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Whether you are just learning what a nurse practitioner does, are in college to become a nurse practitioner, or are already a professional nurse practitioner, learning everything possible about increasing nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana is likely something that interests you if you hail from the “Pelican State.”
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners in Louisiana Earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage of nurse practitioners in the United States is $124,680. Louisiana’s mean wage for nurse practitioners is only slightly less at $118,210.
Demand for nurse practitioners in Louisiana is robust, as it is one of the fastest-growing occupations among all careers in the state. According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission it outpaces the overall growth of jobs in the state by 24 percentage points as nurse practitioners are expected . So, while the mean wage for nurse practitioners may not be the highest in the nation, opportunities for growth and advancement are plentiful.
Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Louisiana
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 180 | $105,250 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 790 | $116,840 |
| Hammond, LA | 140 | $113,730 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 180 | $128,130 |
| Lafayette, LA | 440 | $132,730 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 170 | $110,170 |
| Monroe, LA | 260 | $104,470 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,260 | $117,820 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 300 | $112,510 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Louisiana
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 240 | $132,570 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 150 | $119,080 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 140 | $117,820 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Increasing Nurse Practitioner Salary in Louisiana
Through Education
Louisiana is a reduced practiced state. As such, nurse practitioners cannot practice independently of doctors, so many nurse practitioners seek to improve their professional marketability through education.
Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice is one way to increase your nurse practitioner salary, and it is the option many nurse practitioners choose. You can search and filter schools offering DNP programs on the Louisiana Nurse Practitioner degree programs page to help accelerate your nurse practitioner career.
Louisiana nurse practitioners are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal. Six of those hours must be in pharmacotherapeutics. Some of the most popular nurse practitioner CE topics include substance abuse, suicide prevention, diabetes, HIPAA, infection prevention and control, COVID-19, leadership and administration, trauma nursing, and more. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing maintains a list of approved CE providers.
Obtaining a certification in a new specialty area can also improve your professional desirability and your salary. Some of the most sought-after certifications for nurse practitioners in Louisiana are Pediatrics, Adult Nurse Practitioner to Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate, Neonatal Care, HIV/AIDS, Psychiatric Mental Health, Critical Care, Population Health Graduate Certificate, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dermatology.
Professional Nursing Associations in Louisiana
Networking is an important part of career building in any profession. Joining a professional association is an excellent way to enhance your professional development, develop your skills as a leader, and stay informed about industry trends and new job postings. The Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Louisiana State Nurses Association are both great organizations for nurse practitioners in the “Bayou State.”
Boost Income with a Side Hustle
Blogging, becoming a CPR instructor, working at a vaccine clinic, or consigning your scrubs are all ways to make extra money as a nurse practitioner. Some artistic nurse practitioners generate extra income by selling hand-crafted items like face mask covers, badge reels, t-shirts, and more on platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace.
When it comes to a rewarding career as a nurse practitioner, Louisianans have myriad ways of increasing nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana.