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As a nurse practitioner, you have the job of treating medical conditions and keeping your patients healthy. For most nurse practitioners, the job is highly rewarding, both professionally and economically. In Indiana the average salary of nurse practitioners on a whole is . Additionally, nurse practitioner jobs are projected to grow 29.4% from 2018 to 2028.
Indiana Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Indiana
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | 170 | $117,470 |
| Columbus, IN | 110 | $130,370 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 200 | $114,830 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | 390 | $113,090 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 670 | $120,260 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 2,280 | $126,010 |
| Kokomo, IN | 40 | $112,980 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 270 | $116,860 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 80 | $116,860 |
| Muncie, IN | 170 | $118,490 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 230 | $118,690 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 130 | $116,760 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Indiana
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 200 | $110,850 |
| Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 300 | $119,000 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 300 | $115,710 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Increasing Nurse Practitioner Salary in Indiana
Although nurse practitioners make a good salary, in the age of high inflation and nursing shortages there’s a good chance you want to make more money. Here are some options for Indiana nurse practitioners to increase their salary while still doing the job they love.
Choose a high-paying specialty
Whether you want to become a nurse practitioner for the first time or have practiced as one for a while, you can increase your income by working in the right specialty. Nationally, neonatal nurse practitioners, the professionals who help staff neonatal ICUs, have among the highest nursing salaries. Nurse anesthetists also top the charts for NP salaries due to the high level of competence required for practice.
Earn your prescribing authority
In the State of Indiana, many nurse practitioners can prescribe medication. To gain this privilege, NPs need to have a cooperative agreement with a medical doctor. In addition, they must take a two credit-hour graduate-level pharmacology course. Once NPs qualify to prescribe medication, they are eligible to prescribe all drugs, including controlled substances. As an NP who can prescribe medications, you’ll make much more than an NP who can’t.
Expand your expertise
For nurse practitioners who have already been working for a while, adding certifications can be another great way to boost compensation. Having this flexibility lets you get a job where salaries are higher, or in a shortage area that demands greater compensation.
Become a nursing administrator
As with most other professions, nurse practitioners in management make more than the people who report to them. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing managers in a hospital have an average salary of $127,000 per year! This is far more than the average for non-supervisory NPs in Indianapolis of $110,000.
Get a doctorate
While you can become a nurse practitioner by earning your master’s degree, you’ll likely be paid more with a doctorate than other NPs in the same area of practice. According to one article by Duquesne University in Iowa, the difference between median salaries is about $8,000. So, while earning a DNP takes more time and money, it’ll quickly pay off. In Indiana, you can earn a DNP at both Purdue and Indiana University.
Know what you’re worth
Finally, to get the best nurse practitioner salary possible, it’s important to know what your skills are worth on the job market. This is especially true when you are asking for a raise or looking for a new job. Without this information, it’s much easier to accept a lowball offer. On the other hand, armed with the right information, any NP can negotiate a salary that is fair to both parties.
Increasing nurse practitioner salaries in Indiana may seem daunting at first. Fortunately, with some flexibility, knowledge, and training any NP can have the job of their dreams at the salary they deserve.