USMinnesota salary guideStatewide BLS data
Updated for 2026

Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota (2026)

The Nurse Practitioner salary in Minnesota for 2026 is shown as a modeled statewide benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. Each section helps readers understand where this career pays best across the state and how the projected benchmark compares with metro markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Modeled statewide salary guide8,690 employment estimate12 min read
Average Salary
$130K
state median
Entry Level
$97.7K
starting range
Senior Level
$141K
upper band
Top Range
$164K
90th percentile
Hourly Rate
$62
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·   Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Nurse Practitioner Salary Overview in Minnesota

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Nurse Practitioner pay in Minnesota at about $129,815 per year. On the latest official statewide BLS baseline, the range runs from about $96,720.0 at the lower end to $163,660 for top earners.

This guide covers the full statewide Nurse Practitioner salary picture first, then compares metro markets inside Minnesota where BLS data is available — making it useful for candidates who want a broader view beyond any single city.

Minnesota Nurse Practitioner Salary vs the U.S. Average

The statewide median for Nurse Practitioner roles in Minnesota is $129,815, compared with a U.S. median of $129,210. That gap of +0% helps readers see whether this state sits in a premium salary market, a near-national market, or a lower-cost salary market relative to the rest of the country.

BenchmarkMinnesotaUnited StatesDifference
Projected annual salary$129,815$129,210Near national
Entry-level benchmark$104,250$98,949.0+5% vs U.S.
Senior-level benchmark$140,942$151,049-7% vs U.S.
Top baseline wage range$163,660$169,950-4% vs U.S.
Projected hourly equivalent$62$628,690 state jobs
How to read the state premium Mankato, MN is currently the strongest-paying metro in this state, which helps explain how local employer concentration pushes the state average. Information is the strongest-paying industry benchmark currently available.

Nurse Practitioner Salary by Experience Level in Minnesota

Statewide experience bands help show how much of the salary story comes from growing responsibility, not location alone. Even inside one state, the distance between entry-level and senior pay can be wide enough to change how attractive the long-term path looks.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$104K
$62/hr median equivalent
$97.7K - $130K
Lower percentile wages modeled into early-career pay.
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$130K
$62/hr median equivalent
$104K - $141K
Independent delivery and broader scope become the norm.
Senior
6-10 years
$141K
$62/hr median equivalent
$130K - $165K
Higher salaries usually reflect stronger ownership and specialization.
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$165K
$62/hr median equivalent
$141K - $202K
Leadership pay reflects broader responsibility and top-end wage ranges.
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs U.S.
Entry-Level Nurse Practitioner0-2 years$104,250$97,657.0 - $129,815-19% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Nurse Practitioner3-5 years$129,815$104,250 - $140,942Near national
Senior Nurse Practitioner6-10 years$140,942$129,815 - $165,245+9% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Nurse Practitioner10+ years$165,245$140,942 - $201,598+28% vs U.S.
State experience modelThese experience bands are modeled from local wage percentiles because BLS publishes wage distributions, not direct entry, mid, senior, or lead labels.
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Nurse Practitioner Salary by City in Minnesota

City-level differences inside Minnesota can be large. Stronger salary metro areas often combine dense employers, specialized industries, and stronger competition for experienced Nurse Practitioner talent.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs StateMarket Signal
Mankato, MN$135,190$126,910 - $163,270+4% vs U.S.Competitive metro
St. Cloud, MN$130,280$104,020 - $166,440Near nationalCompetitive metro
Duluth, MN$128,940$99,720.0 - $171,130Near nationalValue market
Minneapolis, MN$128,570$98,440.0 - $163,660Near nationalValue market
Rochester, MN$122,820$90,290.0 - $161,850-5% vs U.S.Value market
Mankato, MN$135,810$111,030 - $156,940+5% vs U.S.Competitive metro
Minneapolis, MN$131,810$105,440 - $160,820+2% vs U.S.Competitive metro
Duluth, MN$131,730$104,590 - $199,730+1% vs U.S.Competitive metro

Nurse Practitioner Salary by Industry in Minnesota

Industry mix is one of the strongest drivers behind pay differences inside a state. Stronger salary industry rows usually reflect employers that place the role closer to revenue, specialized operations, or hard-to-source talent.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Information$173,100$38,960.0 - $173,130Stronger salary
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$135,750$88,860.0 - $206,030Stronger salary
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$132,660$99,880.0 - $184,450Stronger salary
Retail Trade$131,030$109,210 - $146,820Competitive
Other Services Except Public Administration$129,440$68,520.0 - $160,020Competitive
Health Care and Social Assistance$129,330$98,500.0 - $169,960Competitive
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$128,750$62,400.0 - $182,160Competitive
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$126,980$89,510.0 - $166,320Competitive

Entry-Level Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota

Entry-level pay in Minnesota for nurse practitioner usually starts near the lower statewide wage band, then rises as candidates move from supervised work into independent delivery. The first major salary jump often comes from handling broader scope, changing employers, or moving into stronger local metro markets.

Starting benchmark
$104K
$97.7K - $130K
Typical early-career compensation in this state, modeled from the lower end of the local wage distribution.
Promotion target
$130K
+24.5% vs entry median
The move into reliable independent delivery is usually the first real comp inflection point.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
StageTypical SalaryTimelineKey Signal
Intern / trainee$83.0K - $107KPre-full-timeFoundational proof
Entry-level$104,2500-2 yearsStructured support and learning
Promotion-ready junior$113K - $127K12-24 monthsIndependent delivery
Mid-level target$129,81518-30 monthsBroader ownership
Entry estimateEntry-level Nurse Practitioner pay in Minnesota is modeled around $104,250using the lower state wage percentiles.
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Public vs Private-Sector Pay in Minnesota

The state salary dataset here does not label every wage row by public or private ownership, so this section models the comparison from statewide salary levels and the industry spread visible in the data. It is best read as pay guidance, not as a direct government-vs-private wage census.

Employer TypeEstimated SalaryBest MatchHow It Is Modeled
Public / institutional style$132,660Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal ServiceAnchored to lower-variance industry rows and the statewide baseline
Private-market baseline$129,815Minnesota commercial employersUses the core statewide median as the middle market
Top private-sector path$173,100InformationAnchored to the strongest visible industry pay rows
Interpretation notePrivate-sector upside is usually strongest where Nurse Practitioner work is closer to revenue, specialized operations, or employer competition. Institutional paths often trade some upside for steadier pay bands and clearer progression.

Remote vs Onsite Nurse Practitioner Pay in Minnesota

Remote and hybrid work can change the salary story for a state page because the employer market may be broader than the worker’s home location. Where direct remote comp data is available, it is shown below; otherwise the fallback rows use the local salary benchmark as the base case.

Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$129,815Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$133,709Metro dependentMinnesota employersMedium
Onsite$131,113Location dependentLocal teams and officesLower

The best remote comparison is total pay after commute, housing pressure, and access to stronger employer markets. A lower-cost metro paired with national hiring access can outperform a higher nominal local salary.

Cost of Living for Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota

A state salary should be read alongside rent, taxes, commuting, and the mix of high-cost and lower-cost metro areas inside the state. The same Nurse Practitioner salary can feel very different across Minnesota.

MarketProjected SalaryMonthlyVs StateModeled Cost Signal
Mankato, MN$135,190$11.3K+4% vs U.S.Balanced metro
St. Cloud, MN$130,280$10.9KNear nationalBalanced metro
Duluth, MN$128,940$10.7KNear nationalLower-cost signal
Minneapolis, MN$128,570$10.7KNear nationalLower-cost signal
Rochester, MN$122,820$10.2K-5% vs U.S.Lower-cost signal
Mankato, MN$135,810$11.3K+5% vs U.S.Balanced metro
Purchasing-power reminder Mankato, MN sets the top in-state pay benchmark, while St. Cloud, MN shows how lower salary markets may come with a lighter local cost burden.

Leading Salary Cities in Minnesota

Statewide averages flatten the most important local differences. This ranking brings those differences back into view by showing which cities and metros inside Minnesota create the strongest salary benchmarks for this role.

City / MetroProjected SalaryProjected RangeVs State
Mankato, MN$135,190$126,910 - $163,270+4% vs U.S.
St. Cloud, MN$130,280$104,020 - $166,440Near national
Duluth, MN$128,940$99,720.0 - $171,130Near national
Minneapolis, MN$128,570$98,440.0 - $163,660Near national
Rochester, MN$122,820$90,290.0 - $161,850-5% vs U.S.
Mankato, MN$135,810$111,030 - $156,940+5% vs U.S.
Minneapolis, MN$131,810$105,440 - $160,820+2% vs U.S.
Duluth, MN$131,730$104,590 - $199,730+1% vs U.S.
Rochester, MN$128,870$106,630 - $159,490Near national
St. Cloud, MN$125,440$102,220 - $141,660-3% vs U.S.

Nurse Practitioner Demand Outlook in Minnesota

Career growth inside Minnesota is best read through two lenses: the local salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The salary ladder shows how compensation expands with responsibility, while the outlook data shows whether employers are likely to keep competing for talent.

1
Intern / Trainee
$74.9K - $101K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
2
Junior
$93.0K - $123K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
3
Mid Level
$116K - $145K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
4
Senior
$140K - $181K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
5
Lead
$165K - $209K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
6
Principal / Architect
$194K - $265K
Salary growth at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and more independent impact.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 40.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Much faster than averageAnnual openings: 29.5 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment320.4k → 448.8k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
State market anchor8,690 jobs with a median of $129,815

Factors That Affect Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota

State salary is shaped by more than the job title. Metro concentration, local industry strength, training expectations, and the size of the in-state employer market all influence where pay ultimately settles.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.
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How to Increase Your Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota

Salary growth tends to come fastest when candidates combine stronger proof of impact, better-paying market selection, and negotiation with current state and U.S. benchmarks in hand.

MoveWhy It HelpsTimelineAvg. Salary Impact
Benchmark against stronger marketsCompare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.1-3 months+15-30%
Build a visible specializationPrioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.3-9 months$15.6K - $36.3K
Target higher-paying industriesUse industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.2-6 months$10.4K - $23.4K
Fastest practical liftThe quickest salary gains often come from combining stronger proof, a better-paying metro or industry target, and a well-benchmarked negotiation conversation.

Nurse Practitioner Salary in Minnesota: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the statewide benchmark with city differences, experience bands, and demand signals. They are here to clear up the parts of the salary picture that still feel uncertain after the main sections.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Nurse Practitioner" compare statewide salary levels, metro differences, and career progression across the state.

What is the average Nurse Practitioner in Minnesotas salary?
The latest national baseline for Nurse Practitioners is about $129,200 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Nurse Practitioner in Minnesotas salary?
Entry-level estimates for Nurse Practitioners are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $98,000 per year nationally.
How much can senior Nurse Practitioner in Minnesotas professionals earn?
Senior Nurse Practitioners estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $149,600 per year nationally.
Does location affect Nurse Practitioner in Minnesotas salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Nurse Practitioner in Minnesotas salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Career: medium · City: official · Compare: medium · Country: official
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