Suppose you are considering pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner and live in or plan to move to California, one question you may be asking is, “how much does a nurse practitioner make in California?” In this article, you will learn all you need to know about being a nurse practitioner as well as the average nurse practitioner salary in California.
In addition to the aforementioned, this article contains all you need to know about who a nursing practitioner is, what they do, where they work, the cities that pay the highest for nursing practitioners as well as how to become one.
Why don’t we dive right in!
Who is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who had had additional training in a specialized area such as family practice or pediatrics. A nurse practitioner is also known as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and practices in clinics, doctor’s offices, hospitals, healthcare centers, and care facilities.
Basically, nurse practitioners specialize in examining and treating patients to ensure proper illness and injury care, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery as well as in prescribing medications.
Related: How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make In A Year?
What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?
Basically, a nurse practitioner performs some basic tasks as a doctor. A nurse practitioner may:
- Diagnose and treat acute as well as chronic illnesses
- Write prescriptions for certain medications
- Order and perform diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and x-rays
- Advise patients on their health as well as their developing treatment plans
- Provide general counsel and education to patients regarding their health issues.
Where Do Nurse Practitioners Work?
Nurse Practitioners can work in:
- Clinics and hospitals
- Offices of private physicians
- Public health departments
- Emergency rooms
- Nursing homes, schools, and colleges
What is the Average Nurse Practitioner Salary in California?
There are so many factors that influence a Nurse Practitioner’s salary and as a Nurse Practitioner in California, your income may be influenced by your previous experience. However, below are salary reports from various verified sources to help you know how much you can earn as a Nurse Practitioner in California.
- According to Indeed, the average Nurse Practitioner salary in California is $131,887 per year.
- According to Incrediblehealth, an average Nurse Practioner’s salary in California is $151,830 per year and $118,040 per year in the US.
- Also, according to Salary.com, the average nurse practitioner salary in California is $129,113 per year.
- ZipRecruiter reports an average nursing practitioner salary of $111,516 per year and $52 per hour.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average nurse practitioner salary in California is $145,970 which is equivalent to $70.18 per hour and $12,160 per month.
The average nurse practitioner salary in California is between $111,516 and $151,830 per year.
Also, see: How Much Does A Family Nurse Practitioner Make?
Nurse Practitioner Salary in California by Years of Experience
Your previous work experience is one of the most influential factors that affect your income. We have prepared a table below to let you know what to expect to earn as a Nurse Practitioner in California based on your experience.
| Years of Experience | Hourly | Monthly | Annual | ||
| Entry-Level | $51.59 | $8,940 | $107,310 | ||
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $56.84 | $9,850 | $118,220 | ||
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $65.13 | $11,290 | $135,480 | ||
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $79.39 | $13,760 | $165,140 | ||
| 20 Years or More Experience | $100 | $17,330 | $208,000 | ||
What are the Top Highest Paying Cities for Nurse Practitioners in California?
Nursing Practitioners’ Salary in California may vary from region to region across the state, however, there are areas or regions where Nurse Practitioners are paid the highest. Let’s look at them.
| CITY | SALARY |
| San Mateo | $133,522 |
| Stanford | $133,175 |
| Daly City | $131,275 |
| Berkeley | $131,202 |
| Irvine | $127,414 |
| Richmond | $125,001 |
| Orange | $123,851 |
| Oxnard | $123,813 |
| Merced | $123,550 |
| Monterey | $123,411 |
What are the Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner in California?
The following are the requirements to become a nurse practitioner:
- Graduate high school with courses specifically in anatomy, chemistry, psychology, statistics, and biology.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) or it’s equivalent
- Become a Registered Nurse
- Earn a master’s degree in Nursing (MSN)
- Take and pass your region’s required certifications.
Top 20 Skills Every Nurse Must have
What are the Skill Requirements to Become a Nurse Practitioner in California?
What skills help Nurse Practitioners find jobs? Below is a list of skills that will help practitioners find jobs:
- Computer literacy
- Acute care
- Bilingual
- Care plans
- Communication skills
- Documentation review
- Computer skills
- Critical care experience
- Customer service
- Data collection
- Discharge planning
- EHR systems
How Do I Become a Nurse Practitioner in California?
To become a Nurse Practitioner in California, there are certain requirements you will need to fulfill and it comprises the following steps:
Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) Degree
This is the first step to becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Traditional BSNs take about 4 years to complete and this includes the general education and nursing-specific coursework in addition to hands-on clinical training.
Nurses who hold Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) drees with RN licensees mays enroll in RN-BSN bridge programs and earn a BSN.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
You must earn a passing score on the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to get an RN licensure. This exam consists of about 205 multiple-choice questions along with additional question formats that tailor question difficulty to your performances.
Gain RN Experience
Usually, most graduate programs require candidates to already have acquired 1-2 years of clinical experience before admission. Registered Nurses can take advantage of this time to explore valuable specialty opportunities to help them decide on a future Nurse Practitioner focus.
Enroll in a Nursing Graduate Program
You are expected to obtain a master of science in nursing (MSN) as it comprises the minimum educational requirement to become a Nurse Practitioner. This takes between 1-2 years to complete and it requires you to focus on a population specialty.
Earn a Specialty Certification and Nurse Practitioner Licensure
Nurse Practitioners become licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). Although licensing criteria may vary across different states, you are required to have a passing score on a national board certification examination in your specialty area.
These exams test your general advanced practice nursing competency as well as your specialty population knowledge.
Find Employment
We have mentioned the different places where a nurse practitioner can work in. Most hospitals offer paid fellowship programs for nurse practitioners and these fellowships are usually the best ways to break into the Nurse Practitioner job market as a new graduate.
Jop Prospects for Nurse Practitioners in California
According to Nursing Process, the job outlook for nurse practitioners is the fastest growing in the medical field with a projected growth rate of more than 50% over the next decade.
See Also: How Much Does A BSN Make An Hour? | 2022
Conclusion
There are always tons of factors to consider when deciding where to work as a nurse practitioner. However, California offers numerous exciting incentives for nurse practitioners to consider practicing in the state. Asides from the high payment, the benefits and compensations are well attractive too in addition to the pleasant weather.
FAQs Nurse Practitioner Salary in California 2022
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who had had additional training in a specialized area such as family practice or pediatrics. A nurse practitioner is also known as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and practices in clinics, doctor’s offices, hospitals, healthcare centers, and care facilities.
- Clinics and hospitals
- Offices of private physicians
- Public health departments
- Emergency rooms
- Nursing homes, schools, and colleges
It takes between 6 to 8 years to become a Nurse Practitioner. This comprises a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Nursing followed by a Nursing Practitioner master’s degree.
The GPA requirements for Nurse Practitioners range from 2.0-3.0.
- Computer literacy
- Acute care
- Bilingual
- Care plans
- Communication skills
- Documentation review
- Computer skills
- Critical care experience
- Customer service
- Data collection
- Discharge planning
- EHR systems
Entry-level nurse practitioner salary in California
$107,500 per year and $9,000 per month.
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