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The mean annual wage for a nurse practitioner in Maine is $118,300, which is only slightly less than the national mean annual wage for nurse practitioners of $124,680, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Demand for nurse practitioners in Maine is extraordinarily strong.
The Maine Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information reports that within the healthcare occupational group, nurse practitioners are second only to physician assistants in terms of projected job growth. Nurse practitioners in Maine can expect NP jobs to grow 20.6% from 2018 to 2028. In fact, according to the BLS, Maine ranks 5th in the country for the highest concentration of nurse practitioner jobs, behind Mississippi, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky.
Nurse practitioners in Maine can expect to enjoy a long and lucrative career with many opportunities to increase their earning potential through further education, networking, and specialization development.
Maine Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Maine
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 200 | $115,910 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 160 | $126,100 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 410 | $117,370 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Maine
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | 150 | $119,010 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 350 | $117,410 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Increasing Nurse Practitioner Salary in Maine
As a full practice state, Maine is already a great region in which to be a nurse practitioner. Full practice authority for nurse practitioners in the “Pine Tree State” equates to limitless career options, and, therefore, increasing nurse practitioner salary in Maine is practically effortless.
Continuing Education for Maine Nurse Practitioners
One way to advance your career to the highest level is to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or pursue additional certifications within your area of specialty.
New in 2022, The University of New England will become the only school in Maine to offer a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. The DNP is approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and can lead to salaries of over 180K. See an up-to-date list of Maine Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs here.
All advanced practice nurses in Maine are required to complete 50 hours of continuing education every two years. For nurse practitioners with prescriptive authority, three of those hours must be Category 1 CE in opioid prescribing. Other continuing education opportunities that can lead to increased marketability for nurse practitioners include:
- Nurses’ Values and Perspectives on Medical Aid in Dying – Study the perspectives of U.S. nurses regarding the concept of medical aid in dying.
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners Continuing Education Database Find many different CE opportunities in the areas of your interest.
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners Conferences – Earn CE credits through in-person or online attendance at annual AANP conferences offered throughout the year.
Another way to boost your earning potential as a nurse practitioner is by acquiring additional specialty area certifications. Many universities offer online post-master’s certificate programs for nurse practitioners in specialties like orthopedics, palliative care, women’s health, just to name a few. Find Nurse Practitioner programs in Maine.
Accelerate Nurse Practitioner Career Through Relationship Building
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Well, not completely, of course. It’s still what you know when it comes to being a successful nurse practitioner in Maine, but networking is an important part of career building in any profession. Joining a professional association is an excellent way to:
- Enhance your professional development through continuing education opportunities and conferences.
- Stay informed about industry trends.
- Develop your skills as a leader.
- Learn about new job postings.
- Build your resume.
- Gain a support system and valuable professional contacts.
Some of the best professional organizations for nurse practitioners in Maine include the American Nurses Association of Maine, the Maine State Nurses Association, the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, and the Organization of Maine Nursing Executives.
When it comes to a rewarding career as a nurse practitioner, the state of Maine is a “wicked cool” place to work. There are many avenues to increasing nurse practitioner salary in Maine.