Why Nurse Practitioner is Ranked the Best Job of 2024

From improving public health and showing compassion to others, to reaping the rewards of a competitive nurse practitioner salary, the role of nurse practitioner is among the highest standards of nursing and offers plenty of benefits.

In fact, a recent study showed that 90% of surveyed nurse practitioners were satisfied with their jobs in 2022, and less than a quarter planned on leaving the role.¹

It’s no wonder that U.S. News & World Report has named nurse practitioner the best job of 2024 and ranked the role among the top 20 careers with the most job security right now.^2,3

Breakdown: How the Best Job is Chosen

U.S. News & World Report has published its annual list of the 100 Best Jobs, with nurse practitioners taking the number one spot for 2024. When determining which jobs would make the list, the following factors were considered:⁴

• Future prospects
• Wage potential
• Employment
• Job safety and stability
• Work/life balance

Information for each factor is gathered from research published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which compiles data from across the country. Each factor is given a score between 1 and 10, with 10 being the highest score attainable.

Nurse practitioners earned an overall score of 7.4. Future prospects were the highest scoring factor at 9.9, and the job safety and stability factor scored an impressive 5.5.⁵

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the future prospects and employment rate for nurse practitioners is outstanding compared to other jobs in the medical field and other industries. The Bureau expects a 38% increase in nurse practitioner positions alone through 2032.⁶

Seize the Opportunities of this Fast-Growing Field

Nurse practitioner is a title that spans many roles. Each professional in this job must choose an area of expertise and become certified to practice in that area.

What Area of Expertise is Right for Your Nurse Practitioner Career?

Let’s take a look at some of today’s most in-demand nurse practitioner roles and how they compare on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Jobs scoring scale for employment and wage potential.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Family nurse practitioners provide diverse and essential care to patients throughout the lifespan, ranging from children to the elderly. Responsibilities of this role include treating acute illness, testing and diagnosing serious conditions, and developing long-term treatment plans for patients with chronic illness.

Employment: This area of expertise is the most common with more than 70% of all nurse practitioners certified and practicing in this area.⁷

National average annual salary: $127,976⁸

Kentucky average annual salary: $102,863⁸

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)

Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners provide care to aging adult patients. They specialize in providing treatment plans for and preventing age-related illness and disease.

Employment: Only about 9% of nurse practitioners are certified and practice in this area, creating a much higher demand for these professionals.⁷

National average annual salary: $106,321⁹

Kentucky average annual salary: $108,556¹⁰

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

Pediatric nurse practitioners provide routine and essential care to children from birth to age 18. The responsibilities for this role include treating acute illness, testing and diagnosing serious illness and disease, and referring patients to specialists who can provide more extensive care in diverse clinical settings.

Employment: Only about 2% of all nurse practitioners specialize and practice in this area.⁷

National average annual salary: $135,161¹¹

Kentucky average annual salary: $105,949¹¹

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners take on the challenging responsibility of testing, diagnosing, and treating a variety of mental illnesses and cognitive conditions in patients throughout their lifespan. As the highest-paying nurse practitioner job, these professionals are competitively compensated for their knowledge and work.

Employment: These professionals make up about 6.5% of all nurse practitioners.⁷

National average annual salary: $141,112¹²

Kentucky average annual salary: $114,003¹²

In-Demand Roles Beyond Nurse Practitioner

Beyond the role of nurse practitioner, many other nursing roles score high when it comes to wage potential.

Whether you’re a nursing student or a nurse practitioner, there are always opportunities for advancement in your field. Let’s take a look at some of the other most in-demand and rewarding positions you can qualify for with a nursing degree from Campbellsville University Online.

Nurse Educator

Nurse educators teach at the college level and utilize their knowledge and clinical experience to prepare nursing students for the challenges they’ll face in their careers.

National average annual salary: $102,263¹³

Kentucky average annual salary: $81,464¹³

Director of Nursing

Directors of nursing take on the managerial role of a facility’s nursing staff. These responsibilities often include hiring and training nursing staff, ensuring health policies and laws are being followed, and overseeing the quality of care provided to patients.

National average annual salary: $94,338¹⁴

Kentucky average annual salary: $74,481¹⁴

For additional information, explore our article on the 5 Highest Paying Nursing Jobs.

Are You Ready to Land the Best Job of 2024?

The journey to becoming a nurse practitioner begins with the right nursing education. With Campbellsville University Online, you can earn a flexible, fully online degree that scores high in the work/life balance factor and prepares you for the nursing career you want.

Campbellsville University offers an online RN to BSN program, an online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program, and a new Nurse Educator program that will begin enrollment in the fall of 2024. These programs are fully accessible through an online learning platform, allowing you to complete your degree on your schedule without the requirement of attending classes on campus. Choose when and where you learn as you balance your professional and personal commitments with your education.

Discover the right program for you and get started on your journey toward becoming a nurse practitioner or educator today.

Learn more about the online nursing programs from Campbellsville University, or submit a request for information and call (888) 506-6011 to speak with an admissions counselor.