How Many Nurse Practitioners are There in the U.S. – State Wise Data
Written By:
Kasee Wiesen
Kasee Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Kasee Wiesen is a practicing family nurse practitioner. Her nursing background includes emergency medicine, pediatrics and peri-op. She started her health career as a nurse’s aid while pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing degree in a hospital setting. Education is a passion of Kasee’s, and after working as a BSN prepared nursed, she obtained in master’s in nursing education and began teaching adjunct for a local university. Read Full Bio »» DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are becoming a staple in healthcare delivery to people across the United States. In fact, Americans make more than 1.06 billion visits to NPs every year. This may have you wondering exactly how many nurse practitioners are there in the U.S.? As of May 2020, there are 211,280 practicing NPs in the United States, and the total number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. is only expected to grow. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2020 and 2030, there is a projected 52% growth in new employment of NPs. The growth of NPs is great—especially with the current physician shortage. The American Association of Medical Colleges predicts that by 2034 there will be a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians in primary and specialty settings. Nurse practitioners will be able to work alongside physicians to ensure patients' healthcare needs are met.
How Many Nurse Practitioners are There in the United States?
How many nurse practitioners are there in the United States? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2020, there were 211,280 practicing nurse practitioners. This number includes NPs working in all settings and specialties but may not include all self-employed NPs. This number was last reported at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and once this statistic is updated, it will be interesting to compare and see the pandemic's impact on NPs.
211,280 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
How Many Nurse Practitioners are Estimated to Be There in the United States After 10 Years?
The employment growth for nurse practitioners between 2020 and 2030 is tremendous--which is excellent as it will help meet the healthcare needs of people throughout the United States. There were 220,300 NPs in 2020, and by 2030 the projected employment of NPs is 335,200—or the number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. will increase by 114,900. Another way to look at this is the number of practicing NPs will increase by more than 52% over ten years.
Employment in 2020 | Projected Employment in 2030 | New Employment Growth (2020-2030) |
Number | % |
220,300 | 335,200 | +114,900 | +52.16% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
In What Workplace Settings Do Majority of the Nurse Practitioners in the United States Work?
Nurse practitioners have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. While physicians' offices employ most NPs, many are board-certified in acute care, indicating their primary environment is general medical and surgical hospitals. NPs can also work in outpatient care settings or offices run by other health practitioners, such as other nurse practitioners. Lastly, some NPs choose to leave patient care and educate—but often, the educators within the universities and colleges are still practicing, just fewer hours delivering patient care.
Rank | Workplace | Employment |
1 | Offices of Physicians | 101,220 |
2 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 49,920 |
3 | Outpatient Care Centers | 18,920 |
4 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 6,970 |
5 | Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 6,170 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
In What States Do the Majority of the Nurse Practitioners in the United States Work?
Nurse practitioners can practice in all 50 states—but their degree of autonomy is based on their scope of practice laws. California employs the highest number of nurse practitioners, followed by New York and Texas. It should not be surprising that these three states employ the most NPs based on their population alone. The list ends with Illinois ranking nine and Massachusetts ranking 10 in the employment of NPs.
Rank | State | Employment |
1 | California | 15,100 |
2 | New York | 14,850 |
3 | Texas | 14,680 |
4 | Florida | 13,010 |
5 | Ohio | 9,430 |
6 | Tennessee | 8,300 |
7 | Pennsylvania | 8,150 |
8 | Georgia | 8,120 |
9 | Illinois | 6,890 |
10 | Massachusetts | 6,430 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
In What Metros Do Majority of the Nurse Practitioners in the United States Work?
After discussing the states with the highest number of nurse practitioners in the U.S., let's discuss what metros have the majority of practicing nurse practitioners. The New-York-Newark-Jersey City metro has the greatest number of NPs employed, 13,760. This is not surprising, as it is a heavily populated area serving the needs of millions of people. This list also includes other heavily populated areas, including Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranking #three, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ranking #five, and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale ranking #ten on the list.
Rank | Metro | Employment |
1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 13,760 |
2 | Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 4,950 |
3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 4,760 |
4 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,740 |
5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,550 |
6 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,320 |
7 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,150 |
8 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,620 |
9 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,520 |
10 | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 3,430 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
In What Specialties Do Majority of the Nurse Practitioners in the United States Work?
Nurse practitioners have the opportunity to work in various settings—based on their degree and passing of their board certification exam. In the United States, over half of the practicing NPs work in family practice, followed by adult NP and adult-gerontology primary care NP. The fewest number of NPs work as neonatal NPs and pediatric acute care NPs—which is not surprising when considering how specialized these fields are.
Rank | Specialty | Employment |
1 | Family Nurse Practitioner | 147,260 |
2 | Adult Nurse Practitioner | 22,820 |
3 | Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 14,790 |
4 | Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 9,930 |
5 | Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | 8,660 |
6 | Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | 6,760 |
7 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | 6,130 |
8 | Women's Health Nurse Practitioner | 6,130 |
9 | Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | 3,800 |
10 | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | 2,110 |
11 | Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | 1,480 |
(Source: American Association of Nurse Practitioners) |
How Many Nurse Practitioners are There Compared to Other Nurses in the United States?
Nurses have the opportunity to work in various roles, which includes working as a nurse practitioner. Out of all the nurses working in the United States, 2,986,500 work as registered nurses, and the number of NPs in the U.S. is 211,280. In other words, most nurses working in the United States are registered nurses, but the 4th ranked job title for nurses in the United States is nurse practitioner. It will be interesting to trend this over the next ten years—will NPs remain ranked #4, or will they move up in the list based on more RNs wanting to pursue advanced degrees and greater opportunities.
Rank | Job Title | Employment |
1 | Registered Nurse | 2,986,500 |
2 | Certified Nursing Assistant | 1,371,050 |
3 | Licensed Practical/Licensed Vocational Nurse | 676,440 |
4 | Nurse Practitioner | 211,280 |
5 | Nurse Educator | 61,100 |
6 | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 41,960 |
7 | Nurse Midwife | 7,120 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
How Many Nurse Practitioners are There Compared to Other Healthcare Workers in the United States?
So, how many nurse practitioners are there compared to other Healthcare Workers in the United States? Nurse practitioners are ranked number 8 out of 36 other healthcare professions. Medical assistants are at the top of the list, which makes sense since they help nurses and other healthcare providers deliver care to patients. Other professions above NPs include pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and physical therapists. The list rounds out with audiologists and podiatrists who are very specialized and not surprising to be rounding off the list.
Rank | Job Title | Employment |
1 | Medical Assistant | 710,200 |
2 | Social Worker | 681,400 |
3 | Pharmacy Technician | 415,310 |
4 | Pharmacist | 315,470 |
5 | Dental Assistant | 312,140 |
6 | Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic | 257,700 |
7 | Physical Therapist | 220,870 |
8 | Nurse Practitioner | 211,280 |
9 | Radiologic Technologist and Technician | 206,720 |
10 | Dental Hygienist | 194,830 |
11 | Speech-Language Pathologist | 148,450 |
12 | Respiratory Therapist | 131,890 |
13 | Phlebotomist | 128,020 |
14 | Occupational Therapist | 126,610 |
15 | Physician Assistant | 125,280 |
16 | Dentist | 111,210 |
17 | Veterinary Technologist and Technician | 109,490 |
18 | Surgical Technologist | 107,400 |
19 | Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | 98,810 |
20 | Physical Therapist Assistant | 92,740 |
21 | Psychiatric Technician | 85,330 |
22 | Massage Therapist | 85,040 |
23 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | 73,920 |
24 | Veterinarian | 73,710 |
25 | Dietitian and Nutritionist | 66,330 |
26 | Ophthalmic Medical Technician | 59,960 |
27 | Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician | 55,980 |
28 | Psychiatric Aide | 51,550 |
29 | Medical Transcriptionist | 49,530 |
30 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | 42,750 |
31 | Optometrist | 36,690 |
32 | Chiropractor | 34,760 |
33 | Dietetic Technician | 26,430 |
34 | Radiation Therapist | 17,390 |
35 | Audiologist | 13,300 |
36 | Podiatrist | 9,710 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
What is the Distribution of Nurse Practitioners in the United States by Gender?
There are many more women practicing as nurse practitioners than men—and truthfully, this is not all that surprising. As of 2020, the number of men practicing as NPs was 32,120, and the number of women was 179,160—indicating that almost 85% of NPs are women.
At this time, nursing, in general, is a female-dominated career. Still, there has been a significant increase in men pursuing a career in nursing, and I would expect this trend to continue as nursing is an excellent career with considerable room for growth.
Total Employed | Men | Women |
211,280 | 32,120 | 179,160 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
What is the Distribution Of Nurse Practitioners in the United States by Race And Ethnicity?
There are 211,280 nurse practitioners employed in the United States. Of those, 182,123 or 86% are white. Black or African Americans make up 9%, Hispanic or Latino make up 6% and Asians make up 3%.
Total Employed | White | Black or African American | Hispanic or Latino | Asian |
211,280 | 182,123 | 19,226 | 13,311 | 6,761 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
What is the Distribution of Nurse Practitioners in the United States by Age?
Out of the 211,280 practicing NPs in the United States, the majority are between 35 to 44 years of age, followed by people aged 45 to 54 and then 25 to 34. This is not surprising—because I feel the role of the NP has really grown and developed over the last 20 years. I also expect the number to continue to grow for those aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 as more people are looking for different opportunities and more autonomy within the nursing field.
Total, 16 Years And Over | 16 to 19 Years | 20 to 24 Years | 25 to 34 Years | 35 to 44 Years | 45 to 54 Years | 55 to 64 Years | 65 Years And Over | Median Age |
211,280 | N/A | 969 | 40,705 | 82,380 | 49,428 | 30,044 | 8,723 | 43.4 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
How Many Nurse Practitioners are There in Your State?
(We know that the total number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. is 211,280—but how many nurse practitioners work in each state? Based on the latest data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, below, you will find the number of NPs in each state and the metropolitans where most NPs work.)
1. Alabama
The number of nurse practitioners working in Alabama is 3,930. The majority of these NPs work in 10 cities within Alabama. Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan has 30% of the nurse practitioners—and the other 70% of the NPs in Alabama are primarily scattered throughout the remaining nine communities.
Top Metros | Employment |
Birmingham-Hoover | 1,210 |
Huntsville | 630 |
Mobile | 300 |
Montgomery | 230 |
Dothan | 170 |
Tuscaloosa | 160 |
Florence-Muscle Shoals | 150 |
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | 130 |
Decatur | 90 |
Gadsden | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,930 |
2. Alaska
While Alaska is the largest state, the population falls within the bottom five. So, it is not surprising to see only 770 NPs practicing in Alaska. And half of those are working in Anchorage, which is their largest city.
Top Metros | Employment |
Anchorage | 360 |
Total Number of NPs | 770 |
3. Arizona
Arizona employs 4,790 nurse practitioners in various specialties and settings. The majority of these NPs practice in 7 metropolitan areas—and the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan employs 3,430, which is over 70% of the state's nurse practitioners.
Top Metros | Employment |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale | 3,430 |
Tucson | 710 |
Flagstaff | 150 |
Prescott | 120 |
Lake Havasu City-Kingman | 90 |
Yuma | 90 |
Sierra Vista-Douglas | 50 |
Total Number of NPs | 4,790 |
4. Arkansas
How many nurse practitioners work in Arkansas?—the answer, is 2,730 nurse practitioners. Of those 2,730 NPs—the majority work in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan, followed by Jonesboro and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan areas.
Top Metros | Employment |
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | 860 |
Jonesboro | 400 |
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | 350 |
Hot Springs | 80 |
Pine Bluff | 60 |
Fort Smith | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 2,730 |
5. California
California employs 15,100 nurse practitioners who practice in various settings and specialties. It should not be surprising that California employs so many NPs based on the state’s population. The majority of these NPs practice in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitans, and Santa Rosa, California, rounds the list off with only 200 NPs practicing in the area.
Top Metros | Employment |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 4,550 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | 2,080 |
San Diego-Carlsbad | 1,990 |
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 1,590 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 970 |
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 880 |
Fresno, CA | 540 |
Bakersfield, CA | 240 |
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 200 |
Santa Rosa, CA | 200 |
Total Number of NPs | 15,100 |
6. Colorado
The total number of NPs practicing in Colorado is 3,080--and they primarily practice in 7 metropolitan areas throughout Colorado. The majority of the NPs practice in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan, and Greely rounds the list off with only 70 practicing NPs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood | 1,470 |
Colorado Springs | 530 |
Fort Collins | 230 |
Boulder | 160 |
Pueblo | 130 |
Grand Junction | 110 |
Greeley | 70 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,080 |
7. Connecticut
Connecticut employs 2,630 nurse practitioners in a variety of settings and specialties. These NPs are primarily located in 6 metropolitan areas throughout Connecticut, and the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford metropolitan employs almost 50% of the NPs in Connecticut.
Top Metros | Employment |
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | 1,360 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk | 560 |
New Haven | 310 |
Waterbury | 140 |
Norwich-New London-Westerly | 120 |
Danbury | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 2,630 |
8. Delaware
The number of nurse practitioners in Delaware is 740-- with 90 working in the Dover metropolitan. This number should not be surprising since the population of Delaware ranks in the bottom ten regarding population.
Top Metros | Employment |
Dover | 90 |
Total Number of NPs | 740 |
9. Florida
Florida employs 13,010 nurse practitioners—placing them #3 for states with the most nurse practitioners. In Florida, the NP practice is spread out among multiple metropolitans—with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan employing 3,620 NPs and the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent metropolitan rounding the list out with 260 NPs employed.
Top Metros | Employment |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 3,620 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 2,080 |
Jacksonville | 1,850 |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 1,090 |
Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 440 |
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton | 400 |
Port St. Lucie | 330 |
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 310 |
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 310 |
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 260 |
Total Number of NPs | 13,010 |
10. Georgia
Georgia employs 8,120 nurse practitioners in various settings and specialties. Over 50% of the NPs employed work in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan, which is not surprising based on this metropolitan population. The remainder of the communities employ less than 350 NPs, and Dalton rounds the list off by employing 120 NPs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 4,740 |
Macon | 330 |
Augusta-Richmond County | 300 |
Savannah | 280 |
Athens-Clarke County | 200 |
Albany | 170 |
Gainesville | 160 |
Valdosta | 160 |
Columbus | 140 |
Dalton | 120 |
Total Number of NPs | 8,120 |
11. Hawaii
How many nurse practitioners work in Hawaii? In Hawaii, 390 nurse practitioners are employed in various settings and specialties. Over 75% of those NPs are employed in Urban Honolulu.
Top Metros | Employment |
Urban Honolulu | 300 |
Total Number of NPs | 390 |
12. Idaho
The number of nurse practitioners in Idaho is 810. Of those, just over 50% are employed in Boise City, and the remaining 400 NPs are dispersed throughout five other metropolitan areas.
Top Metros | Employment |
Boise City | 410 |
Coeur d'Alene | 70 |
Idaho Falls | 50 |
Lewiston | 50 |
Pocatello | 50 |
Twin Falls | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 810 |
13. Illinois
Illinois employs 6,890 nurse practitioners—and is on the top 10 list of states where nurse practitioners work. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan is ranked #3 in the nation for having the highest employment of NPs and currently employs over 65% of the NPs in Illinois.
Top Metros | Employment |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 4,760 |
Springfield | 330 |
Champaign-Urbana | 320 |
Peoria | 300 |
Rockford | 250 |
Carbondale-Marion | 150 |
Bloomington | 100 |
Kankakee | 100 |
Decatur | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 6,890 |
14. Indiana
Indiana employs 5,700 nurse practitioners in various settings and specialties throughout the state. The Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metropolitan employs the most NPs, totaling 2,140 NPs or more than 35% of the NPs in Indiana. The list is rounded off with the Michigan City-La Porte metropolitan, employing 90 NPs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson | 2,140 |
Fort Wayne | 580 |
Evansville | 440 |
South Bend-Mishawaka | 210 |
Terre Haute | 180 |
Elkhart-Goshen | 160 |
Lafayette-West Lafayette | 150 |
Bloomington | 100 |
Muncie | 100 |
Michigan City-La Porte | 90 |
Total Number of NPs | 5,700 |
15. Iowa
Iowa employs 2,010 NPs in a variety of settings and specialties. Unlike some of the other states we discuss, the NPs in Iowa are dispersed somewhat evenly throughout the state. Almost 25% of the NPs practice in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan, but most of the other 75% of NPs work in 7 different metropolitan communities in Iowa.
Top Metros | Employment |
Des Moines-West Des Moines | 490 |
Iowa City | 260 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 230 |
Waterloo-Cedar Falls | 210 |
Cedar Rapids | 120 |
Sioux City | 120 |
Dubuque | 80 |
Ames | 50 |
Total Number of NPs | 2,010 |
16. Kansas
Kansas employs 2,580 nurses throughout the state. These nurses work in various settings, including acute care, clinics, and urgent care, caring for patients ranging from neonates to older adults. Almost 31% of the NPs in Kansas work in 3 metropolitans—Wichita, Topeka, and Lawrence. The remaining NPs work in communities throughout Kansas.
Top Metros | Employment |
Wichita | 420 |
Topeka | 290 |
Lawrence | 80 |
Total Number of NPs | 2,580 |
17. Kentucky
Kentucky has 4,250 nurse practitioners practicing in a variety of settings and specialties. Almost ¼ of these NPs practice in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro, and the other NPs primarily practice in other metros, including Lexington-Fayette, Bowling Green, and Owensboro.
Top Metros | Employment |
Louisville/Jefferson County | 1,090 |
Lexington-Fayette | 700 |
Bowling Green | 190 |
Owensboro | 140 |
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox | 100 |
Total Number of NPs | 4,250 |
18. Louisiana
Louisiana has 3,170 practicing nurse practitioners spread throughout the state. The majority of these NPs practice in 9 metropolitan areas—the New Orleans-Metairie metro employs 860 NPs, placing them #1 on the list, and Monroe employs 120 NPs, putting them at the bottom of the list.
Top Metros | Employment |
New Orleans-Metairie | 860 |
Baton Rouge | 630 |
Lafayette | 300 |
Shreveport-Bossier City | 230 |
Hammond | 190 |
Alexandria | 170 |
Houma-Thibodaux | 160 |
Lake Charles | 160 |
Monroe | 120 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,170 |
19. Maine
How many nurse practitioners work in Maine? The state of Maine currently has 1,360 nurse practitioners. Over 55% of those work in 3 different metropolitan areas—Portland-South Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston-Auburn.
Top Metros | Employment |
Portland-South Portland | 400 |
Bangor | 210 |
Lewiston-Auburn | 140 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,360 |
20. Maryland
Maryland employs 3,320 nurse practitioners in various settings and specialties throughout the state. The majority of the NPs work in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metropolitan, and the three other metropolitans that make up most of the NPs are Salisbury, Hagerstown-Martinsburg, and Cumberland.
Top Metros | Employment |
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | 2,140 |
Salisbury | 280 |
Hagerstown-Martinsburg | 120 |
Cumberland | 70 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,320 |
21. Massachusetts
6,430 nurse practitioners are working in Massachusetts—and they are spread throughout a variety of settings and specialties. Over 75% of these NPs work in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua metro—and the remainder work in 4 other metros, with Leominster-Gardner, rounding the list out with 30 NPs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua | 4,950 |
Springfield | 460 |
Barnstable Town | 170 |
New Bedford | 110 |
Leominster-Gardner | 30 |
Total Number of NPs | 6,430 |
22. Michigan
How many nurse practitioners work in Michigan? Michigan has 4,880 NPs working in various settings of specialties—and 40% of those NPs work in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area. The remaining NPs are primarily located in 9 other metros throughout Michigan.
Top Metros | Employment |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | 1,980 |
Ann Arbor | 620 |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming | 570 |
Kalamazoo-Portage | 260 |
Flint | 220 |
Lansing-East Lansing | 150 |
Saginaw | 150 |
Muskegon | 70 |
Niles-Benton Harbor | 70 |
Battle Creek | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 4,880 |
23. Minnesota
There are 4,080 nurse practitioners working in Minnesota. Of those 4,080, over 50% work in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area. The remaining primarily work in Duluth and St. Cloud, with a few located in Mankato-North Mankato and Rochester.
Top Metros | Employment |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | 2,510 |
Duluth | 250 |
St. Cloud | 230 |
Mankato-North Mankato | 40 |
Rochester | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 4,080 |
24. Mississippi
Mississippi currently has 3,640 nurse practitioners working throughout the state. 48% of the NPs are located in three different metropolitans—Jackson, Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, and Hattiesburg. The remaining NPs are found throughout the state in various settings and specialties.
Top Metros | Employment |
Jackson | 960 |
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula | 490 |
Hattiesburg | 300 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,640 |
25. Missouri
How many nurse practitioners work in Missouri? Missouri currently has 6,200 nurse practitioners, with 92% primarily located in 2 separate metropolitan communities—2,910 NPs work in Kansas City, and 2,790 NPs work in St. Louis.
Top Metros | Employment |
Kansas City | 2,910 |
St. Louis | 2,790 |
Springfield | 510 |
Columbia | 200 |
Joplin | 150 |
St. Joseph | 150 |
Jefferson City | 110 |
Cape Girardeau | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 6,200 |
26. Montana
Montana has 710 nurse practitioners working throughout the state. Of those 710, 39% work in 3 communities—Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls. This should not be surprising since these are 3 of Montana's more heavily populated areas.
Top Metros | Employment |
Billings | 130 |
Missoula | 100 |
Great Falls | 50 |
Total Number of NPs | 710 |
27. Nebraska
Nebraska employs 1,500 nurse practitioners. Three of the most populated communities in Nebraska employ just over 78% of the NPs—Omaha-Council Bluffs, Lincoln, and Grand Island. The other 20% of NPs work in the smaller communities—helping meet the healthcare needs of the people throughout Nebraska.
Top Metros | Employment |
Omaha-Council Bluffs | 840 |
Lincoln | 310 |
Grand Island | 30 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,500 |
28. Nevada
In Nevada, there are 1,290 nurse practitioners. The NPs in Nevada are primarily located in three metropolitan communities—Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Reno, and Carson City.
Top Metros | Employment |
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise | 940 |
Reno | 190 |
Carson City | 90 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,290 |
29. New Hampshire
The number of nurse practitioners in New Hampshire is 1,060. The NPs are indeed scattered throughout the various communities in New Hampshire—but 38% primarily work in 3 metropolitan communities. These communities include Manchester, Portsmouth, and Dover-Durham.
Top Metros | Employment |
Manchester | 200 |
Portsmouth | 110 |
Dover-Durham | 100 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,060 |
30. New Jersey
In New Jersey, there are 5,800 nurse practitioners. This number is not surprising due to the population in New Jersey. The majority of NPs in New Jersey work in the most populated cities of Newark and Jersey City. Around 10% of them work in Trenton, Atlantic City-Hammonton, and Vineland-Bridgeton
Top Metros | Employment |
Trenton | 300 |
Atlantic City-Hammonton | 200 |
Vineland-Bridgeton | 80 |
Total Number of NPs | 5,800 |
31. New Mexico
How many nurse practitioners work in New Mexico? The answer is 1,080 NPs in New Mexico. Most of the NPs are spread between 4 different metros—Albuquerque employs 420 NPs, and the list rounds off with Farmington employing 50.
Top Metros | Employment |
Albuquerque | 420 |
Las Cruces | 160 |
Santa Fe | 120 |
Farmington | 50 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,080 |
32. New York
New York has 14,850 nurse practitioners—and this should not be surprising due to the population of New York. It should also not be surprising that 92% of the NPs work in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan.
Top Metros | Employment |
New York-Newark-Jersey City | 13,760 |
Rochester | 1,220 |
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls | 1,100 |
Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 560 |
Syracuse | 550 |
Utica-Rome | 200 |
Binghamton | 190 |
Ithaca | 150 |
Glens Falls | 80 |
Watertown-Fort Drum | 80 |
Total Number of NPs | 14,850 |
33. North Carolina
How many nurse practitioners are in North Carolina? The answer—is 6,040. Almost 30% of the NPs work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, but the remaining NPs work in nine other metros throughout the state.
Top Metros | Employment |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 1,760 |
Durham-Chapel Hill | 830 |
Raleigh | 640 |
Winston-Salem | 440 |
Asheville | 430 |
Greensboro-High Point | 390 |
Fayetteville | 200 |
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 170 |
Wilmington | 160 |
Greenville | 110 |
Total Number of NPs | 6,040 |
34. North Dakota
How many nurse practitioners work in North Dakota? The answer is 690 nurse practitioners working in various settings and specialties—almost 74% working in 3 cities—Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismark.
Top Metros | Employment |
Fargo | 340 |
Grand Forks | 90 |
Bismarck | 80 |
Total Number of NPs | 690 |
35. Ohio
Ohio currently has 9,430 practicing nurse practitioners. These nurse practitioners work in various settings and specialties, ensuring the state's healthcare needs are met—almost 56% of these NPs work in 3 metros—Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland-Elyria.
Top Metros | Employment |
Cincinnati | 2,320 |
Columbus | 1,620 |
Cleveland-Elyria | 1,340 |
Dayton | 740 |
Toledo | 600 |
Akron | 590 |
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman | 370 |
Canton-Massillon | 200 |
Lima | 90 |
Mansfield | 70 |
Total Number of NPs | 9,430 |
36. Oklahoma
The number of nurse practitioners located in Oklahoma is 1,970. The majority, or more precisely 68% of these NPs, work in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Lawton. The remaining 32% work in various communities throughout Oklahoma.
Top Metros | Employment |
Oklahoma City | 880 |
Tulsa | 410 |
Lawton | 50 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,970 |
37. Oregon
How many nurse practitioners work in Oregon? The answer—is 2,220. Over 50% of these NPs work in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan, and the other NPs work throughout Oregon.
Top Metros | Employment |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 1,420 |
Salem | 200 |
Bend-Redmond | 140 |
Eugene | 120 |
Medford | 120 |
Corvallis | 70 |
Grants Pass | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 2,220 |
38. Pennsylvania
There are 8,150 nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania. Out of these, 77% work in either the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington or Pittsburgh metropolitan. The other 23% of the NPs are scattered throughout the state—primarily working in eight other communities.
Top Metros | Employment |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 4,150 |
Pittsburgh | 2,180 |
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | 560 |
Lancaster | 360 |
Harrisburg-Carlisle | 320 |
Reading | 250 |
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton | 250 |
York-Hanover | 130 |
Altoona | 90 |
Chambersburg-Waynesboro | 90 |
Total Number of NPs | 8,150 |
39. Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 690 nurse practitioners practicing throughout the state. It should not be surprising that this number is one of the lower numbers on this list due to the small size of Rhode Island in general. The NPs in this state work in a variety of settings and specialties, allowing them to ensure the state's healthcare needs are met.
Top Metros | Employment |
Providence-Warwick | 790 |
Total Number of NPs | 690 |
40. South Carolina
There are 2,820 nurse practitioners practicing in various settings and specialties throughout South Carolina. The three metros with the most NPs include Columbia, Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, and Charleston-North Charleston.
Top Metros | Employment |
Columbia | 560 |
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin | 470 |
Charleston-North Charleston | 440 |
Florence | 200 |
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort | 100 |
Sumter | 40 |
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | N/A |
Spartanburg | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 2,820 |
41. South Dakota
The number of nurse practitioners working in South Dakota is 590. Over 64% of the nurse practitioners work in 2 different communities—Sioux Falls and Rapid City, and the remaining NPs work in other communities throughout South Dakota.
Top Metros | Employment |
Sioux Falls | 280 |
Rapid City | 100 |
Total Number of NPs | 590 |
42. Tennessee
The state of Tennessee employs quite a few of NPs, totaling 8,300—and these NPs work in various settings and specialties throughout the state. Out of 10 metropolitans, just over 70% work in three metros—Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Memphis, and Knoxville.
Top Metros | Employment |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | 3,140 |
Memphis | 1,480 |
Knoxville | 1,220 |
Chattanooga | 700 |
Johnson City | 370 |
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | 290 |
Jackson | 230 |
Clarksville | 140 |
Cleveland | 100 |
Morristown | 70 |
Total Number of NPs | 8,300 |
43. Texas
14,680 nurse practitioners are working in Texas—and while this is a lot of NPs, it is not surprising based on the size of Texas. There are ten metropolitan areas where the NPs can primarily be found—and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, and San Antonio-New Braunfels metros employ the most NPs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 4,320 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | 3,520 |
San Antonio-New Braunfels | 1,530 |
Austin-Round Rock | 930 |
El Paso | 380 |
Killeen-Temple | 370 |
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 310 |
Beaumont-Port Arthur | 290 |
Lubbock | 240 |
Corpus Christi | 230 |
Total Number of NPs | 14,680 |
44. Utah
There are 1,610 nurse practitioners in Utah. Over 50% of them work in the Salt Lake City area—followed by four other communities, and the list rounding off with Logan where 30 NPs work.
Top Metros | Employment |
Salt Lake City | 880 |
Provo-Orem | 270 |
Ogden-Clearfield | 170 |
St. George | 160 |
Logan | 30 |
Total Number of NPs | 1,610 |
45. Vermont
How many nurse practitioners work in Vermont? The answer is 460. Of those 460 nurse practitioners, 200 work in Burlington-South Burlington metropolitan. The other NPs work in towns and communities throughout Vermont to help meet the community healthcare needs.
Top Metros | Employment |
Burlington-South Burlington | 200 |
Total Number of NPs | 460 |
46. Virginia
Virginia currently has 5,790 nurse practitioners—and they are found throughout the state working in a variety of settings, including acute care and outpatient practices. The two most heavily employed metros include Richmond and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News—where 2,300 nurse practitioners work.
Top Metros | Employment |
Richmond | 1,290 |
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | 1,010 |
Charlottesville | 360 |
Roanoke | 280 |
Lynchburg | 250 |
Staunton-Waynesboro | 150 |
Winchester | 110 |
Harrisonburg | 80 |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | 70 |
Total Number of NPs | 5,790 |
47. Washington
The number of practicing nurse practitioners in the state of Washington is 3,720. Over 66% of those are found in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan, which is not surprising due to the large population of this metro. The remaining 30% primarily work in 9 other communities within Washington.
Top Metros | Employment |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 2,490 |
Spokane-Spokane Valley | 230 |
Bremerton-Silverdale | 100 |
Olympia-Tumwater | 100 |
Yakima | 100 |
Kennewick-Richland | 80 |
Bellingham | 60 |
Wenatchee | 50 |
Longview | 40 |
Mount Vernon-Anacortes | 40 |
Total Number of NPs | 3,720 |
48. West Virginia
West Virginia currently employs 1,200 nurse practitioners. Unlike some other states we have discussed, the NPs in West Virginia are spread throughout the state—and are not primarily found in one specific community. Out of the 1,200 NPs, 73% primarily work in 6 metropolitan areas.
Top Metros | Employment |
Charleston | 280 |
Huntington-Ashland | 260 |
Morgantown | 120 |
Wheeling | 110 |
Parkersburg-Vienna | 60 |
Beckley | 50 |
Weirton-Steubenville | N/A |
Total Number of NPs | 1,200 |
49. Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, there are 4,820 practicing nurse practitioners. Over 45% of those work in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metro—and the remaining 55% of the NPs work throughout the state. The NPs deliver care in various settings, ensuring the healthcare needs of the people of Wisconsin are met.
Top Metros | Employment |
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis | 2,240 |
Madison | 430 |
Green Bay | 260 |
Appleton | 180 |
Eau Claire | 150 |
Oshkosh-Neenah | 140 |
Wausau | 140 |
Janesville-Beloit | 110 |
Racine | 90 |
La Crosse-Onalaska | 80 |
Total Number of NPs | 4,820 |
50. Wyoming
The number of nurse practitioners working in Wyoming is 340, and this should not come as a surprise since Wyoming ranks in the bottom five regarding the overall population. Almost 53% of these NPs are located in Casper and Cheyenne, with the remaining NPs situated throughout Wyoming.
Top Metros | Employment |
Casper | 90 |
Cheyenne | 90 |
Total Number of NPs | 340 |
The Conclusion
So, how many nurse practitioners are there in the U.S.? The answer is 211,280, and the total number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. will only grow. This increase is expected throughout the U.S—and will be incredibly helpful in meeting the population's healthcare needs, especially in rural communities.
Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Our Expert
1. How Many Nurse Practitioner Programs Are There In The U.S.?
According to the AANP, there are 479 nurse practitioner programs in the United States. This includes traditional programs and NP programs that are almost 100% online.
2. How Many Neonatal Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
In the United States, there are 2,120 neonatal nurse practitioners. This is a highly specialized field for NPs—and these NPs are all board-certified in neonatal medicine.
3. How Many Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
There are 9,930 psychiatric nurse practitioners in the United States. Psychiatric NPs are specialized and board-certified in psychiatry—and I do expect this number to increase over the next 10 years.
4. How Many Family Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
There are currently 147,260 family nurse practitioners in the United States. This is one of the most common specialties for NPs, and therefore is not surprising that the number is so great compared to other specialties. One thing to note about family nurse practitioners is that they can practice in the family practice setting and work in specialty clinics such as pulmonology and cardiology or even urgent care.
5. How Many Women's Health Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
There are 6,130 women’s health nurse practitioners in the United States. This is a specialty field, and therefore the number of NPs will not be as significant—but it is important to note that NPs are most commonly board-certified in women’s health.
6. How Many Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
There are 8,240 pediatric NPs in the United States. The pediatric NPs are most commonly board-certified in pediatrics—but you may find some family practice NPs working in the outpatient setting/clinic setting.
7. What Is The Average Age Of Nurse Practitioners In The U.S.?
The average age of NPs in the United States is 43 years old. This is not surprising—and it will be interesting to see if this number becomes younger over the next ten years as I feel many RNs are pursuing an NP degree after practicing for only 1-2 years as a bedside RN.
8. How Many Male Nurse Practitioners Are There In The U.S.?
Out of the 211,280 nurse practitioners in the United States, there are only 32,120 male NPs. The number of male RNs is on the rise, and therefore I do expect this number to increase over the next five to ten years.
9. Are There More Nurse Practitioners Than Physicians In The U.S.?
No, there are not more NPs than physicians in the United States. Currently, there are 164,110 fewer NPs in the United States—but due to the current physician shortage, it will be interesting to see if this gap closes over the next ten years.
Number of NPs | Number of Physicians | Difference |
211,280 | 375,390 | -164,110 |
10. What State Has The Highest Number Of Nurse Practitioners In The U.S.?
California has the highest number of NPs in the United States. This is not surprising due to the population of California and the number of large metropolitans in California.
Kasee Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Kasee Wiesen is a practicing family nurse practitioner. Her nursing background includes emergency medicine, pediatrics and peri-op. Education is a passion of Kasee’s, and she has taught BSN, RN-BSN and DNP students, and has enjoyed every moment of it!