A nurse can pursue a master’s or doctoral degree to become a nurse practitioner after becoming a registered nurse. This advanced training and education allow nurses to provide comprehensive care to patients.
In addition to providing comprehensive health assessments, nurse practitioners are trained to diagnose and treat diseases. They can also prescribe medications, perform procedures, and order lab tests.
Those contemplating becoming a nurse practitioner, or those who are already a nurse practitioner, may wonder how much a nurse practitioner makes. A variety of factors determine a nurse practitioner’s salary. The city in which they practice is one of the most important factors. San Francisco is the city we will examine in this article.
San Francisco is a city located in northern California. The population, according to the 2020 census, is 873,965. It covers an area of only 50 square miles. For wine enthusiasts visiting the Napa Valley, it’s a popular destination.
San Francisco is home to Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and many other notable attractions. It’s home to UCSF Medical Center and San Mateo Medical Center, along with many other hospitals and medical centers.
This article examines the salaries of nurse practitioners in San Francisco. We will also discuss how much schooling is required, what is involved in becoming a nurse practitioner in San Francisco, and what nurse practitioners in San Francisco can do in terms of their roles and duties.
You can also have a look at Nurse practitioners salary in California state where you can get idea on how much nurse practitioners in San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego earns yearly as well as specialty wise.
San Francisco Nurse Practitioners Starting Salary
A nurse practitioner who is just starting out earns less than their more experienced colleagues. Additionally, nurse practitioners’ salaries vary depending on their specialization.
Nurse practitioners with 1-3 years of experience are represented in these statistics as entry-level. An entry-level nurse practitioner in San Francisco can make an average of $107,260 per year. That breaks down to $8,938 per month, or $51.57 per hour.
- $51.57 per hour
- $8,938 per month
- $107,260 per year
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Average Salary
Depending on their specialization, level of experience, and location, nurse practitioners may earn a wide range of salaries. Looking at averages, nurse practitioners in San Francisco make $153,694 per year. That breaks down to $12,807 per month, or $73.89 an hour.
- $73.89 per hour
- $12,807 per month
- $153,694 per year
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Senior-Level Salary
In general, a person’s earnings potential increases the more experience they have in their career. Nurse practitioners are no exception. In fact, the salary of a nurse practitioner can be significantly higher with more experience. There is a strong correlation between a nurse practitioner’s salary and the number of years they have been practicing.
While working as a nurse practitioner, the skills that a nurse practitioner acquires are crucial. Nurse practitioners develop their clinical judgment and skills as they gain experience.
A person cannot replace the experience gained after years of working with all the on-the-job training and hands-on experience that they have built up over time.
Having more experience makes a nurse practitioner more valuable, which results in a higher salary. When analyzing nurse practitioner salaries in San Francisco, it is important to consider the level of experience a nurse practitioner has.
The salaries for experienced nurses vary depending on their specializations, just as they do for average salaries and entry-level salaries.
A senior-level nurse practitioner, which is eight or more years of experience, earns an average of $191,067 in San Francisco. That breaks down to $15,922 per month, or $91.85 per hour.
- $91.85 per hour
- $15,922 per month
- $191,067 per year
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Salary Potential
The estimated average salary for nurse practitioners in San Francisco in 2027 is $181,671. That’s an increase of 18% over the course of 5 years. There is considerable potential for salary growth for nurse practitioners in San Francisco.
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Salary Compared Nationwide
The overall average salary for nurse practitioners in the United States is $119,819 per year or $57.61 an hour. With the average salary for nurse practitioners in San Francisco being $153,694, or an equivalent hourly rate of $73.89, the average San Francisco nurse practitioner salary is $33,875, or almost 30%, higher than in the United States overall.
Salary levels vary by city due to various factors, including the cost of living. Cities within a state also have different salaries from one another.
Compared to the average cost of living in the United States, the cost of living in San Francisco is 120% higher. A variety of factors are considered when calculating the cost of living for a particular location, including rent, food, transportation, health services, utilities, and taxes.
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Salary by Specialty
Nurse practitioners’ salaries are also determined by their specialty. There is a wide variety of specialty options available to nurse practitioners in San Francisco. Choosing a specialty for a nurse practitioner is driven by their personal goals and interests.
Nurse practitioners can specialize in fields such as pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and women’s health.
Following completion of a nurse practitioner program, nurse practitioners may be required to earn specialized certifications. The certifications required for different specialties may differ.
One of the benefits of being a nurse practitioner is that you can specialize in one area for a while, and then switch to another.
It is not uncommon for nurse practitioners to practice in a few different specialties during their careers. Specialties greatly influence the amount of money a nurse practitioner makes. Nurse practitioners in San Francisco are able to specialize in a number of different fields.
Below are a few of the specialties nurse practitioners can pursue, along with the average salary associated with each.
– Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Aesthetic nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $118,415 per year or $56.93 an hour. These nurse practitioners are also known as cosmetic nurse practitioners. They often work with plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other physicians that specialize in aesthetic treatments.
– Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
Dermatology nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $155,304 per year or $74.67 an hour. Dermatology nurse practitioners treat medical conditions that affect the surface of the skin. They generally work in dermatology clinics, plastic surgeon’s offices, research, and medical spas.
– Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Emergency nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $104,413 per year or $50.20 an hour. These nurse practitioners work in emergency departments of hospitals and trauma centers.
– Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $153,703 per year or $73.90 an hour. These nurse practitioners are in very high demand since they have a wide range of skills in taking care of the whole family—children, adults, and the elderly.
– Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Neonatal nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $144,096 per year or $69.28 an hour. One of the reasons they have one of the highest nurse practitioner salaries in the state is the high demand for this specialized area.
– Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $144,096 per year or $69.28 an hour. These nurse practitioners focus on the care of pediatrics under the age of 18. They work in outpatient clinics, private practice offices, and hospitals.
– Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $142,932 per year or $68.72 an hour. State residents have limited access to mental healthcare due to a shortage of psychiatrists and other providers. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners fill the shortage of providers of mental health services.
– Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s health nurse practitioners in San Francisco earn an average of $137,262 per year or $65.99 an hour. In the field of women’s health, nurse practitioners are trained to provide care to women from early adolescence through menopause, with a particular focus on the reproductive and gynecological health of women.
San Francisco Nurse Practitioner Benefits and Compensation
There is no doubt that salary is one of the major factors to consider when choosing a career and deciding on where to work. Benefits and compensation, however, should also be taken into account when making career decisions.
In the same way that nurse practitioners are able to negotiate their salaries, their benefits and compensation are also able to be negotiated and discussed.
Some of the most popular and top benefits and compensation options that are appealing to nurse practitioners include:
- Insurance (Health, Dental, Vision, Life)
- Vacation time
- Retirement and pension
- Professional liability insurance
- Continuing education allowance
Demand for Nurse Practitioners in San Francisco
Nursing practitioners are in high demand in the city of San Francisco. Due to the retirement of nurse practitioners, the need to fill their positions is quite high. People also need more medical care as they age due to a longer lifespan and advances in healthcare.
Nurse Practitioner Duties and Responsibilities
Many of the tasks typically reserved for doctors can be performed by nurse practitioners. Due to their advanced education and training, nurse practitioners are capable of performing procedures and maintaining responsibilities in addition to those of a registered nurse.
Among these tasks and responsibilities are:
- Identifying and diagnosing diseases, conditions, and illnesses
- Prescribing medications
- Research
- Applying medical treatments or using techniques that are invasive
- Performing diagnostic examinations
- Consultations
- Providing prenatal care
- Identify, prescribe, and monitor the effectiveness of medical treatment
- Using invasive diagnostics
- Education and leadership
How To Become a Nurse Practitioner in San Francisco
The requirements for becoming a nurse practitioner include becoming a registered nurse and completing an advanced degree program.
As a nursing professional, you will need a certain number of years (normally two or three) of experience working in the field of your choice before you can apply for a master’s program. Getting accepted to a master’s in nursing is the next step in the process of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Master’s in Nursing Program
- Degree: Candidates must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or have completed a bridge program from an RN to BSN.
- Nursing License: Candidates must submit a copy of their current nursing license.
- Prerequisites: Candidates may need to take prerequisite courses before they can enter certain programs.
- Performance: Depending on the program, a performance test may be required.
How Long it Takes to Become a Nurse Practitioner in San Francisco
There are a number of factors that determine the time it takes to become a nurse practitioner in San Francisco. The length of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner depends on your program of study and whether you study full-time or part-time.
The requirements for the degree program include all internships, academic courses, and clinical experiences.
To become a nurse practitioner, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). After receiving your degree, you then must sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to obtain a registered nurse licensure.
Graduate studies in nursing are required upon completion of an undergraduate degree—master’s or doctorate degree—which allows you to sit for the nurse practitioner licensing exam in the specialty in which you are interested in practicing.
Additionally, the length of nurse practitioner programs varies based on whether the student chooses a traditional or accelerated program. Typically, an aspiring student must complete six to seven years of educational coursework in order to become a nurse practitioner.
Obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree takes approximately four years, and obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree takes about two years.
This process can be sped up by going through an accelerated program. On the other hand, it can be slowed down by studying part-time rather than full-time or going through a conventional program.
Conclusion
Clearly, nurse practitioners in San Francisco are in high demand. The salary for nurse practitioners in San Francisco is higher and more competitive compared to other cities across the United States.
Registered nurses sometimes grow bored after working at the bedside for a few years. These nurses may begin looking for new challenges and opportunities. The benefits of becoming a nurse practitioner include greater autonomy and a higher salary.
Not only is the pay for nurse practitioners in San Francisco well over the average in the United States, but benefits and compensation are also very favorable. Those factors combined, along with the favorably pleasant weather, San Francisco may be worth adding to your list of options as a place to practice as a nurse practitioner.
Written by Joanne Potter
Joanne, BSN and RN, is a writer that specializes in health and wellness. She has fifteen years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
Her years working at the bedside and extensive neonatal knowledge enable her to write with a deep understanding of what patients and families want from their communities. Visit her LinkedIn page.
Sources:
SalaryExpert. April 2022
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Healthgrades
Careeronestop
U.S. Department of Labor
