In its Arkansas Occupational Employment and Wage Survey for 2019, the state’s Department of Workforce Services highlighted nurse anesthetists as being the 7th highest paying occupation in Arkansas on average—even higher paying than CEOs.
This Department also predicts rapid job growth between 2016 and 2026 for nurse anesthetists and other advanced nursing professionals who often hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP):
- Nurse Educators – 28%
- Nurse Practitioners – 37%
- Nurse Anesthetists – 18%
- Nurse Administrators and Executives – 22%
The American Association of College of Nursing reported that between 2008 and 2017, the number of DNP enrollments jumped 752 percent across the country. And, in 2018, Advance Healthcare Network reported that NPs with a DNP earned 7% more than NPs with a master’s degree ($113,347 vs. $105,664), thus highlighting the value of this practice-based doctorate.
Salaries for Arkansas’ DNP Nurses Statewide and in Major Cities
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals throughout the state and in the state’s most populated cities (2018):
- Nursing Educators: $64,150-$79,260
- Nurse Practitioners: $118,070-$136,910
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $96,490-$126,280
Nurse Practitioners:
- Jonesboro – $63,780-$76,320
- Fayetteville – $125,200-$157,460
- Little Rock – $112,330-$125,420
- Fort Smith – $125,610-$146,840
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Little Rock – $101,790-$128,580
- Fayetteville – $110,770-$147,140
- Fort Smith – $98,010-$125,110
- Jonesboro – $97,150-$122,280
Nurse Educators:
- Fayetteville: $63,130-$83,150
- Fort Smith: $77,800-$102,980
- Little Rock: $77,530-$95,550
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Arkansas’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report revealed that more than three-quarters (78%) of all APRNs are paid overtime, revealing that hourly wages in the nursing profession are commonplace. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services provides hourly wages for APRN positions, as of 2018:
- Nurse practitioners: $56.76-$65.82
- Nurse administrators and executives: $46.39-$60.71
Salary and employment data compiled by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services in May of 2018 – (http://www.discover.arkansas.gov/). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.