• Nurse practitioner jobs are projected to grow 35% over the next decade.
• Approximately 12,840 NPs are anticipated to enter the workforce each year from 2024 to 2034.
• A growing need for accessible healthcare services, physician shortages, and the increasing autonomy of NPs contribute to the growing demand for NPs.

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In a year marked by [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/nurse-strike-update/”]tumultuous shifts in the nursing landscape[/hen-ui-link], [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/best-online-nurse-practitioner-programs/”]nurse practitioners (NPs)[/hen-ui-link] continue to solidify their position as one of the country’s most important and in-demand careers. For the second straight year, NPs are projected to be the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S., according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Sharing the top spot with wind turbine technicians, the BLS projects NP employment to increase by 35%, equating to more than 128,400 new openings from 2024 to 2034.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Among the list of 20 fastest-growing occupations, six are in healthcare or the health sciences. Other healthcare careers and occupations are projected to see significant growth include medical and health services managers, epidemiologists, and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/healthcare/physician-assistant/how-to-become/”]physician assistants[/hen-ui-link], each projected to grow by about 20%.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Further, NPs are among the highest-earning careers on the list of [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/nurse-practitioners-fastest-growing-occupation/”]fastest-growing occupations[/hen-ui-link]. [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/salary/ “]Nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-link] earned a median annual salary of $129,210 in 2024, making them the highest-paid healthcare occupation on the list and one of the highest-earning profession of the 20 fastest-growing occupations.[/hen-ui-text]

[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top Five Fastest Growing Occupations[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Occupation[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Employment Growth (2024-2034)[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Median Annual Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Occupation”]Nurse Practitioners[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Employment Growth (2024-2034)”]35%[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Median Annual Salary”]$129,210[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Occupation”]Wind Turbine Technicians[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Employment Growth (2024-2034)”]50%[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Median Annual Salary”]$62,580[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Occupation”]Data Scientists[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Employment Growth (2024-2034)”]34%[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Median Annual Salary”]$112,590[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Occupation”]Statisticians[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Employment Growth (2024-2034)”]8%[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Median Annual Salary”]$103,300[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Demand for Nurse Practitioners Continues to Remain High[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The sustained demand for NPs can be attributed to a combination of ongoing factors and [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/nursing-healthcare-trends/”]evolving healthcare trends[/hen-ui-link]. Many factors that contributed to the surge in demand last year continue to hold true today.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]NPs continue to see [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/california-expands-nurse-practitioner-practice-authority/”]expanding autonomy[/hen-ui-link], allowing them to fulfill a critical role in addressing the persistent nursing shortage, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9306412/” target=”_blank”]particularly in health provider shortage areas[/hen-ui-link]. This increased independence has allowed NPs to provide a greater range of healthcare services, including diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medications, and managing patient treatment plans.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-073933″ target=”_blank”]recent study[/hen-ui-link] in the British Medical Journal highlighted the growing reliance on nurse practitioners to assume independent practice responsibilities for patient visits. The study, which collected data from approximately 276 million visits, revealed a significant increase in the proportion of healthcare visits delivered by NPs and physician assistants (PAs).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In 2019, NPs and PAs accounted for nearly 26% of visits, compared to just 14% in 2013. Concurrently, primary care physician visits decreased from approximately 42% to 33%. This shift underscores the expanding role and impact of NPs in delivering quality and accessible healthcare services, particularly in primary care settings.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To meet the increased demand for NPs, healthcare employers must first address the challenges posed by the nursing shortage. Recruiting and educating registered nurses (RNs) will play a crucial role in creating a steady pipeline of qualified NPs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The 2022 Nursing Workforce Survey reports that 21% of nurses held a master’s degree or higher, up from 19% in 2017, indicating a positive trend of RNs pursuing advanced degrees. These trends can be expected to continue as the nursing profession responds to the rising need for knowledgeable and experienced NPs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Sources”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Fastest Growing Occupations. (2023). BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners. (2023). BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Patel S, et al. (2023). [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-073933″ target=”_blank”]Provision of evaluation and management visits by nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the USA from 2013 to 2019: cross-sectional time series study[/hen-ui-link]. BMJ[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Schlack A, et al. (2022). [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9306412/” target=”_blank”]The Association between Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Status, Work Environment, and Nurse Practitioner Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction[/hen-ui-link]. NIH[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Smiley R, et al. (2023). The 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey. JNR[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]