The Kansas Department of Labor projects a high level of growth for a number of advanced nursing professions between 2016 and 2026. These estimates highlight the need for highly trained nurses in Kansas:
- Nurse Educators – 20.3% increase
- Nurse Practitioners – 22.8% increase
- Nurse Administrators and Executives – 11.4% increase
Sponsored School(s)
Kansas faced such a severe shortage of nurses over the last decade that the state’s legislators created the Kansas Nursing Initiative. The Governor signed this $30 million funding and matching grant program in place in 2006. The initiative places a high value on the education of nurses in Kansas and provided the funding to hire a number of additional nursing faculty.
Stakeholders emphasize the value of obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)—the highest level of practical education available to nurses.
A 2017 report by the Kansas Health Institute revealed that the state’s efforts are paying off. During this time, nearly 15% of all Kansas RNs were pursuing a master’s degree or higher. The report also found that RNs with advanced education were more likely to be employed; more likely to work in academic settings or ambulatory clinics; and more likely to be faculty or to hold management and/or leadership positions.
According to a 2018 Advance Healthcare Network report, NPs with a DNP earned an average of $7,700 more a year than NPs whose highest degree was a master’s.
Salaries for DNP Nurses Throughout Kansas
The Kansas Department of Labor provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the state and in the major metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of the state (2018):
- Nurse Anesthetists: $180,100+
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $107,390-$140,990
- Nurse Practitioners: $114,990-$130,370
- Nurse Educators: $77,850-$105,490
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Lawrence: $109,810-$134,510
- Manhattan: $105,920-$133,850
- Topeka: $122,570-$152,060
- Wichita: $106,990-$144,530
Nurse Educators:
- Wichita: $102,670-$169,670
Nurse Practitioners:
- Topeka: $122,940-$144,570
- Wichita: $96,910-$114,180
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Wichita: $172,860+
An Overview of Hourly Salaries for Kansas’ DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that 78% of APRNs are paid overtime for their work, revealing that hourly wages—and the significant income that can result from overtime—are quite commonplace.
The Kansas Department of Labor provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $86.59+
- Nurse Practitioners: $55.28-$62.68
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $51.63-$67.78
Salary and employment data compiled by the Kansas Department of Labor in May of 2018 – (https://klic.dol.ks.gov/). 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.