According to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s 2017 Annual Report, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Oklahoma are increasing in healthy numbers, thereby highlighting the important role these nursing professionals play in a challenging healthcare market that’s been plagued by primary care provider shortages for years.
In FY2013, there were 2,376 licensed APRNs in Oklahoma. By FY2017, this number had risen to 3,572—an increase of nearly 1,200. The nurse practitioner role enjoyed the highest growth during this period, rising from 1,361 in FY2013 to 2,517 in FY2017—an increase of nearly 85% in just five years.
Today, APRNs and other advanced level nursing professionals like nursing instructors and nursing administrators, both in Oklahoma and throughout the nation, are choosing to earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, the highest clinical degree in nursing. In addition to plenty of exciting professional opportunities, the DNP comes with a clear financial benefit.
According to a 2018 salary survey by Advance Healthcare Network, nurse practitioners in the U.S. with a DNP earned an average salary of $113,347, while their MSN-educated peers earned an average salary of $105,664.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Oklahoma
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, 2018):
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $ 104,050-$139,750
- Nursing Educators: $70,180-$80,950
- Nurse Practitioners: $123,800-$145,060
- Nurse Anesthetists: $206,780+
Salaries for DNP Nurses in Oklahoma’s Largest Cities
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the state’s most populated cities (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Oklahoma City: $108,110-$151,080
- Tulsa: $111,530-$148,910
- Enid: $111,390+
Nurse Educators:
- Oklahoma City: $75,030-$85,700
- Tulsa: $76,790-$92,110
Nurse Practitioners:
- Oklahoma City: $124,190-$149,280
- Tulsa: $121,360-$132,520
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Tulsa: $200,290+
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Oklahoma’s DNP-Educated Nurses
According to a 2019 Medscape Compensation Report, 78% of APRNs earn overtime, which means that often times, the total compensation for these professionals is supplemented with overtime wages. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $99.41+
- Nurse Practitioners: $59.52-$69.74
- Nurse Administrators: $50.02-$67.19
Salary and employment data compiled by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission in May of 2018 – (https://oklahoma.gov/oesc.html). 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.