Nurse practitioners are the most highly trained people in the field of nursing. Some consider the role to be just a step below a doctor. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medication and may act as the primary health care provider in rural communities where physicians are in short supply. Nurse practitioners can also specialize in such areas as women's health, neonatal and pediatric care, geriatric care and general family medicine.
Education
You generally need a master's degree in nursing to become a nurse practitioner, though there are some programs that allow someone with a bachelor's degree to obtain additional training to become a nurse practitioner. In general, nurse practitioners have five to six years of college education before earning their designation.
National Pay
Nationwide, nurse practitioners earned between $68,721 and $87,342 in 2010, according to Payscale. Bonuses ranged between $993 and $5,074, while profit sharing income added $1,500 to $5,087. The total compensation package for nurse practitioners ranged from $70,358 to $91,202. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow significantly due to the shortage of doctors, which means that nurse practitioners will be called upon to act more and more independently.
Compared to Other Nurses
Nurse practitioners earn much more than other nursing fields, according to Vital Ethics. Compare their earning to those of a certified nursing assistant ($15,000 to $30,000 a year), licensed practical nurse ($32,000 to $42,000 a year) and registered nurses ($52,000 to $65,000).
Illinois Pay
According to Payscale, Illinois was among the top-paying states for nurse practitioners in 2010. Illinois nurse practitioners earned between $71,546 and $87,052 a year. Only California and New York had higher salaries for their nurse practitioners. California nurse practitioners earned $75,109 to $99,225 a year and New York nurse practitioners earned between $71,592 and $93,843 a year. Illinois nurse practitioners earned more than the national average.
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