The median annual salary for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is approximately $132,000–$140,000, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171, May 2024) combined with specialty-specific survey data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 2024 Compensation Survey and Nurse.org. PMHNPs earn a premium over the general NP median of $128,490 — reflecting a national mental health provider shortage that has driven demand well above supply in nearly every state. Most PMHNPs earn between $105,000 and $175,000, with the highest-paid sitting in California, Washington, and Oregon.
Here is how those numbers break down by state, setting, and career stage.
National salary overview
The BLS does not currently report a separate PMHNP median — it aggregates all nurse practitioners under SOC 29-1171. The national NP median is $128,490 (mean $132,050). PMHNP-specific surveys consistently place psychiatric NPs $5,000–$15,000 above the all-NP median, driven by the shortage of mental health prescribers and the prescribing scope that separates PMHNPs from licensed counselors and social workers.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NP national median (all specialties) | $128,490 | BLS OEWS, May 2024 |
| NP national mean (all specialties) | $132,050 | BLS OEWS, May 2024 |
| PMHNP estimated median (specialty-adjusted) | ~$132,000–$140,000 | AANP 2024, Nurse.org |
| PMHNP 10th percentile (entry) | ~$100,000 | Nurse.org / ZipRecruiter aggregated |
| PMHNP 90th percentile (senior) | ~$175,000+ | AANP 2024 Compensation Survey |
| RN national median (for context) | $86,070 | BLS OEWS, May 2024 |
| Projected NP job growth (2024–2034) | 35% | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
The range between the 10th and 90th percentile is roughly $75,000. The spread reflects state, setting, experience, and whether a PMHNP carries an independent caseload versus working under physician supervision in a collaborative practice state.
PMHNP salary vs other NP specialties
PMHNPs earn consistently more than the NP median across all specialties combined. The table below uses BLS national medians where available and specialty-specific survey data (AANP 2024, Nurse.org) where BLS does not report a separate figure.
| NP specialty | Estimated median salary | Certification body | Primary setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) | $223,210 | NBCRNA | OR, ASC, hospital |
| Neonatal NP (NNP) | ~$135,000–$148,000 | NCC | NICU |
| Acute care NP (AGACNP / ACNP) | ~$130,000–$148,000 | ANCC / AACN | Hospital, ICU, ED |
| Psychiatric-mental health NP (PMHNP) | ~$132,000–$140,000 | ANCC | Outpatient MH, inpatient psych, telehealth |
| Family NP (FNP) | $128,490 | AANPCP / ANCC | Primary care, urgent care |
| Adult-gerontology primary care NP (AGPCNP) | ~$122,000–$132,000 | ANCC / AANPCP | Primary care, geriatrics |
| Pediatric NP (PNP) | ~$120,000–$135,000 | PNCB / ANCC | Pediatric clinic, children's hospital |
| Women's health NP (WHNP) | ~$115,000–$130,000 | NCC / ANCC | OB-GYN, women's health clinic |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024 (CRNA, FNP/all NPs); AANP 2024 Compensation Survey; Nurse.org specialty salary data. CRNA data uses SOC 29-1151. All other NP data uses SOC 29-1171 as a base with specialty adjustments.
For a detailed look at CRNA compensation, see the CRNA salary guide. For FNP comparisons across all 50 states, see the family nurse practitioner salary guide.
PMHNP salary by state
BLS does not publish PMHNP-specific state medians. The table below combines BLS state-level NP medians (SOC 29-1171) with Nurse.org, ZipRecruiter, and Salary.com PMHNP-specific data where available. Where only general NP state data was available, a PMHNP premium of approximately 5–8% has been applied and is noted accordingly. Treat these as informed benchmarks, not employer quotes.
| State | Estimated PMHNP median | Approx. hourly | Data basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $169,000 | $81 | Nurse.org / BLS NP + premium |
| Washington | $160,000 | $77 | Nurse.org PMHNP-specific |
| Oregon | $155,000 | $75 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| New Jersey | $154,000 | $74 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Massachusetts | $152,000 | $73 | Nurse.org PMHNP-specific |
| Hawaii | $151,000 | $73 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Connecticut | $149,000 | $72 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| New York | $147,000 | $71 | Nurse.org PMHNP-specific |
| Minnesota | $145,000 | $70 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Alaska | $144,000 | $69 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Nevada | $142,000 | $68 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Maryland | $141,000 | $68 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Illinois | $140,000 | $67 | Nurse.org / BLS NP + premium |
| Colorado | $139,000 | $67 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| National estimate | ~$136,000 | $65 | AANP 2024 specialty-adjusted |
| Rhode Island | $136,000 | $65 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Delaware | $136,000 | $65 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Vermont | $135,000 | $65 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Arizona | $135,000 | $65 | ZipRecruiter PMHNP-specific |
| Texas | $133,000 | $64 | Nurse.org PMHNP-specific |
| New Mexico | $133,000 | $64 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Virginia | $132,000 | $63 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Wisconsin | $131,000 | $63 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| North Carolina | $130,000 | $63 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Michigan | $130,000 | $63 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Pennsylvania | $129,000 | $62 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Georgia | $127,000 | $61 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Ohio | $127,000 | $61 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Indiana | $126,000 | $61 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Missouri | $125,000 | $60 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Iowa | $125,000 | $60 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| South Carolina | $124,000 | $60 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Utah | $124,000 | $60 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Florida | $122,000 | $59 | ZipRecruiter PMHNP-specific |
| Nebraska | $122,000 | $59 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| North Dakota | $121,000 | $58 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Kansas | $120,000 | $58 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Kentucky | $119,000 | $57 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Louisiana | $118,000 | $57 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Oklahoma | $117,000 | $56 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Tennessee | $116,000 | $56 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Alabama | $115,000 | $55 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| West Virginia | $115,000 | $55 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Mississippi | $111,000 | $53 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
| Arkansas | $110,000 | $53 | BLS NP + PMHNP premium |
States in the Mountain West and Midwest often post smaller absolute numbers but reflect a very different cost-of-living context. A PMHNP in Kansas City earning $120,000 with a median home price of $280,000 has meaningfully different purchasing power than a PMHNP in San Francisco earning $169,000 with median home prices above $1.2 million.
Salary by work setting
Where a PMHNP practices affects salary as much as which state they live in. Outpatient private practice and telehealth platforms tend to offer the most flexibility; inpatient and federal roles tend to anchor the highest absolute salaries. The table below draws on AANP 2024 compensation data, Nurse.org, and Indeed employer salary data.
| Setting | Typical annual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private practice (independent owner) | $145,000–$220,000+ | Highest ceiling; full prescribing autonomy; business overhead and risk |
| VA / federal government | $140,000–$175,000 | GS/VN pay scale; strong benefits, pension, loan repayment eligibility; full practice authority on VA premises regardless of state law |
| Hospital-based inpatient psych unit | $130,000–$160,000 | Shift differentials; call premium; structured benefit package |
| Telehealth platform (employed) | $125,000–$155,000 | Fast-growing segment post-2020; geographic flexibility; some platforms pay per-visit |
| Outpatient mental health clinic (employed) | $120,000–$150,000 | Most common PMHNP setting; Monday–Friday schedule common; productivity bonuses common |
| Community mental health center (CMHC) | $115,000–$140,000 | Serves uninsured and Medicaid populations; NHSC loan repayment eligibility frequent |
| Correctional / forensic psychiatry | $115,000–$145,000 | Above-market base; significant unmet demand; state or county employer; strong benefits |
| Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) | $110,000–$135,000 | Lower base offset by NHSC loan repayment ($50,000–$75,000 tax-free over two years) |
| Substance use / addiction treatment center | $110,000–$140,000 | High unmet need; buprenorphine waiver adds prescribing value; variable employer quality |
| School-based or campus counseling | $95,000–$120,000 | Lowest ceiling; strong schedule and work-life balance; academic calendar |
Federal employment via the VA deserves special mention. VA PMHNPs practice under full practice authority regardless of what the state allows — which matters in collaborative-practice states. VA roles also come with federal benefits, a pension, and PSLF eligibility for income-driven loan repayment.
Salary by experience level
Experience is the most reliable lever on PMHNP salary within a single market. The ranges below reflect typical employer offers by career stage, drawing on AANP 2024 data and aggregated job posting data from Indeed and LinkedIn.
| Career stage | Typical salary range |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (0–2 years post-certification) | $100,000–$118,000 |
| Early-career (3–5 years) | $118,000–$135,000 |
| Mid-career (6–10 years) | $130,000–$155,000 |
| Senior (10+ years, clinical specialist or supervisor) | $145,000–$175,000 |
| Independent practice owner | $145,000–$220,000+ |
New PMHNPs entering below the median is expected — this is the same pattern across every NP specialty. Most PMHNPs cross $130,000 within four to six years. The steeper gains come from either geography changes, setting changes, or the decision to open an independent practice (in full practice authority states) where overhead is controlled and the revenue ceiling is set by caseload capacity, not an employer salary band.
What drives PMHNP salary higher
Full practice authority states. As of 2026, approximately 27 states plus Washington, D.C. grant full practice authority to NPs, meaning no mandatory physician collaboration agreement. PMHNPs in FPA states can open independent practices, set their own rates, and contract directly with insurance. In restricted-practice states, the collaborative agreement requirement limits earning potential and geographic flexibility. For the pathway to PMHNP practice, see how to become a PMHNP.
Rural and shortage areas. Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MH-HPSAs) are the most widespread provider shortage designation in the US — there are more designated MH-HPSAs than primary care HPSAs. PMHNPs working in these areas qualify for NHSC Loan Repayment Programs, which pay $50,000–$75,000 (tax-free) for two-year service commitments. In high-shortage rural areas, some health systems add signing and retention bonuses of $15,000–$30,000 on top of above-market salaries.
Telehealth expansion. Since 2020, telehealth platforms have significantly expanded PMHNP demand. Platforms like Cerebral, Done, Talkiatry, and health system telehealth services compete for PMHNPs with premium rates — some paying $80–$100/hr for per-visit compensation structures. Geographic barriers between provider and patient are largely gone in FPA states, which means a California-licensed PMHNP can serve California patients from anywhere.
Subspecialty certifications. PMHNPs with additional training in addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, or forensic psychiatry command a premium in most markets. Buprenorphine prescribing (X-waiver equivalent post-2023) adds prescribing value in addiction medicine settings. Forensic psych positions in correctional facilities and court-ordered evaluation roles pay above the outpatient median.
Negotiation. The mental health provider shortage creates genuine negotiating leverage for credentialed PMHNPs that does not exist in more saturated NP markets. PMHNP-specific salary benchmarks from the AANP compensation survey and Nurse.org are the most relevant data points to bring into an offer conversation. Using a competing offer — even a softer one — in shortage areas is common and expected. For pharmacology reference relevant to PMHNP prescribing scope, see the psychiatric medications nursing guide.
Is the PMHNP salary worth it?
The investment question comes down to program cost, time to credential, and the earnings premium over your current RN salary.
A typical MSN-PMHNP program costs $40,000–$80,000 in tuition (brick-and-mortar) or $25,000–$55,000 (online). DNP programs run $60,000–$120,000. Programs take 2.5–4 years depending on part-time vs full-time enrollment. Most working RNs complete the MSN while employed, so lost income is partial rather than total.
The salary premium over a senior RN is roughly $40,000–$55,000 annually. At that spread, the break-even on tuition debt is two to four years — faster if you land in a shortage area with NHSC repayment. Over a 25-year career, the earnings premium on a $45,000 annual differential exceeds $1.1 million.
The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is the single most underused lever for new PMHNPs. Working at an FQHC, community mental health center, or rural health clinic in a shortage area for two years earns $50,000+ in tax-free repayment — effectively eliminating most or all of an MSN’s tuition debt while earning a full clinical salary. The math is compelling, and the mental health HPSA map covers a surprisingly large share of US geography, including many suburban and exurban areas, not just rural. The NURSE Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment programs offer parallel options for those still in school.
For a complete breakdown of the PMHNP training pathway, time commitments, program types, and how to choose between an MSN and a DNP, see how to become a PMHNP. For a broader NP career framework covering all specialties, see how to become a nurse practitioner.