BSN to NP salary information and education benefits

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) reports that nurse practitioners (NPs) deliver a wide range of health-care services. In many cases, their job duties are similar to those provided by a doctor. To become an NP, a nurse must have either a master's or a doctorate. NPs also must fulfill the license requirements for the state in which they practice.

The extra education and responsibilities are reflected in BSN to NP salary increases. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for a registered nurses of all kinds was $63,750 in 2009, or $30.65 hourly. According to the AANP, nurse practitioners earned a mean annual salary of $90,000 in 2009. That same year, the BLS reported an even higher average salary for NPs, at $93,700. In either case, that BSN to NP salary increase is about 40 percent.

BSN to NP Salary Jump Depends on Several Factors

The BSN to NP salary increase can be even higher depending on the position held, years of service, and the industry. Also, those with a doctorate in nursing science can earn more than those with a master's.

When it comes to salaries for nurse practitioners, where the NPs practice is most telling. Salaries can vary as much as $30,000 within the field, according to the 2009 National Salary and Workplace Survey of Nurse Practitioners conducted online for Advance Magazine.

According to the survey, the highest paid NPs were those in aesthetics or skin care practices ($105,152), in emergency departments ($104,369) and in mental health settings ($100,140) while NPs in neonatal units averaged $95,280.