Upon obtaining a master’s degree or a doctorate, nurses can become nurse practitioners. A nurse practitioner’s specialty requires a high level of both theoretical and practical training.
Nurse practitioners are educated and trained to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. Nurse practitioners are also able to prescribe medication, order labs, and perform procedures.
In order to become a nurse practitioner, one must possess the desire, the time, and the money. You may be wondering what a nurse practitioner salary is, whether you’re a nursing student, an experienced nurse, or already a practicing nurse practitioner.
Considering whether you should become a nurse practitioner might be worth the extra money and time it will take compared to an increase in salary.
In order to determine nurse practitioner salaries, there are a variety of factors to consider. The location of where the nurse practitioner will be practicing is a major factor.
In this article, we will look at a nurse practitioner salary in Oregon. We will examine how to become a nurse practitioner in Oregon, salary ranges for different cities within the state, and salary ranges for different types of nurse practitioners.
Oregon Nurse Practitioner Salary
A nurse practitioner’s salary can differ greatly from one part of the country to another depending on the location. It is likely that you will notice a drastic difference between the salary levels in different states.
Taking into account the range of salaries for nurse practitioners located in the state of Oregon, location is a key factor to consider when determining their salary ranges.
When comparing salaries, it is necessary to take into account the type of location when making a comparison between different positions. This can range from a metropolitan area, to a suburban area, to a small town, or more of a rural area.
The salary in each location also differs depending on the need. A nurse practitioner’s salary and benefits are more competitive in an area where nurse practitioners are in greater demand.
When comparing salaries within different cities and states, it is important to take these factors into consideration.
Are you interested in earning a six-figure income? In Oregon, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $118,600 per year. The highest-paid nurse practitioners in the state earn more than $154,950 a year. Either of these incomes make for comfortable living in Oregon.
| City/Area | Employment | Hourly Average | Yearly Average | Hourly Highest-Paid | Yearly Highest-Paid |
| Grants Pass | 40 | $61.50 | $127,910 | $77.47 | $161,140 |
| Eastern Oregon | 70 | $56.68 | $117,890 | $75.71 | $157,470 |
| Corvallis | 70 | $56.86 | $118,270 | $73.52 | $152,920 |
| Central Oregon | 70 | $59.27 | $123,280 | $76.69 | $131,500 |
| Medford | 120 | $63.49 | $132,050 | $83.24 | $173,140 |
| Eugene | 120 | $60.63 | $126,100 | $71.87 | $149,480 |
| Coast Oregon | 120 | $57.95 | $120,540 | $74.50 | $154,960 |
| Bend-Redmond | 140 | $53.13 | $110,510 | $63.22 | $131,500 |
| Salem | 200 | $56.39 | $123,530 | $77.00 | $160,160 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 1,420 | $56.89 | $118,330 | $75.34 | $156,700 |
Registered Nurse Salary Comparison
As we will discuss later in this article, being a registered nurse is a requirement for becoming a nurse practitioner in Oregon. Here we will look at the salary of registered nurses in Oregon, to compare it with a nurse practitioner salary above.
| City/Area | Employment | Hourly Average | Yearly Average | Hourly Highest-Paid | Yearly Highest-Paid |
| Grants Pass | 450 | $43.53 | $90,550 | $55.99 | $116,450 |
| Albany | 490 | $44.80 | $93,190 | $61.25 | $127,390 |
| Central Oregon | 950 | $42.52 | $88,440 | $55.27 | $114,970 |
| Eastern Oregon | 1,200 | $39.45 | $82,050 | $54.48 | $113,330 |
| Bend-Redmond | 2,050 | $44.30 | $92,140 | $44.49 | $121,510 |
| Coast Oregon | 2,110 | $44.46 | $92,480 | $59.14 | $123,020 |
| Medford | 2,170 | $44.73 | $93,050 | $57.73 | $120,070 |
| Eugene | 3,390 | $46.66 | $97,050 | $61.92 | $128,790 |
| Salem | 3,780 | $44.52 | $92,610 | $57.94 | $120,520 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 22,240 | $47.45 | $98,700 | $61.63 | $128,180 |
Nurse Educators
Some nurse practitioners in Oregon take their careers to the classroom. Educating nursing students has both textbook and clinical components, which many nurse practitioners enjoy.
| City/Area | Employment | Yearly Average | Yearly Highest-Paid |
| Coast Oregon | 40 | $88,130 | $131,570 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 290 | $78,900 | $113,160 |
Management and Administration
Nurse practitioners that have management or leadership potential may be interested in becoming a director, nurse manager, or chief nursing officer.
| City/Area | Employment | Hourly Average | Yearly Average | Hourly Highest-Paid | Yearly Highest-Paid |
| Grants Pass | 80 | $45.58 | $94,810 | $87.14 | $167,150 |
| Albany | 70 | $50.21 | $104,440 | $78.91 | $164,140 |
| Central Oregon | 170 | $61.65 | $128,240 | $99.12 | $206,170 |
| Eastern Oregon | 190 | $52.29 | $108,750 | $75.43 | $156,900 |
| Coast Oregon | 280 | $56.45 | $117,420 | $80.27 | $166,960 |
| Medford | 240 | $56.85 | $118,250 | $78.69 | $163,670 |
| Eugene | 400 | $53.51 | $111,310 | $80.36 | $167,150 |
| Salem | 3,780 | $44.52 | $92,610 | $57.94 | $120,520 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 2,790 | $66.15 | $137,600 | $82.58 | $172,050 |
There are many factors to keep in mind when evaluating nurse practitioner salaries in Oregon. An individual’s income potential is undoubtedly higher as they gain more experience in their career.
The same goes for nurse practitioners. The more experience they gain, the more money they can earn. A nurse practitioner’s salary is heavily influenced by their experience level. The clinical judgment and skills of nurse practitioners develop throughout their careers.
It is impossible to teach an individual the experience gained through years of on-the-job training and hands-on experience. As a result, a nurse practitioner’s salary increases as their experience increases.
When looking at the above statistics, it is important to keep years of experience in mind when evaluating nurse practitioner salaries.
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Oregon
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) can be employed in the following roles, according to the Oregon State Board of Nursing by which they are certified and regulated:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
You must have an active, unencumbered RN license in Oregon before you can obtain an APRN certificate. The Licensure by Examination form is available to graduates of U.S. registered nursing programs.
Licensure by Examination – International Nurse is required for graduates of registered nursing programs outside of the United States.
You may apply for licensure by endorsement – International Nurse if you have obtained your nursing education outside of the U.S. and hold a current or former RN license in another jurisdiction.
With the Oregon State Board of Nursing’s online services portal, you can apply for Licensure by Endorsement if you hold an RN license in another state or jurisdiction.
Obtain a Graduate Degree
Nurse Practitioner Education Requirements
Oregon requires that you complete a graduate nursing program accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accreditation to earn your nurse practitioner certification.
You must have your credentials evaluated by the Board for educational equivalency to a United States graduate nursing degree if you earned your education outside the United States.
The CCNE or NLNAC affiliation requirement is not applicable to nurse practitioners who graduated before January 1, 2005.
You must be certified in a program that is specific to the role and population you will serve as a nurse practitioner.
It must also include physical assessment, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, clinical management, and pharmacology as core requirements.
Nurse practitioner educational programs are classified into the following categories by the Board of Nursing:
- Psychiatric/Mental Health
- Pediatrics
- Adult
- Women’s Health
- Family Practice
- Geriatric
- Acute Care
- Neonatal
- Nurse Midwife
Nursing program requirements include at least 500 hours of supervised clinical experience for each role or population focus if you are preparing for a dual role or population focus after graduation.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Education Requirements
Nursing graduate degrees and post-master’s certificates with evidence of CNS theory and clinical concentration are required to earn your CNS certification in Oregon.
Either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredits graduate nursing programs.
In the case that you earned your undergraduate degree or graduate degree outside the United States, the Board must evaluate your credentials to determine if they meet the educational standards of a U.S. graduate nursing program.
The minimum requirement in Oregon to be awarded a CNS certificate is to have graduated from a CNS educational program within the last five years or practiced in your CNS scope of practice for 960 hours within those five years.
You must complete 500 hours of clinical practice either as part of your education program or before becoming certified if you obtained your post-master’s degree after January 1, 2007.
A Board-approved clinical education course offering supervised clinical practice is also an option if you haven’t reached the 500-hour requirement.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Education Requirements
Nurse anesthesia programs accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are required for CRNA certification in Oregon.
One of the following criteria must be met in order to meet the practice requirement for CRNA certification:
- 850 hours of direct patient care, teaching, consulting, supervision, and research related to your scope of practice as a CRNA within the past two years
- Within the last two years, graduated from a nurse anesthesia program
You must hold a master’s degree in anesthesia practice or an approved related practice if you graduated from your anesthesia program after January 1, 2001.
Prescriptive Authority Requirements
Obtaining a current nurse practitioner or CNS certificate in Oregon may qualify you for prescriptive authority privileges. In order to qualify for prescriptive authority as a nurse practitioner or a CNS, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Within the two years immediately preceding the application date for prescriptive authority, complete at least 45 contact hours of pharmacology
- In the two years immediately preceding the application date for prescriptive authority, complete a 30-hour discrete pharmacology course relevant to your nursing specialty, as well as 15 continuing education hours relevant to your clinical specialty.
- The clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner program must include a 45-hour pharmacology course and clinical practicum in pharmacologic management of individual patients within two years of applying for prescriptive authority
In addition to completing a clinical education requirement, all applicants for prescriptive authority must also complete one of the following:
- The completion of at least 150 hours of directly supervised clinical practice in differential diagnosis and clinical pharmacology
- In the past two years, you hold an unencumbered prescriptive authority in another state or United States jurisdiction and have practiced prescriptive authority and patient management for at least 400 hours
- Achieving graduate-level nursing certifications or academic credit – These courses must cover pathophysiology, clinical management, and physical assessment
A Board-approved pharmacology course of at least 45 contact hours is required if you are requesting prescriptive authority without meeting the above requirements.
The following content must be included in the pharmacology course:
- Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapy
- Preventing illness and restoring and maintaining health with prescription pharmacological agents
- Writing prescriptions
- Resource information
- Practice-specific clinical application
Controlled Substances
Nurse practitioners with current prescriptive authority are eligible to prescribe and dispense controlled substances.
If you are a nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority and you do not want to become certified with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe and dispense controlled substances, you must decline DEA certification in writing.
If you plan to prescribe or order controlled substances as a nurse practitioner, you must first obtain a DEA number by contacting the DEA.
Acquire National Certification
After you complete your graduate education, you are then eligible to take an exam to become nationally certified in your advanced practice role:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Nurse practitioner Certification
As of January 1, 2011, you must provide verification of your current accredited national board certification from a nurse practitioner national certification examination.
The Board of Nursing approves the following certifying bodies and nurse practitioner patient population and subspecialty categories:
National Certification Corporation
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- National Certification Corporation
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care nurse practitioner
American College of Nurse Midwives
- Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner
CRNA Certification
The Board of Nursing has approved the following certifying bodies and license categories for CRNAs:
National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CNS Certification
The following certifying body and CNS license category are approved by the Board of Nursing:
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
APRN Certification Application
Application Instructions for Nurse Practitioners
Applicants for nurse practitioner certification in Oregon must complete the Nurse Practitioner Application.
You must also complete the following with your signed application:
- Upon reading Prescriptive Authority in Oregon: For Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists, print and sign the last two pages, and include them in your application for certification as a nurse practitioner.
- If you are licensed in another state, provide a copy of your nurse practitioner license and RN license
- To obtain a license transcript, complete the Licensure Transcript Request form in the application and mail it directly to the college or university where you received your master’s degree.
- Send the Verification of Successful Completion of an Advanced Practice Nursing Program from the institution where you completed your nurse practitioner education to the Board of Nursing.
- To get a National Criminal Background Check packet, contact the Board if you haven’t yet submitted your background check information
- Submit the applicable fees
- Mail the application and related documents and fees to the Oregon State Board of Nursing
Application Instructions for Clinical Nurse Specialists
It is necessary to complete the CNS Application packet in order to apply for CNS certification in Oregon.
You must also complete the following with your signed application:
- Upon reading Prescriptive Authority in Oregon: For Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists, print and sign the last two pages, and include them in your application for certification as a clinical nurse specialist.
- If you are licensed in another state, provide a copy of your RN license and CNS license
- Upon completion of your application, mail the Licensure Transcript Request form to the college or university where you earned your master’s degree
- Send the Verification of Successful Completion of an Advanced Practice Nursing Program from the institution where you completed your clinical nurse specialist education to the Board of Nursing.
- To get a National Criminal Background Check packet, contact the Board if you haven’t yet submitted your background check information
- Submit the applicable fees
- Mail the application and related documents and fees to the Oregon State Board of Nursing
Application Instructions for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
The CRNA Application packet must be completed in order to apply for certification as a CRNA in Oregon.
You must also complete the following with your signed application:
- Describe your nurse anesthesia education program, in detail, on the Nursing Education History form
- Describe your nursing practice history for the last two years (if you are a recent graduate, include your recent RN practice experience) on the Nursing Practice History form.
- Ensure that your current certification as a CRNA is attached
- To obtain a license transcript, complete the Licensure Transcript Request form in the application and mail it directly to the college or university where you completed your nurse anesthesia program
- Submit the applicable fees
- Mail the application and related documents and fees to the Oregon State Board of Nursing
Licensing Renewal
A biennial birth date renewal system is used in Oregon, so your RN license and APRN license will expire every other year on midnight before your birthday (if born in an odd-numbered year, your license will expire on an even-numbered year; if born in an even-numbered year, your license will expire on its even-numbered year).
Using the OSBN License Verification System, you can view your license information, including the expiration date.
Continuing Education (CE)
You must complete and document at least 100 contact hours to fulfill your continuing education requirements as a nurse practitioner or certified nurse specialist with prescriptive authority, 15 of which must be pharmacologically focused.
If you’re a recent graduate who graduated less than two years before your application date, your CE hours will be prorated. It is required that a CNS without prescriptive authority complete at least 40 hours of continuing education each year.
A minimum of 50 percent of all continuing education hours are required to fit into the “structured” category, which means that they must be offered at the level of advanced nursing and must be related to your nursing specialty in some way.
A nurse practitioner, CRNA, and CNS certification can be renewed online via the Oregon State Board of Nursing’s online renewal system or by completing an Advanced Practice Renewal/Reactivation Application.
Conclusion
No matter where you are in your nursing education or what stage you are at, there are many options to consider when determining your nurse practitioner salary.
Nurse practitioners need to consider a variety of factors when examining salaries within the same state, even for different locations.
There are many opportunities for nurses to become nurse practitioners in Oregon. While it takes time and money, the commitment is paid off with a higher salary in the long run.
The beautiful state of Oregon offers nurse practitioners a variety of opportunities to practice in a variety of settings.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
SalaryExpert
Healthgrades
careeronestop
Written & Reviewed 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.
Relevant Posts
