |
| San Jose, CA | $215,610 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $212,380 |
| Boston, MA | $206,330 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay variation for Nurse Practitioners is meaningful but moderate — top metros pay roughly 1.9× the lowest, a $109,570 spread. Cost of living plus a modest premium for high-demand metros explains most of it.
Roughly 120,280 Nurse Practitioners are employed across the metros tracked here — a sizable mid-tier occupation with reliable percentile data.
Other Pay Levels for Nurse Practitioners
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
- Entry-level nurse practitioner salary →
- Junior nurse practitioner salary →
- How much do nurse practitioners make →
- Senior nurse practitioner salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 25 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 29-1171. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10% Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)?
The top 10% of nurse practitioners earn $177,591 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $137,270 (lowest-paying metro) to $252,047 (highest-paying metro).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Nurse Practitioners have a national median (50th percentile) of $142,700. The 90th percentile shown on this page ($177,591) is 24% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do nurse practitioners at this level earn the most?
San Francisco, CA pays the highest at this percentile band — $252,047. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Nashville, TN at $137,270.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 90th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 90% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage above which only the top 10% earn. Workers in this band are typically principals, directors, senior managers, or highly-specialized individual contributors at top-paying employers. Reaching this band usually requires 15+ years of experience plus deep specialization, or a move to a top-paying metro.
Where does this nurse practitioner salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
The top 10% of nurse practitioners earn $177,591 or more per year as of 2026, based on the 90th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the threshold at which only 10% of workers in this occupation earn more. Across U.S. metros, the 90th percentile ranges from $137,270 (lowest-paying metro) to $252,047 (highest-paying metro).