How much does a PMHNP make?
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner earns roughly $142,100 to $148,850 a year at the median in mental health settings, the range between NPs in outpatient mental health centers and in psychiatric hospitals.[oews_ind] Every nurse practitioner, whatever the population, is one BLS occupation (SOC 29-1171), so there is no official PMHNP figure; the industry data is the closest published evidence of how psychiatric NP work pays.[onet_np][oews_faq]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,220 | $51.07 | $83,556 |
| 25th | $127,330 | $61.22 | $98,296 |
| Median (50th) | $148,850 | $71.56 | $113,005 |
| 75th | $171,680 | $82.54 | $128,609 |
| 90th | $199,790 | $96.05 | $148,770 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Psychiatric hospitals pay NPs $16,550 more than the all-industry NP median, but they are a small employer: BLS counted 2,900 NP jobs there, against 323,040 nurse practitioners overall.[oews_ind]
Psychiatric nurse practitioner salary by employer type
Mental health employers sit at or near the top of NP pay: outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers have a median of $142,100 and offices of mental health practitioners $131,100, while physician offices, the largest NP employer, pay $129,190.[oews_ind] The 90th percentile in mental health offices reaches $208,110, the highest 90th percentile among the mental health settings in the table.
| Employer type (BLS industry) | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $148,850 | $71.56 | $106,220 | $199,790 | 2,900 |
| Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers | $142,100 | $68.32 | $108,610 | $200,810 | 6,300 |
| Outpatient care centers | $139,320 | $66.98 | $105,510 | $206,050 | 31,590 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $136,230 | $65.50 | $107,600 | $178,870 | 73,610 |
| All industries | $132,300 | $63.61 | $101,340 | $174,420 | 323,040 |
| Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians) | $131,100 | $63.03 | $103,270 | $208,110 | 3,370 |
| Offices of physicians | $129,190 | $62.11 | $100,000 | $166,060 | 148,600 |
BLS OEWS national industry-specific estimates, May 2025; jobs are wage and salary employment in that industry.
PMHNP hourly pay
PMHNP hourly pay is about $71.56 at the psychiatric hospital median and $68.32 in outpatient mental health centers.[oews_ind] BLS converts annual wages to hourly ones at 2,080 hours a year; per-visit, telehealth and 1099 contract income is not in these figures.[oews_faq]
| Percentile | Psychiatric hospitals | Outpatient mental health | Mental health offices | All NPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51.07 | $52.22 | $49.65 | $48.72 |
| 25th | $61.22 | $61.23 | $57.67 | $56.73 |
| Median | $71.56 | $68.32 | $63.03 | $63.61 |
| 75th | $82.54 | $80.00 | $79.59 | $75.34 |
| 90th | $96.05 | $96.54 | $100.05 | $83.86 |
PMHNP salary by state
State figures cover all nurse practitioners: California pays NPs the most at a median of $168,520, then New Jersey ($159,310) and Washington ($156,100).[onet_np] The full state and metro ranking is on nurse practitioner salary.
| State | Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. California | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| 2. New Jersey | $159,310 | $76.59 |
| 3. Washington | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| 4. Oregon | $155,680 | $74.85 |
| 5. Alaska | $155,170 | $74.60 |
| 6. New York | $153,510 | $73.80 |
| 7. Massachusetts | $142,440 | $68.48 |
| 8. Nevada | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| 9. Connecticut | $138,470 | $66.57 |
| 10. New Hampshire | $137,550 | $66.13 |
How to become a PMHNP
Becoming a PMHNP takes an RN license, a graduate PMHNP program (master's, DNP or post-graduate certificate) and national certification; the ANCC PMHNP-BC exam costs $395, or $295 for ANA members.[ancc_pmhnp]
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| License | Current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory (or the legal equivalent abroad) |
| Degree | PMHNP (across the lifespan) master's, DNP or post-graduate certificate from a CCNE, ACEN or NLN CNEA accredited program |
| Clinical hours | At least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours in the program |
| Core courses | Separate graduate courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology |
| Psychotherapy | Clinical training in at least two psychotherapy modalities |
| Exam fee | $395; $295 for ANA members (both include a $140 nonrefundable fee) |
| Renewal | Every 5 years |
Program length, tuition and the 2026 federal graduate loan caps are on nurse practitioner school; the RN step comes first, as described on how to become a registered nurse. Nurses who prefer an advanced role without a prescribing practice can compare the clinical nurse specialist, which BLS names with psychiatric-mental health as one of its specialties.[ooh_rn]
PMHNP vs psychiatric RN pay
A PMHNP earns far more than a registered nurse working in the same hospitals: RNs in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals have a median of $97,060, $51,790 less than the NPs there.[oews_ind] That gap is what the graduate degree buys; work out your own break-even with the payback calculator on nursing school cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a PMHNP make?
BLS has no PMHNP-only figure. Nurse practitioners in psychiatric hospitals earn a median of $148,850, in outpatient mental health centers $142,100, and all NPs $132,300 (May 2025).
How much do psychiatric nurse practitioners make an hour?
About $71.56 at the psychiatric hospital median and $68.32 in outpatient mental health centers, before any per-visit or contract pay.
Do PMHNPs make more than other nurse practitioners?
In mental health settings, yes: psychiatric hospital NPs earn $16,550 more than the all-NP median. NPs in physician offices earn $129,190.
How do you become a PMHNP?
Hold an RN license, finish an accredited PMHNP master's, DNP or certificate program with at least 500 supervised clinical hours and two psychotherapy modalities, then pass the ANCC PMHNP-BC exam ($395).
Sources
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates for registered nurses (29-1141) and nurse practitioners (29-1171): employment, mean and percentile wages (OEUN series), Public Data API v2
- Local Wages: 29-1171.00 Nurse Practitioners (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification, PMHNP-BC (500 supervised clinical hours; $395, $295 ANA members; valid 5 years)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses