The Top 20 Career Path Options for Nurse Practitioners

Average Salary:$135,453

Emergency nurse practitioners (ENPs) earn the highest salary among the other NP specialties. They primarily work in emergency rooms, but they can also work in urgent care centers, trauma centers, and ambulatory care centers.

ENPs care for and treat acutely ill, pregnant, and injured patients of all ages. The top diagnoses treatment for ENPs are:

Average Salary:$134,369

Nephrology NPs care for and treat patients with kidney disease, injuries, diabetes, and hypertension. They also educate patients on improving kidney health and preventative care.

Nephrology NPs work in hospital in-patient units and outpatient clinics like dialysis centers.

Average Salary:$132,327

Hospice NPs care for, treat, and comfort terminally ill patients. They also help support families by educating them on disease processes and managing symptoms. Hospice NPs prepare patients and families for end-of-life but also evaluate patients who no longer qualify for hospice care.

Typical work settings include:

Average Salary:$128,285

Cardiac NPs provide care and treat patients with acute or chronic heart conditions. The top diagnoses treated by cardiac NPs are:

Cardiac NPs assess patients’ health, prescribe medication (depending on their practice authority), promote nonpharmacological treatments, and collaborate with the entire healthcare team. Cardiac NPs typically work in hospital inpatient units and outpatient clinics.

Average Salary:$127,114

Orthopedic NPs focus on treating patients with musculoskeletal issues, including injuries to the bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissue. They can provide general services encompassing aspects of orthopedic care or specialize in sports medicine, orthopedic oncology, and metabolic disorders.

Average Salary:$126,849

Oncology NPs (ONPs) diagnose and treat patients with cancer. They play an instrumental role in coordinating patients’ care throughout their treatment. ONPs assist with surgeries. They also order treatment plans such as radiation and chemotherapy. ONPs educate patients and their families while managing patient outcomes.

While they work in various settings, ONPs are often employed by oncology departments focusing on medical, radiation, or surgical care.

Average Salary:$125,982

Palliative care NPs provide care and support to patients with terminal and non-terminal chronic conditions. Palliative care NPs commonly encounter patients with cancer, advanced heart disease, neurological disorders, and dementia. Palliative care begins at the diagnosis stage and continues into end-of-life care.

According to the Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE), there is a huge demand for palliative care NPs due to increased technological advancement and pharmacology treatment. Patients are living longer and will need extra support managing their conditions.

Palliative care NPs typically find employment within hospitals, medical offices, patient homes, and inpatient hospice facilities. These professionals generally work with adults and geriatric patients.

Average Salary:$125,982

Dermatology NPs treat medical conditions or diseases related to the skin. While they work with all ages, dermatology NPs can specialize in specific age groups, such as children or older populations, or focus on certain diseases, like cancer.

Average Salary:$125,190

Primary care nurse practitioners (PCNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who work in various primary care settings. They care for individuals, families, and specialty patient groups, such as women and pediatrics.

According to the American Association for Nurse Practitioners (AANP), 88% of NPs are certified in primary care, and 70% of all NPs deliver primary care. PCNPs assess, diagnose and treat patients with acute and chronic conditions and educate them on preventative care and wellness.

PCNPs collaborate with other health professional teams. They can also work independently, depending on their practice authority in their state.

Average Salary:$122,233

Surgical NPs care for and treat patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. SNPs have extensive training in operating rooms and assistants during surgical procedures. Surgical NPs can work in hospital inpatient units and outpatient clinics. They can also work in plastic surgery clinics.

Average Salary:$120,575

Pediatric acute care NPs (PACNPs) provide comprehensive care to children and adolescents experiencing critical, acute, and chronic conditions. They often work in inpatient and outpatient hospitals, emergency departments, and home care settings. PACNPs help meet children’s and adolescents’ specific physiological and psychological needs.

Average Salary:$120,383

According to the AANP, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are in the highest demand. PMHNPs assess, diagnose and treat patients with psychiatric disorders and addiction. PMHNPs provide therapy, administer psychosocial assessments, and provide care for patients with mental health emergencies.

The top practice settings for PMHNPs are:

Average Salary:$117,894

Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) are a specialized group of APRNs who work with high-risk infants in intensive care units (ICUs) and, in some cases, after being discharged from the hospital. NNPs also educate families on how to care for their preterm infants, infants born with genetic conditions, drug addiction, HIV infection and or other chronic conditions.

According to the AANP, NNPs primarily work in hospital inpatient units. The top diagnoses NNPs treat are:

Average Salary:$112,182

Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) typically describe acute care, pediatric acute care, and adult-gerontology acute care NPs. ACNPs care and treat patients with acute conditions that may also be complex. These conditions range from minor injuries to cardiac issues like heart attacks and arrhythmias.

ACNPs work in various environments, including emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, and operating rooms. ACNPs, especially those working with the geriatric population, are extending their care into long-term care facilities and specialty clinics.

Average Salary:$109,914

Adult nurse practitioners (ANPs) evaluate and diagnose common, acute, and chronic health issues among adolescents, adults, and the geriatric community. ANPs often specialize in areas such as women’s health, cardiovascular care, and psychiatry, but they typically work with a broad population.

ANPs work in hospital outpatient and inpatient facilities and private practices.

Average Salary:$109,456

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AG-ACNPs) care for adults and geriatric patients with acute, chronic, or critical conditions. AG-ACNPs work in clinics, physician offices, hospitals, retirement homes, and private practices.

AG-ACNPs write prescriptions (depending on practice authority), interpret ECG monitoring, and assess patient responses to medications and treatment. The top diagnoses AG-ACNPs treat are:

Average Salary:$108,905

Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AG-PCNPs) specialize in caring for patients ages 13 and older. AG-PCNPs treat patients experiencing chronic illnesses, oncology and hematology patients.

The top practice settings for AG-PCNPs include:

The top diagnoses AG-PCNPs treat are:

Average Salary:$104,234

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide family-based health services focusing on various patients and preventative care. FNPs work with infants, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations. Their work settings include:

According to the AANP, over 70% of primary care certifications are FNPs.

Average Salary:$102,285

Women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) specialize in continuing and comprehensive healthcare services for women. They provide reproductive, gynecological, prenatal, and postpartum care. WHNPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and preventative maintenance at facilities specializing in women’s healthcare, family planning, and reproductive services.

Average Salary:$100,656

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) specialize in caring for newborns, infants, toddlers, adolescents, and young adults. They primarily focus on preventive care and managing acute and chronic pediatric conditions.

The top practice settings for PNPs are:

The top diagnoses PNPs treat are: