According to the American Association for Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are enrolling more students than ever before. As of 2018, there were 348 DNP programs available nationwide and another 98 in development. And between 2017 and 2018, the number of nursing students enrolled in those programs increased by more than 3,500, from 29,093 to 32,678. DNP programs are now available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Sponsored School(s)
Growth in the number of DNP programs and the significant increase in student enrollment comes as no surprise. This is because, now more than ever, employers are recognizing the value of DNP-prepared nurses in the practice arena and exploring the many ways these nursing professionals can make a difference in the field: delivering patient-centered care while emphasizing evidence-based practice, informatics, and quality improvement.
For many nurses, a DNP lays the foundation for new opportunities for innovation and collaboration in nursing practice that would allow them to effect change and transform healthcare for the better.
The responsibilities and opportunities for DNP-prepared nurses continue to grow, both in scope and complexity, something that contributes to some extent to the better salaries and increased job opportunities that come with holding a DNP.
DNP Salaries by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The Advanced Healthcare Network’s 2018 ADVANCE Salary Survey for Nurses shows the differences in pay between DNP nurses and their master’s-prepared counterparts . The average salary for DNP nurses was $113,347, or nearly $8,000 more than the average salary for nurses with a master’s degree.
While these statistics reveal that nurses with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) earn more than their colleagues with an MSN, specific salary statistics for DNP nursing roles are not always clear.
It is possible, however, to glean insight into what DNP-prepared nurses earn by examining the top earners in various nursing roles.
Salaries for DNP-Prepared APRNs in Direct Patient Care: Nurse-Practitioners, Nurse-Midwives and Nurse-Anesthetists
Of courses, nurses looking to continue their work in direct patient care would enroll in a DNP program that aligns with their APRN role:
- Nurse practitioner
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse-midwife
DNP-prepared APRNs are consistently recognized as the top earners in their field. Salary data for advanced practice registered nurses with earnings that fall within the top salary brackets are most likely to align with what DNP-prepared nurses earn:
Nurse Practitioner
According to 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), DNP-prepared nurse practitioners earned an average annual salary of $125,440. Nurse practitioners in the following industries earned the highest salaries that year:
- Personal care services
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services
- Religious Organizations
- Computer systems design and related services
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities
The top-paying states for DNP-prepared nurse practitioners in 2018 were:
- California
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- New York
- Massachusetts
Shown here are average salaries for nurse practitioners that earned within the top 25% (75th percentile) and the top 10% (90th percentile) of their field. Since the DNP is associated with the highest salary potential for nurse practitioners, these figures most closely align with what DNP-prepared NPs earn (2018, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics):
The BLS reported that the highest earners among certified nurse-midwives, those with a DNP, earned an average annual salary of $124,240 as of May 2018.
The BLS also revealed that certified nurse-midwives working in the following industries earned the highest salaries:
- Local government
- Management of companies and enterprises
- Outpatient care centers
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools
DNP-educated nurse-midwives in these states earned the highest salaries in the nation in 2018:
- California
- Arizona
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Oregon
Shown here are average salaries for nurse midwives with earnings that fell within the top 25% (75th percentile bracket) and the top 10% (90th percentile bracket) of their field. Since the DNP is associated with the highest salary potential for nurse practitioners, these figures most closely align with what DNP-prepared CNMs earn (2018, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics):
*These values are equal to or greater than $100 an hour / $208,000 a year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data higher than these values.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
According to the BLS, the top 25 percent of certified registered nurse anesthetists, those likely to hold doctorate degrees, earned a salary that was at or above $194,990, as of May 2018.
The top paying industries for these DNP nurses at this time were:
- Outpatient care centers
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Specialty hospitals
- Federal executive branch
- Physician offices
The top-paying states for DNP-prepared certified registered nurse anesthetists included:
- Montana
- Wyoming
- California
- Oregon
- Iowa
Shown here are average salaries for certified registered nurse anesthetists that earned within the top 25% (75th percentile bracket) and the top 10% (90th percentile bracket) of their field. Since the DNP is associated with the highest salary potential for nurse anesthetists, these figures most closely align with what DNP-prepared CRNAs earn (2018, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics):
*These values are equal to or greater than $100 an hour / $208,000 a year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data higher than these values.
Salaries for DNP-Prepared Nurse Administrators, Informaticists, Executive Leaders and Clinical Educators
The DNP is becoming ever more common among nurses working outside of direct patient care in roles with an aggregate/systems/organizational focus, such as:
- Nursing administration
- Executive leadership
- Nursing informatics
- Clinical education
Nursing Administration
The top earning nurse administrators (medical and health services managers) in May 2018 earned a national average annual salary of $130,820, according to the BLS.
During this period, the top-paying industries for these nursing professionals were:
- Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
- Navigational, measuring, electro-medical, and control instruments manufacturing
- Scientific research and development
- Wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers
- Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations
The top-paying states for nurse administrators at this time were:
- Washington D.C.
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Delaware
- Connecticut
Shown here are average salaries for nurse administrators (classified as medical and health services managers) that earned within the top 25% (75th percentile bracket) and the top 10% (90th percentile bracket) of their field. Since the DNP is associated with the highest salary potential for nurse administrators, these figures most closely align with what those with a DNP can expect to earn (2018, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics):
*These values are equal to or greater than $100 an hour / $208,000 a year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data higher than these values.
Clinical Education
The BLS reported that DNP-educated clinical nursing instructors earned an average salary of $97,390, as of May 2018. The top-paying industries for these nursing professionals during this time, many of which likely possess a DNP, included:
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals
- State government
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools
- Junior colleges
According to the BLS, the top-paying states for clinical nurse educators during this time included:
- California
- Connecticut
- Arizona
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
Shown here are average salaries for clinical nurse educators that earned within the top 25% (75th percentile bracket) and the top 10% (90th percentile bracket) of their field. Since the DNP is associated with the highest salary potential for clinical nurse educators, these figures most closely align with what those with a DNP can expect to earn (2018, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics):
*These values are equal to or greater than $100 an hour / $208,000 a year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data higher than these values.
Nursing Informatics
According to a 2017 workforce survey published by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), 53 percent of informatics nurses who held a post-graduate degree earned more than $100,000 a year, while only 37% without a post-graduate degree earned more than $100,000 a year. The HIMSS recognizes that both education and certification have an impact on informatics nurse salaries.
Executive Leadership
According to a 2019 salary and compensation study published by the American Organization for Nurse Executives (AONE), the top 33 percent of nurse leaders (includes directors and managers, likely holding advanced degrees like the DNP) earned more than $170,000. The top 22 percent earned between $200,000 and $249,999 and the top 10 percent earned more than $250,000.
Eighty-one percent of CNOs/CNEs, 91 percent of system CNOs/CNEs, 53 percent of consultants, and 91 percent of presidents/vice-presidents all earn more than $150,000 annually. About 71 percent of all directors earn between $100,000 and $169,999.
Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 – (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm). BLS 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.
Individual job listings with educational requirements and salary information accessed directly from internet job boards and directly from the sites of employing agencies and do not constitute offers of employment.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.