According to the Virginia Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center’s Virginia’s Registered Nurse Workforce: 2018 report, the number of RNs with a doctorate degree has continued to increase in recent years, rising from 1,017 in 2016, to 1,089 in 2017, to 1,302 in 2018.
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Virginia stakeholders and nurses alike recognize that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) provides the highest level of practical training for nurses. And, fortunately, Virginia is home to no less than 14 DNP programs, as of 2019.
Earning a DNP provides an assurance of high salaries. In fact, the Advance Healthcare Network quantified the economic benefits of possessing a DNP in its 2018 national survey of nurse practitioners. The Network identified a 7% increase in salary on average for NPs who possessed a DNP compared to those who had earned an MSN as their highest degree.
Statewide Salaries for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Virginia
Virginia nurses with a DNP consistently earn top salaries, according to the Virginia Employment Commission, as of 2018:
- Nursing Administrators: $133,610-$171,800
- Nursing Educators: $79,950-$104,950
- Nurse Practitioners: $120,870-$134,430
- Nurse-Midwives: $105,930-$120,810
- Nurse Anesthetists: $205,540+
Salaries for DNP Nurses in Virginia’s Major Cities
The Virginia Employment Commission provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the major cities of the state (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Charlottesville: $131,460-$201,760
- Lynchburg: $131,120-$185,920
- Richmond: $145,730-$176,570
- Roanoke: $138,660-$173,810
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News: $132,000-$152,540
Nurse Educators:
- Richmond: $91,520-$128,350
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News: $77,920-$93,920
Nurse Practitioners:
- Charlottesville: $115,660-$141,270
- Lynchburg: $110,520-$126,870
- Richmond: $120,750-$136,640
- Roanoke: $109,960-$124,580
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News: $113,550-$131,780
Nurse-Midwives:
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News: $102,980-$118,610
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Virginia’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that 78% of APRNs are paid overtime for their work, which reveals that they are paid hourly and not annually.
The Virginia Employment Commission provides hourly wages for DNP-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Practitioners: $58.11-$64.63
- Nurse Midwives: $50.93-$58.08
- Nurse Anesthetists: $98.82+
- Nurse Administrators: $64.24-$82.60
Salary and employment data compiled by the Virginia Employment Commission in May of 2018 – (https://www.vawc.virginia.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.