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It’s not just your butter that comes from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Minnesota is a great place for nurse practitioners to settle, with a higher than average mean wage at $135,010 (Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2023). The state has earned its spot within the top ten highest-paid wages for nurse practitioners and we know why. Minnesota gives NPs authority to practice as independent contractors with a lenient policy on physician collaboration.
Earning Potential for NP Salaries in Minnesota
With such desirable conditions for nurse practitioners, Minnesota can have above-average competition for NP jobs. If you have decided to join the 4,000 nurse practitioners in Minnesota, rest assured, there is plenty of room for making a great salary in the state. The top 10% of nurse practitioners for Minnesota are making over $160,060 per year and in Northwest Minnesota, the top 10% are making almost 30% more annually. Let’s explore some ideas to increase your salary as a nurse practitioner in Minnesota.
Minnesota Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Minnesota
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 380 | $149,950 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 130 | $137,880 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,860 | $133,050 |
| Rochester, MN | 990 | $130,740 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 250 | $124,580 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2023 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Minnesota
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 300 | $136,990 |
| Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 70 | $132,820 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 180 | $137,560 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 170 | $142,130 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2023 |
Increase Your Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota
Choose Your Specialty Wisely
The Minnesota Board of Nursing has few state requirements to acquire your NP license, but one mandate is the selection of a specialty field for national certification. The specialties available for recognition by the state’s board of nursing include:
Each specialty field comes with benefits and drawbacks, but one factor to consider is how the salaries compare. For Minnesota, the neonatal specialty currently reflects the highest salaries of all nurse practitioners in the state. There is also a high demand for this type of NP because of the high prematurity infant death rate and only 3% of practitioners in the NNP specialty.
So if you’re looking to maximize your salary while saving babies, the NNP certification is one path to achieve that goal. Find information, events, training, and jobs in the neonatal specialty from the Minnesota Nurse Practitioners.
Start Your Own Practice
Another way to achieve increased income as a nurse practitioner in Minnesota is by taking advantage of the state’s full practice status for NPs. The state’s board gives authority to nurse practitioners to:
- Perform advanced assessments
- Diagnose conditions
- Prescribe treatments
- Order tests and procedures
Nurse practitioners in Minnesota have the authority and freedom to work independently. This means NPs in Minnesota can set up their practice without physician supervision. This type of practice leads to the highest incomes for nurse practitioners in Minnesota. The Minnesota APRN Coalition helps to keep Minnesota’s FPA status by advocating for CNPs in the state.
The Minnesota Board of Nursing can be an excellent resource in learning how to proceed with opening your independent practice. You can also network with other nurse practitioners through organizations like the Minnesota APRN Coalition as well as Minnesota Nurse Practitioner to explore what it takes to start a joint business venture.
Concluding Thoughts
Minnesota has proven to be a promising home to nurse practitioners by allowing full practice authority and attractive salaries. As mentioned above, there are opportunities to increase your earning potential well beyond the national average as a nurse practitioner in the North Star State.