A psychiatric nurse practitioner, also referred to as a mental health nurse practitioner, performs many of the same tasks and responsibilities as a psychiatrist, from diagnosing mental disorders to counseling patients with mental health issues to prescribing medication. The median psychiatric nurse practitioner salary in the US is $90,085 per year, significantly higher than earnings in other countries.
Incomes in Australia, Canada and New Zealand are somewhat close in range after converting to the US dollar at AU$80,115 ($59,937 USD), C$70,000 ($52,106 USD) and NZ$70,000 ($50,054 USD), respectively. The median salary in India lags behind other countries at Rs239,999 annually. Earnings for psychiatric nurse practitioners vary worldwide with influencing factors outlined in this guide.
How Much Does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year?
The following information outlines the salary ranges for psychiatric nurse practitioners in select countries throughout the world.
| Salaries for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners | US | Canada | UK | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa |
| Hourly Wage | $55 | C$42
(US$31) |
£17
(US$21) |
AU$32
(US$24) |
NZ$40
(US$28) |
Rs136
(US$2) |
R193
(US$14) |
| Median Annual Wage | $90,085 | C$70,000
(US $52,106) |
£28,600
(US $36,120) |
AU$80,115
(US $59,937) |
NZ$70,000
(US $50,054) |
Rs239,999
(US $3,558) |
R318,166
(US $23,183) |
Factors That Influence Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners’ Salary
Incomes for psychiatric nurse practitioners vary worldwide based primarily on geography region and professional experience. Further information on this career and earning potential are provided.
1.Geographic Area
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in US
Psychiatric nurse practitioners earn solid incomes in the US with the median salary at more than $96,000 per year . Early career earnings are just over $73,000, and increase to more than $123,000 with experience. Income peaks late career for those with 20 years’ or more experience. Bonuses ranging from $990 to more than $11,000, along with profit sharing potential of $2,000 can further increase income. Salaries in New York are about 11%, or $11,157, more than the national average.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in Canada
Psychiatric nurse practitioners earn an annual salary of about C$70,000. The lower 25th percentile of wage earners, who are early in their careers, earn about C$38,000 annually. With additional experience, the upper 75th percentile earns about C$80,000 per year.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in UK
In UK, psychiatric nurse practitioners earn a median annual income of about £28,600. Professionals in this career with incomes in the lower 25% earn about £26,000 per year compared to those in the upper 75% who have an annual salary of about £35,000. Career employees in this field represent a sizeable portion as 60% have 10 years’ or more experience.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in Australia
While specific salary information for psychiatric nurse practitioners is limited, using the field of nurse practitioners as a whole can serve as a guideline for income expectations. According to Payscale, nurse practitioners in Australia earn between AU$51,114 and AU$124,494 per year.
Despite this salary range noted on Payscale.com, job listings on Indeed.com for psychiatric nurse practitioners reach AU$143,000 plus benefits, indicating that those working in the mental health field as a nurse practitioner may earn a higher salary compared to nurse practitioners serving in other focus areas.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in New Zealand
According to health.govt.nz, the nurse practitioner field is fairly new as it was introduced by the Ministry of Health and the Nursing Council of New Zealand in 2001 and has continued to grow steadily since its launch. Because the career remains young, limited information is available on the more specialized area of psychiatric nurse practitioner.
In reviewing salaries for nurse practitioners as a whole, the median annual income is about NZ$70,000. The lower 25th percentile and upper 75th percentile of wage earners in this field make about NZ$56,000 and NZ$92,000, respectively.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in India
Limited salary information is found for those in India working as a nurse practitioner focusing on mental health; therefore, we will use salaries for the broader nurse practitioner field as a guideline. According to Payscale.com, nurse practitioners in India have an annual income of about Rs240,000. Entry level professionals can expect a salary in the lower 25% range of about Rs190,000 per year, increasing with experience to more than Rs600,000 per year.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary in South Africa
Psychiatric nurse practitioner income information is limited for those working in this career in South Africa; however, Payscale provides salary ranges for the field of nurse practitioners as a whole. Nurse practitioners earn about R318,000 on average with an additional R23,250 in bonus potential. Early career professionals earn just under R200,000, while earnings can reach R520,000 for those with experience.
2. Experience
Beyond an undergraduate degree, nurse practitioners also need to complete graduate level coursework, earn a minimum exam score and be licensed. Some countries have additional requirements. For example, in New Zealand, an individual must acquire a minimum of four years’ experience in a specific practice area, such as mental health, and complete ongoing professional development hours to maintain licensure. To prescribe medication, most countries require additional education and professional experience.
3. Industry
Psychiatric nurse practitioners work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices and schools. The career field skews heavier toward females. While the psychiatric nurse practitioner works with patients dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which can present stressful situations, most people working in this field indicate a high level of job satisfaction.
Working Hours
Most psychiatric nurse practitioners work full-time hours. Those employed by physician offices and clinics work primarily during typical work hours from Monday through Friday, while hospital employees may work any day or hour of the week due to the facility’s offering of 24-hour care. On-call hours may be required, as well as work hours during the evenings, weekends and holidays.
Bonuses and Benefit Packages
Full-time employees typically receive health insurance packages that include medical, dental and vision insurance; however, a notable percentage of employees worldwide report they do not receive any health benefits. For example, 50% in New Zealand, 23% in the US and 17% in South Africa indicate they do not receive a health benefits package. Some employers, offer bonus and profit sharing opportunities, as well as allowances for continuing medical education training.
Job Outlook
Nurse practitioner careers are relatively new in some countries and continue to grow and expand in services and support. Additional awareness of mental health conditions should increase the need for treatment in this healthcare area. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) expects the broader field of nurse practitioners to increase at a very fast pace of 31% between 2014 and 2024.
Conclusion
Despite being a young field in some areas of the world, psychiatric nurse practitioners earn good incomes in this growing and expanding career area. Work in this field may present stress at times in dealing with patients suffering from mental health issues; however, most psychiatric nurse practitioners report high job satisfaction.