Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA) Salary Guide for Employers in 2026

Summary: the short answer

Advanced Practice Providers, specifically Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants / Physician Associates (PAs), are the fastest-expanding clinical revenue generators across primary care, behavioral health, urgent care, and surgical subspecialties. Using the May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics release for Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171, median $129,210, 90th percentile $169,950+) and Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071, median $133,260, 90th percentile $172,730+), Primary Care FNPs and PAs clear $125,000 to $148,000 in base salary, Urgent Care and Inpatient ACNPs command $135,000 to $172,000, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) and Surgical First-Assist PAs (Ortho, Derm, CVOR) reach $155,000 to $210,000+ in total cash compensation with wRVU or collections bonuses.

What do Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants earn in 2026?

To price an offer that closes experienced APPs without losing them to competing health systems or telehealth groups, employers combine the May 2025 BLS wage percentiles with specialty productivity multipliers:

For a broader analysis of workforce supply and state practice rules, pair this guide with our NP and PA Hiring Trends in 2026 and visit our Nurse Practitioner Recruiting hub.

How wRVU and collections bonuses make or break APP retention

While new-grad NPs and PAs focus heavily on base salary and loan repayment, experienced APPs (3+ years post-licensure) know exactly how much revenue their CPT billing generates for a practice. Offers that retain high-producing APPs get three structural details right:

1. Transparent wRVU or net-collections thresholds: If an outpatient FNP, PMHNP, or dermatology PA generates $450,000 to $700,000+ in net collections, set a clear, reachable quarterly bonus tier (for example, $25 to $35 per wRVU above a realistic baseline, or 20% to 30% of net collections above 2.5x base salary).
2. Protected administrative time and AI scribe support: Evening EHR charting ("pajama time") is the number-one driver of primary care and behavioral health APP resignations. Providing ambient AI clinical documentation or dedicated MA rooming support often closes candidates over a competitor offering $8,000 more in raw base pay.
3. Collaborating physician alignment in restricted states: In states where NPs require a collaborative practice agreement (or where PAs require a named supervising physician), guarantee that the collaborating physician stipend and chart-review cadence are already funded and structured by the practice.

Credentials and licensing checks we run on every APP search

• Board Certification: Active AANP or ANCC national board certification matching the population focus (FNP-C/BC, PMHNP-BC, AGACNP-BC) for Nurse Practitioners, or active NCCPA (PA-C) certification for Physician Assistants.
• DEA Schedule II-V & State CSR: Active, unrestricted federal DEA registration and state Controlled Substance Registration (especially critical for PMHNPs, pain management, and urgent care roles), plus APRN Compact / PA Licensure Compact eligibility for multi-state telehealth groups.
• Procedure and case logs: For surgical, dermatology, orthopedic, and critical care APPs, verified procedure logs (first-assist cases, central lines, intubations, joint injections, or excisions) so hospital credentialing committees approve privileges without delay.

What does an NP or PA search cost?

At Engaged Headhunters, fees are 15 to 30% of first-year salary, with engagement fees starting at $3,500, and every search includes a replacement guarantee per your engagement agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Nurse Practitioner vs. a Physician Assistant in 2026?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS), the national median wage for Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171) is $129,210 (with the 90th percentile at $169,950), while Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) earn a national median of $133,260 (with the 90th percentile at $172,730). That 3% difference is primarily driven by a higher concentration of PAs in surgical subspecialties.

How much do Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) earn in 2026?

Because of severe national shortages in behavioral health prescribers, experienced PMHNP-BC clinicians typically command $142,000 to $185,000+ in base salary, with productive outpatient and telepsychiatry providers reaching $180,000 to $205,000+ in total compensation.

How long does hospital credentialing take after an NP or PA signs an offer?

Outpatient private-practice credentialing and payer enrollment (PECOS, Medicare, and commercial payers) typically takes 60 to 90 days, while inpatient hospital medical staff privileging takes 60 to 120 days. Starting payer enrollment the week the offer is signed prevents unbillable ramp months.

Scope a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant search

If an open FNP, PMHNP, ACNP, or surgical PA seat is capping clinic capacity or delaying patient access, book a 15-minute search calibration call.

• Book an employer search calibration call
• Explore our Nurse Practitioner Recruiting page
• Explore our Behavioral Health Recruiting page
• Read: NP and PA Hiring Trends in 2026

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171) (May 2025 Nurse Practitioner median $129,210; 90th percentile $169,950): https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm (opens in a new tab)
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071) (May 2025 median $133,260; 90th percentile $172,730): https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (opens in a new tab)
3. American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), State Practice Environment & National NP Compensation Data: https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment (opens in a new tab)