The median annual salary for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) sits somewhere above the all-specialty nurse practitioner median of $132,300, which is the figure BLS reports for SOC 29-1171 in the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS does not publish a PMHNP-specific median, so any number you see quoted for the specialty alone comes from a survey or a job-board aggregator rather than from the federal wage survey. Most nurse practitioners earn between $101,340 and $174,420 – the 10th and 90th percentiles for the occupation – and the highest state medians sit in New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Here is how those numbers break down by state, setting, and career stage.
National salary overview
The BLS does not report a separate PMHNP median – it aggregates all nurse practitioners under SOC 29-1171, so FNPs, PMHNPs, PNPs, and every other NP specialty sit inside one figure. That has a consequence worth stating plainly: no federal dataset measures the PMHNP pay premium, and the specialty-specific figures circulating online are self-reported survey and aggregator estimates with the sampling problems that implies. Treat them as directional.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NP national median (all specialties) | $132,300 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 29-1171) |
| NP 10th percentile | $101,340 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| NP 90th percentile | $174,420 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| RN national median (for context) | $97,550 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 29-1141) |
| Projected NP job growth (2024–2034) | 40.1% | BLS Employment Projections |
The range between the 10th and 90th percentile is roughly $73,000. The spread reflects state, setting, experience, and whether a PMHNP carries an independent caseload versus working under physician supervision in a collaborative practice state.
A note on the growth figure: 40.1% is the projection for nurse practitioners specifically, which makes NP the fastest-growing healthcare occupation in the 2024–2034 BLS projections. A lower figure of 35% circulates widely and is also correct, but it describes a broader Occupational Outlook Handbook category that combines nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. The two measure different populations.
PMHNP salary vs other NP specialties
Only two of the roles below have their own federal wage figure. Nurse anesthetists are surveyed separately under SOC 29-1151; every other NP specialty is folded into SOC 29-1171, so the certification body and typical setting are the reliable columns in this table and the salary column is a mix of one hard federal number and several survey estimates.
| NP specialty | Median salary | Certification body | Primary setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) | $236,590 (BLS, SOC 29-1151) | NBCRNA | OR, ASC, hospital |
| All nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171) | $132,300 (BLS) | AANPCB / ANCC / PNCB / NCC | All settings |
| Neonatal NP (NNP) | Survey estimate only | NCC | NICU |
| Acute care NP (AGACNP / ACNP) | Survey estimate only | ANCC / AACN | Hospital, ICU, ED |
| Psychiatric-mental health NP (PMHNP) | Survey estimate only | ANCC | Outpatient MH, inpatient psych, telehealth |
| Family NP (FNP) | Survey estimate only | AANPCB / ANCC | Primary care, urgent care |
| Adult-gerontology primary care NP (AGPCNP) | Survey estimate only | ANCC / AANPCB | Primary care, geriatrics |
| Pediatric NP (PNP) | Survey estimate only | PNCB / ANCC | Pediatric clinic, children's hospital |
| Women's health NP (WHNP) | Survey estimate only | NCC | OB-GYN, women's health clinic |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 29-1151 (nurse anesthetists) and SOC 29-1171 (nurse practitioners). Two cautions when reading CRNA figures elsewhere. First, the mean and the median are far apart for this occupation – $248,320 against a median of $236,590 in May 2025 – so a comparison table that silently mixes the two overstates the gap against other NP roles. Second, $223,210 is a May 2024 mean that is still widely republished as though it were current.
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, and there is no defensible way to manufacture them. Earlier versions of this table applied a flat “PMHNP premium” of 5–8% on top of general NP state figures, which produced numbers that looked precise but were arithmetic rather than measurement. The table below drops that adjustment and reports the actual BLS state medians for all nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171, May 2025). Use them as the wage structure of your state’s NP market, which is the part that is measured.
| State | NP median annual wage (May 2025) | Approx. hourly | vs. national NP median |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $168,520 | $81 | +$36,220 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 | $77 | +$27,010 |
| Washington | $156,100 | $75 | +$23,800 |
| Oregon | $155,680 | $75 | +$23,380 |
| Alaska | $155,170 | $75 | +$22,870 |
| New York | $153,510 | $74 | +$21,210 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 | $68 | +$10,140 |
| Nevada | $140,670 | $68 | +$8,370 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 | $67 | +$6,170 |
| Hawaii | $135,570 | $65 | +$3,270 |
| Arizona | $134,420 | $65 | +$2,120 |
| Minnesota | $133,260 | $64 | +$960 |
| Colorado | $132,930 | $64 | +$630 |
| National median (all NPs) | $132,300 | $64 | – |
| Texas | $131,670 | $63 | -$630 |
| Maryland | $131,110 | $63 | -$1,190 |
| Illinois | $130,680 | $63 | -$1,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,140 | $63 | -$2,160 |
| Florida | $129,510 | $62 | -$2,790 |
| Ohio | $124,870 | $60 | -$7,430 |
| Kentucky | $122,870 | $59 | -$9,430 |
| Tennessee | $117,590 | $57 | -$14,710 |
| Alabama | $105,750 | $51 | -$26,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 29-1171, accessed via O*NET state wage tables. Hourly figures assume a 2,080-hour year.
Two things changed in the May 2025 release that matter if you are comparing this page against an older salary guide. State medians rose across the board, and they rose unevenly – so state rank order shifted, with New Jersey now sitting second nationally, above Washington and Oregon. A guide still carrying May 2024 figures will show a different ordering and state medians roughly $10,000–$20,000 lower.
States in the Mountain West and Midwest post smaller absolute numbers against a very different cost-of-living context. A PMHNP in Kansas City with a median home price near $280,000 has meaningfully different purchasing power than one in San Francisco, where median home prices run 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 (up to $55,000 tax-exempt over two years in the behavioral health tier) |
| Substance use / addiction treatment center | $110,000–$140,000 | High unmet need; 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. The AANP classifies every state into one of three practice environments: full practice, reduced practice (a career-long collaborative agreement is required for at least one element of practice), and restricted practice (career-long supervision or delegation is required). Roughly 28 to 30 jurisdictions sit in the full practice category as of AANP’s May 2026 update, with the exact count depending on how states with transition-to-practice periods are classified – so check AANP’s State Practice Environment map for your own state rather than relying on a headline number. PMHNPs in full practice states can open independent practices, set their own rates, and contract directly with insurance. For the pathway to PMHNP practice, see how to become a PMHNP.
Rural and shortage areas. Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas are the most widespread provider shortage designation in the US. PMHNPs working at NHSC-approved sites in them qualify for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, and the award tier matters: for fiscal year 2026 the program pays up to $50,000 for full-time behavioral health clinicians serving a mental health HPSA, against up to $75,000 for nurse practitioners in the primary care tier – and NHSC guidance states explicitly that a provider in an otherwise-eligible discipline who delivers mental or behavioral health services does not qualify for that increased amount. Both require a minimum two-year service commitment, and NHSC loan repayment funds are exempt from federal income and employment taxes. In high-shortage rural areas, some health systems add signing and retention bonuses 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. One point commonly stated wrongly: the DATA-2000 “X-waiver” for buprenorphine no longer exists. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 eliminated it, and since December 2022 any clinician with a current DEA registration may prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder where state law permits, with no patient cap. What replaced it is a one-time eight-hour training requirement attached to DEA registration and renewal, which applies to all controlled-substance prescribers rather than to buprenorphine specifically. Forensic psychiatry positions in correctional facilities and court-ordered evaluation roles pay above the outpatient median.
Negotiation. The mental health provider shortage creates real negotiating leverage for credentialed PMHNPs. The most defensible benchmark to bring into an offer conversation is your state’s BLS NP median from the table above, because it is survey-measured rather than self-reported, and an employer can verify it as easily as you can. 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.
Against the national RN median of $97,550, the all-NP median of $132,300 represents a gap of about $34,750 – and an experienced RN already above their state median will see a smaller step than a new graduate would. At that spread, the break-even on tuition debt typically lands somewhere between two and five years, faster if you land in a shortage area with NHSC repayment. The honest version of this calculation is that it turns on your current RN wage and your program’s real cost, both of which vary more than any national average does.
The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is the most underused lever for new PMHNPs. Two years of full-time service at an NHSC-approved FQHC, community mental health center, or rural health clinic in a mental health HPSA earns up to $55,000 in federally tax-exempt repayment while you draw a full clinical salary. HRSA’s Nurse Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment programs offer parallel options, though note that Nurse Corps requires service at a Critical Shortage Facility, a different designation from a HPSA with its own eligible-site list.
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.
References
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171),” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, released 2026.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141),” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, released 2026.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Nurse Anesthetists (SOC 29-1151),” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, released 2026.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment Projections: 2024–2034,” Employment Projections program, 2025.
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “2026 Nurse Practitioner State Practice Environment,” AANP State Government Affairs, May 2026.
- Health Resources and Services Administration, “Fiscal Year 2026 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Application and Program Guidance,” Bureau of Health Workforce, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2026.
- Health Resources and Services Administration, “Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Application and Program Guidance,” Bureau of Health Workforce, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2026.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Waiver Elimination (MAT Act),” SAMHSA, following the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Pub. L. No. 117-328.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center, “Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC),” American Nurses Credentialing Center.
- National ONET Consortium, “Nurse Practitioners (29-1171.00) and Registered Nurses (29-1141.00) state wage tables,” ONET OnLine, sponsored by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 2026.