NP Surgery Salary Guide

The average annual surgical NP salary is $127,320 per year in the U.S., according to the Becker’s Hospital Review report on the highest paying NP specialties. The Bureau of U.S. Labor Statistics reports that the job outlook for nurse practitioners will increase by 38% over the next decade, making it a viable career opportunity.

Locum tenens surgical NPs can make upwards of $111 per hour on average, however, there are many factors that impact rates including location, years of experience, and the level of demand.

If you were to extrapolate that rate over a year (at 40 hours per week), the average locum salary comes out to around $230,880. 

That means locum tenens  surgical NPs can make up to 81% more than the average provider. However, making direct salary comparisons can be complicated. While perm surgical NPs are more likely to be salaried, locum tenens  surgical NPs are independent contractors earning an hourly rate, which can vary based on which assignments they take in a year. 

Furthermore, because locum tenens  surgical NPs are paid by the hour, the hours they work are directly reflected in their pay, while a salaried  surgical NPs additional hours may not be reflected in their salary.

Finally, paid time off and insurance may be reflected in the perm  surgical NPs salary structure, but locum tenens providers do have options when it comes to health insurance. 

The most recent state breakdown of NPs salaries comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, though the BLS was not able to collect enough data for all 50 states. While the BLS was unable to report on surgical NPs specifically, the top 5 highest paying states for NPs salary are:

• California (Average NP Salary between $125,780-$158,130)
• New Jersey (Average NP Salary between $125,780-$158,130)
• Massachusetts (Average NP Salary between $125,780-$158,130)
• Oregon (Average NP Salary between $125,780-$158,130)
• Nevada (Average NP Salary between $125,780-$158,130)

This information can provide insight into the possible highest paying states in annual compensation for surgical NPs.

Surgical NPs fall within the top 10 highest earning NP specialties, according to the  2021 Becker’s Hospital Review report. The top 5 highest paid NP specialties report an annual income over $128,480, and include pediatrics, emergency medicine, hospitalist, psychiatry, and oncology/hematology. Overall, surgical NPS have the opportunity to earn a lucrative salary. 

According to the Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report, the average nurse increased their earnings by $2000 this past year. If this trend continues, the average family practice NP can expect to make $129,320 in 2024.