Rural Maine suffers from a shortage of healthcare providers, according to the state’s Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information. The highest-trained clinical nurses in the state—advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)—are qualified to provide primary care services, which is vital in a state where more than 40% of its residents live in rural areas and recruiting and retaining healthcare providers is particularly difficult.
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A shortage of healthcare providers in Maine offers opportunities for highly trained nurses throughout the state. Rural Maine suffers from a shortage of healthcare providers, according to the state’s Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information. More than 40% of Maine’s residents live in rural areas and recruiting and retaining healthcare providers is particularly difficult in these areas.
Nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) have the highest level of clinical training, which will help ameliorate the primary care shortage in Maine.
While an MSN is the minimum educational requirement to practice as an APRN, obtaining a DNP confers both the ability to practice at a high level and significant economic benefits. According to a 2018 Advance Healthcare Network survey, DNP-educated nurse practitioners surveyed earned an average of 7% more than NPs whose highest degree was a master’s.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Maine
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information, 2018):
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $104,280-$132,380
- Nurse Practitioners: $119,560-$131,370
- Nurse Anesthetists: $188,360+
- Nursing Educators: $72,300-$93,010
Salaries for DNP Nurses in the Most Populated Cities of Maine
The Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the most populated cities of Maine (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Bangor: $108,080-$143,360
- Lewiston: $100,600-$126,000
- Portland: $109,150-$138,410
Nurse Practitioners:
- Bangor: $117,600-$129,630
- Lewiston: $119,650-$133,040
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Portland: $193,440+
Nurse Educators:
- Bangor: $66,050-$77,330
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Maine’s DNP-Educated Nurses
According to a 2019 Medscape Compensation Report, 78% of APRNs earn overtime pay, which means they are paid an hourly wage. It is worthwhile to view hourly wages for DNP nurses because overtime for these professionals can account for a significant portion of their annual income.
The Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $90.56+
- Nurse Practitioners: $57.48-$63.16
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $50.13-$63.65
Salary and employment data compiled by the Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information in May of 2018 – (https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/outlook.html). 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.