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According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average nurse practitioner (NP) salary in Alaska is $116,390, with the range typically falling between $52,980 and $168,240. NPs play a vital role in the healthcare industry, delivering high-quality care to patients of all ages.
Alaska Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Alaska
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 310 | $125,100 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 50 | $104,370 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Alaska
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 310 | $109,800 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Increasing Nurse Practitioner Salary in Alaska
If you are an NP, depending on your level of experience, you have many skills that qualify you for roles that allow you to move towards a higher level of compensation. The following are key ways to increase your future earning potential and best leverage your career path.
Gain Continuing Education and Additional Specialization Certifications
Continuing education is the best way to advance your career as an NP and deliver high-quality
patient care. If you have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree opens up many career options beyond nurse practitioner and increases your earning potential. Possible careers for those who hold a DNP include leadership positions in health care services, nursing faculty positions, clinical research, or even health care lobbyists, for those interested in changing health care legislation.
If you are an NP in Alaska, the University of Alaska in Anchorage (UAA) offers the only campus-based DNP program available in the state for those who already have a master’s degree. As an alternative to UAA, many accredited online DNP programs are available to nurses in Alaska.
Acquiring additional specialization is another way to continue your education and increase your earning potential as an NP. For example, cardiology, oncology, neonatal, and orthopedics are areas of specialty in high demand and among the highest-paid across the country.
Consider Relocating
NPs in states that allow full practice authority earn more than those in states that do not. Alaska is a full practice authority state, and NPs can practice without physician supervision and prescribe medications. If you live in a state that does not allow full practice authority, you might consider moving to one that does.
There are currently 22 states, including Alaska, that give full practice authority to NPs. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners website has a color-coded map indicating which states allow full, reduced, or restricted practice.
Gain More Work Experience
As with any occupation, greater expertise and experience leads to higher salaries. Regardless of where you are in your academic journey, internships are beneficial for gaining experience, especially for newly graduated registered nurses.
Increasing your skill-set and improving your abilities will make you more valuable to your employers and qualify you for higher-paying roles in the future.
Learn What Nurse Practitioners Earn
Before beginning the salary negotiation process, it is good to know what NPs with your level of experience earn in the state where your employer is located to understand what fair compensation for your position is. The more seasoned you are in your career, the more influence you have when negotiating your salary.
A career as a nurse practitioner offers many opportunities and possibilities to take your career and increase your earning potential. If you continue to increase your knowledge, gain experience, explore other areas of specialization, and stay current on NP salaries wherever you are practicing, you consistently keep yourself in a position to negotiate for a better salary.