How Much Do Cardiac Nurse Practitioners Make?
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As a cardiac nurse practitioner, you will enjoy a high level of professional autonomy and the opportunity to save and transform patients’ lives. While cardiac nursing is stressful and demanding, it is also a professionally and financially rewarding career. The median annual cardiology nurse practitioner salary is $110,000, according to the AANP.
Read on for detailed information on cardiac nurse practitioner salary ranges and strategies to maximize your salary, and learn more about becoming a cardiac nurse practitioner.
Average Salary for Cardiac Nurse Practitioners
The median cardiology NP salary is $110,000, according to the AANP, and the median hourly wage is $58.00. This is slightly less than the median annual salary of $117,000 for all advanced practice nurses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which includes nurse anesthetists, but in line with the median of $111,680 for all nurse practitioners.
Among nurse practitioner specialties, psychiatric, emergency, and hospitalist specialists have a higher median salary, according to the AANP.
Highest and Lowest Paying States for Cardiac Nurse Practitioners
While the BLS does not provide detailed information on cardiology NP salary ranges, it does provide detailed information on nurse practitioner salaries by geographic area. These salary patterns are very likely to hold across specialties and apply to the typical cardiology nurse practitioner salary.
Nurse practitioner salaries are highest in California, New Jersey, Washington, New York, and Massachusetts, states with a greater demand for nurses and higher cost of living. Nurse practitioner salaries are lowest in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and southwest Virginia, according to the BLS. However, lower costs of living in these states may mean that a lower cardiology NP salary may go as far or further than in a state with a higher cost of living.
How Do Cardiac Nurse Practitioner Salaries Compare to Other Clinical Focus Areas?
Among the top eight specialties, the median cardiac nurse practitioner salary is higher than the median annual salary for internal medicine and primary care specialists, but lower than emergency, psychiatric, and hospitalist specialists. Among other specialties not listed here, the median cardiology nurse practitioner salary is also higher than the median salary for OB/GYN, urgent care, and health promotion NP specialists, according to the AANP.
3 Ways to Increase Pay As a Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
There are many ways to increase your cardiology nurse practitioner salary. Each of these suggestions comes with pros and cons, so you will also want to consider the impact on your lifestyle and spending power.
1. Relocate to a Higher Paying Region
You can earn a higher cardiology NP salary by relocating to an area with higher demand for workers. However, locations offering a higher cardiac nurse practitioner salary may include a higher cost of living or require a longer commute to live in a lower-cost area within that state.
2. Work as a Travel Nurse
As a travel nurse, you will go to places where the demand is highest, but on a temporary basis. Employers are willing to pay a premium for this flexibility, and you can earn a considerably higher cardiology nurse practitioner salary as a travel nurse. However, depending on your contract, some of your gains may be offset by higher travel and living costs and few or no benefits.
3. Take on Additional Responsibilities or Shifts
If you like your current employer and location, you still have options to increase your cardiac nurse practitioner salary. You can take on extra responsibilities or more administrative roles. Some of these may require additional certifications or education, such as a DNP. You can also work the less desirable shifts, if these pay at a higher rate, or put in more overtime hours.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiac Nurse Practitioner Salaries
Are cardiac nurse practitioners in demand?
Nurse practitioners are in high demand in general, due to healthcare staffing shortages and payers and providers both seeking to limit healthcare costs. The combination of an aging population and rising obesity and inactivity rates are driving high demand for cardiac nurse practitioners in particular.
What are the highest paying work settings for nurse practitioners?
Community service and emergency relief settings have the highest nurse practitioner salaries, at an average $143,480, according to the BLS. Religious organizations pay an average $131,000, followed by residential care facilities at $130,830, social advocacy organizations offering $127,970, and outpatient centers paying an average $123,850. However, these include all nurse practitioner salaries, which may vary from the typical cardiac nurse practitioner salary in these settings.
Can cardiac nurse practitioners earn their DNP?
You can earn a DNP as a cardiac nurse practitioner. There are online programs as well as hybrid and on-campus programs. A DNP can lead to an administrative role, a higher-level role (especially in an academic medical center or large hospital), or a teaching career.
What skills may contribute to higher salaries for cardiac nurse practitioners?
Administrative skills, including leadership and informatics skills, can contribute to a higher cardiology nurse practitioner salary. You can also learn how to use new and emerging technologies, such as robotic surgery. Because cardiology is a steadily changing field, being a fast learner who can apply what you learn will help you increase your professional value.
