Nurse Practitioner Salary in Durham, NC: $136,864 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse practitioner in Durham, NC earns a median $136,864/year (≈ $65.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1171). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $140,270 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.5% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the nurse practitioner salary in Durham, North Carolina, is projected to reach $136,864, aligning with the national median estimate. Nurse practitioners in this area earn between $111,933 at the lower end (P10) to $172,824 at the higher end (P90) of the pay scale, according to the latest estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. This salary reflects the distinct nature of North Carolina's practice environment, where some nurse practitioners enjoy full-practice authority while others may be bound by collaboration agreements with physicians. This differentiates pay and practice conditions across specialties and settings within the job market in Durham, an evolving area where demand for advanced practice nursing continues to rise.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $111,933 | $53.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $128,247 | $61.66 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,864 | $65.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $152,237 | $73.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $172,824 | $83.09 |
Median Salary Position
0.00% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the nurse practitioner salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,891 (2026 est.). At $136,864, the local median is 0% above the national median of $136,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durham Nurse Practitioner Pay Compares
Durham median: $136,864/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $132,236 | +3.50% more |
| National Average | $136,864 | +0.00% more |
Nurse Practitioners in Durham, NC earn a median of $136,864 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.00% higher than the national median of $136,864 and 3.50% above the North Carolina state average of $132,236.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A nurse practitioner earning $136,864 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $140,270 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$105,830
2025 BLS Actual
$132,300
2026 Current Est.
$136,864
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Practitioners in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.45% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $105,830 | Actual |
| 2020 | $109,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,170 | Actual |
| 2022 | $126,110 | Actual |
| 2023 | $125,160 | Actual |
| 2024 | $127,540 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,300 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,864 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,586 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median nurse practitioner salary grew 25.0% from $105,830 (2019) to $132,300 (2025). At a 3.45% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,586 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,756 (33.79%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.45% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $111,933 – $128,247 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $128,247 – $136,864 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,864 – $152,237 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $152,237 – $172,824 |
NP salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse practitioner compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Practitioner Job Market in Durham
With approximately 1,450 nurse practitioners currently employed in Durham, the local job market remains robust despite a cost-of-living index of 97.572, which suggests more favorable living conditions compared to national averages. This affordability allows nurse practitioners to maintain better purchasing power from their salaries. In Durham, settings that often yield higher nurse practitioner pay include hospital outpatient clinics, urgent care chains such as CityMD and MedExpress, and specialty clinics focusing on areas like mental health, which frequently offer the most substantial compensation. Factors that drive variations in pay include the level of certification (e.g., PMHNPs typically earn more due to mental health service demand), productivity bonuses, and whether they operate as independent contractors or within established healthcare systems. For those seeking to maximize nurse practitioner pay in Durham, targeting high-demand specialties and exploring telehealth opportunities could prove beneficial strategies in this evolving landscape.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C
Career Analyst
Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $132,300 for nurse practitionersin the Durham metropolitan area. A 3.45% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.45%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov