Georgia’s average nurse practitioner income reflects the fact that NPs in the Peach State have one of the smallest scopes of practice in the country. (As a sign of how strict Georgia restrictions are, the state is the only one in the country that prohibits NPs from ordering standard imaging tests.)
Nurse practitioners can only practice under the terms of written protocols with delegating physicians, according to Georgia Rules & Regs. 410-11-.14. Delegating physicians must review the records of all patients an NP sees at least once quarterly.
Delegating physicians are legally liable for all care delivered by NPs. What this means is that even though Georgia is currently suffering from a severe shortage of primary healthcare providers, Georgia NPs cannot take up the slack. How much does a nurse practitioner make in Georgia? This article will give you an in-depth look at the nurse practitioner’s salary in Georgia for 2022.
Starting Salary of an NP in Georgia
Demand plays a major role in determining entry-level salaries. In Georgia, the typical entry-level nurse practitioner pay is $34.76 per hour, which translates to $6,030 per month or $72,310 yearly. There is a quarter-million-dollar difference between this and the national average for entry-level nurse practitioners ($90,925). NPs in Georgia cannot practice autonomously without physician supervision.
Therefore, their usefulness as primary care physician substitutes is limited, and their demand may be lower than it would otherwise be.
The NP speciality impacts the starting wage of a nurse practitioner in Georgia. For example, the average entry-level compensation for neonatal nurse practitioners in Georgia is $75,658. This is 5% higher than the average entry-level salary for all NPs in the state.
| Hourly | $34.76 |
| Monthly | $6,030 |
| Annual | $72,310 |
Average Salary of an NP
How much does a nurse practitioner make on average in Georgia? An average nurse practitioner in Georgia earns $106,220 a year, $8,850 a month, or $51.07 an hour. While this is about 8% less than the average compensation for all NPs in the United States ($114,510), it is still 61 percent higher than the national average salary ($65,906).
Nurse practitioners are among the best-paid employees in Georgia. In terms of NP salaries, Georgia ranks 24th out of 50 states.
Average incomes in a location reflect local costs of living. The perks of living in Georgia is the fact that the cost of living is about 1% lower than the national average.
Although you will earn less as a nurse practitioner in Georgia than the national average, your money will go further. Georgia, for example, has a median housing cost that is 24% lower than the national average.
There are several factors that influence the average compensation of a nurse practitioner in Georgia, including experience, practice setting, NP specialization, and local demand. Experienced NPs earn more than newly graduated NPs because there is no substitute for hands-on clinical skills.
Nurse practitioners are compensated more in practice settings, such as outpatient care clinics, where they make a larger impact on the bottom line. NPs also wind up with more money in their pockets in areas like Atlanta, where various healthcare employers compete for their services.
| Hourly | $51.07 |
| Monthly | $8,850 |
| Annual | $106,220 |
Salary of Nurse Practitioners in Georgia by Experience
You can expect to make around $90,270 per year as a nurse practitioner in Georgia after four years, which is 25% more than the average NP entry-level pay of $72,310. Your yearly $143,090 income as a nurse practitioner with two or more decades of experience will be twice as much as a nurse practitioner with less than two decades of experience.
You’ll earn $106,220 if you have 10 to 19 years of experience, which is the average compensation for NPs in Georgia at all levels. After that, the wage gap between you and your coworkers won’t widen as much.
There is only a 15% difference between the median pay for NPs with five to nine years of experience and that of NPs with one to four years of experience, and a 18% difference between the median pay for NPs with ten to 19 years of experience.
| Years of Experience | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
| Starting (Entry-Level) | $34.76 | $6,030 | $72,310 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $43.40 | $7,520 | $90,270 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $50.04 | $8,670 | $104,090 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $59.25 | $10,270 | $123,250 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $68.79 | $11,920 | $143,090 |
Compensation for Nurse Practitioners in Georgia (Including Other Benefits)
However, salary alone does not tell the entire story about nurse practitioner ’ pay in Georgia. Nurse practitioners are also eligible for a variety of benefits from their employment. Benefits are additional pay besides a salary.
NPs working in Georgia’s private healthcare market enjoy an average benefit package of $44,918 per year, which is equivalent to 42 percent of their average annual salary.
In Georgia, nurses who work for state and local governments get even better benefits: their average annual payout is $64,702, which is 62 percent of their average annual salary. Across all occupations in the United States, benefits account for 32 percent of an employee’s total remuneration.
There are two kinds of nurse practitioner pay: those that are required by law and those that are offered by the employer. Employee benefits, such as workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, fall into the first category, while medical insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off fall into the second, along with professional benefits such as liability insurance.
It’s a good idea to look at the benefits that come with a salary offer while analyzing one. An example: A job at a small government community clinic paying $105,120 per year may not appear to be as good a financial option as a job at a hospital paying $106,320 per year at first glance.
However, the value of the related perks is factored into the remuneration package, the government employment pays $169,822 per year against $152,238 for the private job.
| Component | Private Industry | State and Local Government |
| Paid Leave | $11,192 | $12,906 |
| Supplemental Pay | $5,293 | $1,698 |
| Insurance | $11,797 | $19,869 |
| Retirement and Savings | $5,142 | $21,058 |
| Legally Required | $11,494 | $9,340 |
| Total Benefits | $44,918 | $64,702 |
| Average Annual Salary | $106,320 | $105,120 |
| Total Compensation | $151,238 | $169,822 |
Salary of Nurse Practitioners in Georgia by Practice Setting
The highest average nurse practitioner compensation in Georgia is earned in outpatient care centers. In-and-out surgery centers, hospital outpatient clinics, and urgent care clinics are examples of outpatient care centers. Nurse practitioners working for them earn an average of $55.24 per hour, or $114,880 a year.
They’re one of the greatest money-makers in healthcare today. Nurse practitioners working in Georgia’s hospitals make $52.72 per hour, or $10,650 per year, which is 5% less than their outpatient care colleagues.
Given the limitations on nurse practitioners’ scope of practice in Georgia, the majority of practicing nurse practitioners offices. These NPs earn $49.64 per hour or $103,250 per year, which is 6% less than NPs working in Georgia’s hospitals.
Nurse practitioners working in physician offices are expected to be the lowest-paid NPs in Georgia, because, while nurse practitioners working in educational settings may be paid less, these NPs are likely to have significantly more generous benefits, making their total compensation packages extremely competitive.
| Type of Practice Setting | Hourly | Annual |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $55.24 | $114,880 |
| Hospitals | $52.72 | $109,650 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $49.97 | $103,930 |
| Offices of Physicians | $49.64 | $103,250 |
| Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools | $48.19 | $100,240 |
Salary of Nurse Practitioners in Georgia by Specialty
– Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:
Adult gerontology-acute care nurse practitioners are experts in caring for patients who require hospitalization due to serious illnesses or injuries. Many Georgia citizens rely heavily on hospital services—one out of every ten persons in the state has diabetes, and Georgia has the 14th highest rate of cardiovascular disease in the country—so AG-ACNPs will find plenty of work in the Peach State. In Georgia, the average compensation for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners is $51.45 per hour or $107,010 per year.
| Hourly | $51.45 |
| Annual | $107,010 |
– Adult Gerontology-Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:
In Georgia, the average compensation for an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner is $48.65 per hour, or $101,190 per year. Primary care physicians are severely lacking in rural Georgia, particularly in rural areas.
There are estimated to be more than 80% of Georgia counties in which citizens do not have access to a primary care physician. While AG-PCNPs have the expertise and abilities to assist close the healthcare gap, they won’t be able to do so successfully unless the state allows them additional practice authority.
| Hourly | $48.65 |
| Annual | $101,190 |
– Dermatology Nurse Practitioner:
Most dermatology nurse practitioners in Georgia work in dermatology practices across the Atlanta metropolitan region. In Georgia, the average dermatological nurse practitioner’s pay is $50.74 per hour, or $105,540 per year.
Dermatology nurse practitioners earn a high salary because they develop their own patient base within dermatology practices with which they are affiliated. Contributing to the practice’s revenue generation is well compensated for their efforts.
| Hourly | $50.74 |
| Annual | $105,540 |
– Family Nurse Practitioner:
Health maintenance, disease prevention, and health education are among the primary care services offered by Georgia family nurse practitioners. “Primary care” refers to this collection of services. All ages of patients can be treated by FNPs, from newborns to the elderly.
In Georgia, over 13 counties have only one primary care physician or none, and 129 of the state’s 159 counties have been designated as “primary care health professional shortage areas” by the federal government. Georgia nurse practitioners cannot form protocols with physicians in these locations. Georgia’s nurse practitioners cannot provide critical healthcare to those who need it the most, despite their exceptional training and abilities.
In Georgia, the average family nurse practitioner compensation is $50.47 per hour, or just over $105,000 per year.
| Hourly | $50.47 |
| Annual | $104,970 |
– Neonatal Nurse Practitioner:
Intensive care nurses specializing in medically fragile neonates are known as neonatal nurse practitioners. The average income for a neonatal nurse practitioner in Georgia is $54.17 per hour, or $112,680 per year, making NNPs the highest-paid nurses in the state. There has been an increase in preterm births in the Peach State.
Premature births accounted for 10.7% of Georgian births in 2013, however by 2019 that percentage had risen to 11.7 percent. The high demand for NNP services in Georgia has led to significant wages for NNPs.
| Hourly | $54.17 |
| Annual | $112,680 |
– Pediatric-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:
Nurse practitioners who specialize in pediatric acute care work in intensive care units with critically ill children and teenagers. Additionally, many of them can work in intensive care units, making them a great substitute for neonatal nurses. P-ACNPs are primarily employed in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, and Macon.
In Georgia, the average compensation for a pediatric-acute care nurse practitioner is $52.79 per hour, or $109,810 per year.
| Hourly | $52.79 |
| Annual | $109,810 |
– Pediatric-Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:
Nurse practitioners who specialize in pediatric primary care are trained to provide front-line health services to children and teenagers, such as health maintenance and disease prevention. There are significant challenges faced by children in Georgia who live outside the Atlanta metro area when it comes to receiving high-quality healthcare.
P-PCNPs could be aided in receiving the care they need if their scope of practice was made independent of physician monitoring. In Georgia, the average pediatric-primary care nurse practitioner pay is $48.88 per hour, or $101,670.
| Hourly | $48.88 |
| Annual | $101,670 |
– Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP):
There is a mental health provider deficit in Georgia: There isn’t a single practicing psychiatrist in 78 counties. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the state ranks 47th for mental healthcare providers. A prescription opioid overdose death is also among the top 11 causes of death in the state.
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners are trained to deal with this type of crisis as they interact with patients who suffer from mental health or drug misuse issues. Therefore, Georgia is experiencing a mental health crisis that psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners are trained to handle.
The limitations placed on their practicing authority hampered the effectiveness of Georgia’s P-MHNPs, like that of other NP specializations. Psychiatric nurse practitioners in Georgia make an average salary of $53.15 per hour, or $110,550 per year.
| Hourly | $53.15 |
| Annual | $110,550 |
– Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner:
Nurse practitioners that specialize in gynecological treatment and wellbeing are known as women’s health nurse practitioners. In metro Atlanta and its suburbs, most WHNPs work in OB-GYN practices, women’s health clinics, and community clinics. Nurse practitioners who specialize in women’s health earn an average of $48.88 per hour, or $101,670 a year in Georgia.
| Hourly | $48.88 |
| Annual | $101,670 |
Salary of Nurse Practitioners in Georgia by City
Atlanta:
Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the occurrence of low birth weight newborns are all directly linked to poverty levels in the Atlanta metropolitan region, implying that low-income inhabitants have limited access to primary healthcare services.
Emory University Hospital, Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital are among the world-class hospitals in Atlanta. Because of the high competition for qualified nurse practitioners in Atlanta, nurse practitioner incomes are higher. In Georgia, NPs earn $51.49 per hour, or $107,090 per year.
| Hourly | $51.49 |
| Annual | $107,090 |
Augusta:
Nurse practitioners in Augusta, Georgia, earn an average annual pay of just under $102,000, or just over $49 per hour. Residents of Augusta and the adjacent parts of Richmond County suffer from obesity, diabetes, and cardio/cerebrovascular disease.
The city is also seeing an increase in opioid and methamphetamine misuse. University Hospital-Augusta, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, and Augusta University Medical Center are among the top-ranked hospitals in Augusta.
| Hourly | $49.02 |
| Annual | $101,970 |
Columbus:
The Fort Benning military base dominates Columbus, which is an army town. This region has a median income that is 22% lower than the states, and over 21% of its population lives in poverty. Nursing practitioners in Columbus, however, earn the highest wages in the state, earning $57.11 per hour or $118,590 per year.
This could be because many of the organization’s nurse practitioners work for the Veterans Administration, which is governed by federal regulations. Nursing professionals employed by the federal government have full autonomy in their practice.
| Hourly | $57.01 |
| Annual | $118,590 |
Macon:
In a joint report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Population Health Institute identified Macon and Bibb County as the unhealthiest areas in Georgia.
The city of Macon has a third of its population living in poverty. Diseases associated with smoking, obesity, and alcohol abuse are also common. In Macon, GA, the typical nurse practitioner pay is $48.82 per hour, or $101,540 per year.
| Hourly | $48.82 |
| Annual | $101,540 |
Savannah:
The risk of diabetes, COPD, and strokes in Savannah is higher than the national average. About 24% of Savannah citizens live in poverty. The Medicaid expansion associated with the Affordable Care Act was not implemented in Savannah.
Many Savannah residents lack health insurance and hence are unable to access primary healthcare services. In Savannah, Georgia, the typical nurse practitioner’s pay is $95,220 per year, or $45.78 per hour.
| Hourly | $45.78 |
| Annual | $95,220 |
NP Pay in Georgia Compared to Other Nursing Careers
It is a wise investment to enroll in one of Georgia’s premier nurse practitioner schools. In Georgia, nurse practitioners earn 50% more than registered nurses. The average nurse practitioner salary in Georgia is $106,220, while the average RN salary is $71,510.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $179,630 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $106,220 |
| Nurse Midwife | $92,840 |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $72,090 |
| Registered Nurse | $71,510 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $44,690 |
| Nursing Assistant | $30,950 |
Healthcare Careers in Georgia vs. Nurse Practitioners
Dentists, podiatrists, pharmacists, and optometrists make much higher salaries than nurses in Georgia. In part, this is because most nurse practitioners hold master’s degrees, while dentists, podiatrists, pharmacists, and optometrists have doctoral degrees.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing advised in 2004 that all advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners, pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree instead of a Master of Nursing Science degree. If this advice is fully adopted, NP remuneration in Georgia will rise in comparison to other healthcare professions.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary |
| Dentist | $175,880 |
| Podiatrist | $136,600 |
| Pharmacist | $118,900 |
| Optometrist | $116,850 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $106,220 |
| Physician Assistant | $104,230 |
| Veterinarian | $95,840 |
| Audiologist | $91,040 |
| Physical Therapist | $88,950 |
| Occupational Therapist | $88,910 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $78,140 |
| Chiropractor | $64,720 |
Nurse Practitioner Salary Outlook in Georgia: Why is it Bright?
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, nurse practitioners will be one of the state’s fastest-growing occupations over the next decade, with a growth rate of 53%. Primary care providers are in high demand, especially in the state’s rural districts.
Although House Bill 1092, which is now before the Georgia legislature, does not address full practice authority for NPs in Georgia, it will increase their capacity to practice to the full extent of their education and training if passed. All of these factors suggest that the average salary for a nurse practitioner in Georgia will continue to rise.
Conclusion
In Georgia, how much does a nurse practitioner earn? Nurse practitioners in Georgia in 2022 will earn an average salary of $106,220, although this will vary depending on where you work and how long you’ve been practicing. If you are looking for additional ways to increase your take-home pay, look into getting specific qualifications within your chosen specialty.
Our Experts Answer Top Questions
What is the number of Nurse Practitioners in Georgia?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 8,120 nurse practitioners working in Georgia.
| 8,120 |
What is the hourly wage of a nurse practitioner in Georgia?
Nurse practitioners in Georgia earn an average hourly wage that varies depending on their level of experience. An NP’s starting salary is $34.76 per hour when they are fresh out of school. Over five years on the job, the hourly wage increases by 44 percent to just over $50.
With ten years of experience, your starting wage will be 70 percent higher. After two decades of hard work, you will earn twice as much as an entry-level worker. Across all years of experience, the average NP hourly wage is $51.07.
| Years of Experience | Hourly |
| Starting (Entry-Level) | $34.76 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $43.40 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $50.04 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $59.25 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $68.79 |
| Average Hourly Salary | $51.07 |
Comparing the average NP salary in Georgia with the average NP salary in the U.S.
Nurse practitioners in Georgia make an average of $106,220 per year, which is 8% less than the national average of $114,510 for all NPs.
What is the salary of a family nurse practitioner in Georgia?
According to the Georgia Bureau of Labor Statistics, an FNP earns $50.47 an hour, which multiplies out to $8,750 a month or $104,970 a year.
| Hourly | $50.47 |
| Monthly | $8,750 |
| Annual | $104,970 |
What is the average salary for a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Georgia?
In Georgia, PMHNPs typically earn $110,550 annually, which is $9,210 a month or $53.15 an hour.
| Hourly | $53.15 |
| Monthly | $9,210 |
| Annual | $110,550 |
What are Georgia’s five highest-paid Nurse Practitioners?
Nursing professionals in Georgia earn an average of $106,220, so the neonatal nurse practitioner earns an average of $112,680 per year. On the other hand, dermatology nurse practitioners earn $105,540 annually, which is just below the average salary for all health professionals in Georgia.
| Rank | Type of NP | Annual |
| 1 | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | $112,680 |
| 2 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | $110,550 |
| 3 | Pediatric-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $109,810 |
| 4 | Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $107,010 |
| 5 | Dermatology Nurse Practitioner | $105,540 |
Where are the five best-paying cities for Nurse Practitioners in Georgia?
A nurse practitioner working in Columbia makes $118,590 a year, which is 12 percent more than their counterparts in Georgia. Nursing professionals based in Macon earn an average of $101,540 per year, which is 4 percent less than the average NP salary in the state.
| Rank | City | Average Annual Salary |
| 1 | Columbus | $118,590 |
| 2 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $107,090 |
| 3 | Augusta-Richmond County | $101,970 |
| 4 | Macon | $101,540 |
| 5 | Savannah | $95,220 |
In what areas of Georgia do Nurse Practitioners earn the most money?
NPs in Columbus earn an average salary of $118,590 per year, the highest in Georgia. The average NP salary in Columbus is 65 percent greater than that in Brunswick, where the average NP salary is $71,730.
| Metro | Employment | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Columbus | 140 | $57.01 | $118,590 |
| Warner Robins | 80 | $54.89 | $114,170 |
| Hinesville | ** | $51.58 | $107,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 4,740 | $51.48 | $107,090 |
| Valdosta | 160 | $49.95 | $103,890 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | 300 | $49.03 | $101,970 |
| Macon | 330 | $48.82 | $101,540 |
| Rome | 90 | $48.53 | $100,950 |
| Gainesville | 160 | $47.95 | $99,740 |
| Dalton | 120 | $46.83 | $97,410 |
| Athens-Clarke County | 200 | $46.79 | $97,320 |
| Savannah | 280 | $45.78 | $95,220 |
| Albany | 170 | $37.96 | $78,950 |
| Brunswick | 30 | $34.49 | $71,730 |
Where do most Nurse Practitioners in Georgia practice?
In Georgia, most nurse practitioners are associated with doctors’ offices in some form. Given that NPs in Georgia can only practice if they have a protocol agreement with a delegating physician, this makes sense.
| Type of Practice Setting | Number of Nurse Practitioners |
| Offices of Physicians | 3,890 |
| Hospitals | 1,920 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 730 |
| Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools | 270 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 240 |
What is the estimated number of nurse practitioner jobs in Georgia for 2022?
The number of nurse practitioner jobs in Georgia more than doubles every year, with 401 positions being filled by retiring or moving nurses, and 259 being created by increased demand for nurse practitioner services.
| New Jobs | Replacement Jobs | Annual Job Openings (New + Replacement) |
| 259 | 401 | 660 |
What is the job outlook for nurses in Georgia?
The number of nurse practitioner employment in Georgia is expected to increase by 2,590, or 41%, during the next seven years.
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