Advanced nursing practitioners and administrators in Georgia are growing much faster than occupations as a whole in the state, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. Between 2016 and 2026, these professions are projected to grow by:
- Nurse-Midwives – 24.3%
- Nurse Educators – 33%
- Nurse Practitioners – 38.5%
- Nurse Administrators and Executives – 25%
- Nurse Anesthetists – 20%
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The above nursing professions, which include advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are among the nurses in Georgia most likely to hold the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the highest clinical nursing degree available. This is good news, particularly in a state like Georgia that’s projected to experience a deficit of primary care physicians through 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The DNP is the degree of choice for nurses who are seeking greater professional opportunities and higher salaries.
For example, the Advance Healthcare Network surveyed nurse practitioners throughout the country in 2018 and determined that NPs with a Doctor of Nursing Practice earned $7,683 more than NPs with a master’s degree.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Georgia
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Georgia Department of Labor, 2018):
- Nurse Anesthetists: $165,480+
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $126,510-$184,680
- Nurse Practitioners: $121,210-$133,300
- Nurse-Midwives: $118,850-$144,800
- Nurse Educators: $92,480-$117,830
Salaries for DNP Nurses in Georgia’s Major Cities
The Georgia Department of Labor provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the most populated cities in the state (2018):
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Atlanta: $158,970-$183,710
- Augusta: $198,920+
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Atlanta: $131,680-$193,350
- Columbus: $111,130-$137,220
- Augusta: $119,580-$153,210
- Macon: $138,840-$201,270
Nurse Practitioners:
- Atlanta: $122,060-$131,920
- Columbus: $131,600-$151,380
- Augusta: $122,660-$151,160
- Macon: $117,520-$136,770
Nurse-Midwives:
- Atlanta: $123,800-$154,350
Nurse Educators:
- Atlanta: $109,950-$129,270
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Georgia’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that more than three-quarters of APRNs are paid overtime for their work, revealing that hourly wages in this field are common.
The Georgia Department of Labor provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $79.56+
- Nurse Midwives: $57.14-$69.62
- Nurse Practitioners: $58.27-$64.10
Salary and employment data compiled by the Georgia Department of Labor in May of 2018 – (https://explorer.gdol.ga.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.