Top-paid specialties for nurse practitioners, physician assistants

Compensation for physician assistants and nurse practitioners varies across specialties, according to a survey conducted by consulting firm SullivanCotter

The “2025 Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Survey” draws data from more than 785 health systems, hospitals and physician group practices representing more than 155,000 certified anesthesiologist assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Here are the highest-paid specialties for NPs and PAs, according to survey data shared with Becker’s. The specialties are in descending order, based on annual median total cash compensation, which is equal to base salaries plus annual incentive awards.

Editor’s note: The lists do not include additional premium-based compensation.

Nurse practitioners

Emergency medicine: $155,556

Anesthesiology – perioperative medicine: $154,336

Anesthesiology – pain medicine:  $154,089

Psychiatry – general:  $153,284

Psychiatry – inpatient:  $151,386

Cardiovascular surgery: $151,332

Pediatrics – neonatal-perinatal medicine: $150,977

Thoracic surgery: $149,755

Cardiology – invasive – interventional: $149,269

Psychiatry – outpatient: $149,180

Cardiology – electrophysiology: $149,163

Pediatrics – critical care medicine: $148,265

Radiology – diagnostic: $148,103

Cardiothoracic surgery: $147,039

Medical critical care: $146,401

Pediatrics – hospitalist: $145,741

Neurological surgery: $145,074

Pediatrics – general surgery: $144,980

Occupational and environmental medicine: $144,778

Psychiatry – child and adolescent: $144,677 

Physician assistants

Cardiovascular surgery: $166,250

Cardiothoracic surgery: $164,035

Psychiatry – general: $161,464

Orthopedic surgery – medical: $158,952

Cardiology – electrophysiology: $158,792

Oncology – medical oncology: $155,056

Radiology – interventional: $154,904

Pediatrics – neonatal-perinatal medicine: $154,622

Urgent care: $154,355

Dermatology:  $154,304

Obstetrics/gynecology – gynecologic oncology: $152,705

Emergency medicine: $152,250

Anesthesiology – perioperative medicine: $151,769

Occupational and environmental medicine: $151,222

Pulmonology – critical care medicine:  $150,521

Thoracic surgery:  $150,410

Medical critical care: $150,377

Surgical oncology – general: $148,549

Anesthesiology – pain medicine: $148,426

Vascular surgery: $148,141 

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