PMHNP: Elevate Mental Health Care & Impact

Nurses already have one of the most in-demand jobs in the country. However, you can advance your career and increase your nursing salary by specializing as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP).

Nurse practitioners earn more than the average registered nurse (RN), but how much more can this type of NP make? In this guide, you’ll learn about the average psychiatric nurse practitioner salary, what they do, and how to become one.

This will help you decide if you’re ready to take the step toward your next professional journey!

Whether you’re a nursing student deciding on your career path or a travel nurse practitioner wanting to know how much you can earn in a different state, you’ll want to know about average PMHNP salaries.

As of 2025, the average salary for a psychiatric nurse practitioner is around $141,112 per year. Salaries typically range from $79,000 to $200,500 annually, depending on factors such as experience, location, and employer. Entry-level PMHNPs can expect to earn between $41,500 and $200,000 per year, while those with several years’ experience may see their salaries rise to $180,000 or more annually.

Overall, salaries for this specialty continue to trend upward as demand for mental health services grows.

We’ve collected data on the average psychiatric nurse practitioner salary by state, based on data collected in 2025. Since the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide salary data specifically for PMHNPs, Zip Recruiter served as the primary source for this information.

State
Average Annual Salary

• Alabama $126,429
• Alaska $150,219
• Arizona $129,985
• Arkansas $115,342
• California $137,660
• Colorado $146,672
• Connecticut $132,691
• Delaware $139,606
• District of Columbia $157,623
• Florida $104,237
• Georgia $117,780
• Hawaii $144,920
• Idaho $131,242
• Illinois $135,166
• Indiana $132,730
• Iowa $131,015
• Kansas $124,401
• Kentucky $121,148
• Louisiana $119,278
• Maine $135,050
• Maryland $135,377
• Massachusetts $152,336
• Michigan $121,575
• Minnesota $136,614
• Mississippi $132,103
• Missouri $130,839
• Montana $128,027
• Nebraska $132,993
• Nevada $142,040
• New Hampshire $135,652
• New Jersey $141,611
• New Mexico $135,172
• New York $152,603
• North Carolina $126,765
• North Dakota $147,588
• Ohio $132,609
• Oklahoma $128,792
• Oregon $147,477
• Pennsylvania $139,821
• Rhode Island $136,600
• South Carolina $129,437
• South Dakota $139,486
• Tennessee $126,600
• Texas $129,953
• Utah $126,984
• Vermont $148,309
• Virginia $138,290
• Washington $157,982
• West Virginia $107,986
• Wisconsin $140,791
• Wyoming $134,077

• Washington: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in Washington state make an average salary of $157,982. This is about 13.3% above the national average.
• District of Columbia: Psychiatric nurse practitioners in Washington, D.C. earn an average annual salary of $157,623, making it one of the highest-paying locations in the country. This is about 13.0% above the national average.
• New York: PMHNPs in New York earn an average salary of $152,603, which is approximately 9.4% above the national average.
• Massachusetts: In Massachusetts, psychiatric nurse practitioners make an average salary of $152,336, or about 9.2% above the national average.
• Alaska: The average annual salary for PMHNPs in Alaska is $150,219. This is about 7.7% above the national average.

The demand for healthcare professionals who treat mental health disorders continues to rise across the United States. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health says about 1 in 5 American adults struggle with mental health issues today. This growing need indicates that the demand for PMHNP will continue to increase in the years ahead.

The day-to-day duties of PMHNPs vary depending on where they work and the kind of facility they’re employed in. However, their work often entails:

• Collaborating with a psychiatrist in the process of medication management. In some states, psychiatric nurse…