How Many Nurse Practitioners are There in the U.S. – State Wise Data

Written By: Kasee Wiesen 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)

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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.

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.

478

(Source: AANP)

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.

2,110

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.

9,930

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.

147,260

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.

6,130

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.

8,240

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.

43.4

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.

32,120

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.

California

15,100