As Clinical Advisor continues to be a champion for the nurse practitioner (NP) and physician assistant (PA) audiences, we recognize that just as clinical practice has evolved over the past year, so too has compensation. Are you considering a career in a new location or specialty and unsure about how this change may affect your compensation? The results of the 2019 NP/PA Salary Survey are in and available to help guide your next big career move.

Much like the results from previous years, 2019 is no different, and more than half of all NPs and PAs who responded to the survey reported earning more this year compared with last year (51.2% and 53.7%, respectively).

While the wage gap persists between male and female advanced practice providers (APPs), it has narrowed this year. In 2018, men earned approximately $17,000 more than their female counterparts. In contrast, results from the 2019 salary survey indicate that male NPs earned approximately $11,000 more than female NPs, and male PAs earned approximately $15,000 more than female PAs.

The West coast remains the region with the highest average compensation, with NPs earning an average of $117,311 and PAs earning an average of $125,307. The majority of NPs surveyed reported practicing in suburban locations (38%); however, those practicing in urban locations (36.8%) earned the highest salary. Like NPs, the majority of PAs surveyed practiced in suburban locations (42.2%), but PAs working in rural areas earned the highest salary ($118,344).

Interestingly, family medicine is no longer the specialty in which the majority of NPs and PAs are employed (27% and 13.8%, respectively). Like last year, most NP and PA respondents practice in a stand-alone clinic but those working in hospitals reported earning the highest salary ($122,598 and $127,173, respectively). Additionally, 40.5% of NPs and 41.1% of PAs report working in more than one location, and more than half of respondents (57.2% of NPs and 51.4% of PAs) see an average of 26-75 patients per week.

The majority of NPs (40.6%) and PAs (45.2%) expressed satisfaction with their compensation, earning an average salary of $111,547 and $116,070, respectively; those that reportedly were very satisfied with their compensation earned an average per year of $120,623 (NPs) and $140,888 (PAs). NP and PA respondents who reported being very dissatisfied with their compensation earned <$100,000 annually. As to be expected, clinicians with <5 years of experience in the workforce earned the least.

Approximately 67% of NPs and 65% of PAs do not receive annual cost of living salary increases. Additionally, the majority of APPs (60.1% of NPs and 54.2% of PAs) do not receive bonuses. The majority of respondents do, however, receive financial reimbursement from their employer for CME (74.5% of NPs and 78.1% of PAs) as well as reimbursement for licensure fees (60.9% of NPs and 67.9% of PAs). However, only 25% of NPs and 21.9% of PAs report receiving reimbursement from their employer for tuition.

The majority of NPs and PAs anticipate earning as much or more than they currently earn in the year to come, with more than half of all clinician respondents expecting more money in their paychecks in 2020.

Click here to download the salary survey slideshow.