2025 Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide: What NPs Earn in New England
Explore 2025 nurse practitioner salaries across New England, from Boston to Burlington. Compare pay by city, specialty, and experience to stay competitive in the Northeast healthcare market.
Why New England Nurse Practitioner Salaries Matter
New England’s healthcare landscape is as diverse as its geography. From Boston’s world-class hospital systems to rural Maine’s community health centers, the region offers some of the nation’s most competitive nurse practitioner (NP) salaries.
For employers, staying competitive in this tight labor market requires understanding not only the national averages but also the local salary dynamics in each state and major city. For nurse practitioners, knowing the compensation landscape helps identify opportunities for advancement and relocation.
Regional Overview: New England NP Salaries (2025)
Regional Average: $122,000 – $155,000 annually
Premium Markets: Boston, MA & Hartford, CT (averages $140K–$165K)
Mid-Range Markets: Providence, RI & Portland, ME ($120K–$145K)
Smaller Markets: Manchester, NH & Burlington, VT ($115K–$135K)
National Comparison: U.S. average sits at ~$129,480; most New England cities fall above the national average due to higher cost of living and provider shortages.
City-by-City Salary Breakdown
Boston, Massachusetts
Range: $140K – $170K
Why Higher: Home to Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women’s, and Beth Israel Deaconess. Competition is fierce, especially for specialty and hospital-based NPs.
Hot Specialties: Cardiology, oncology, and psychiatry (premiums of +$15K–$25K).
Worcester & Springfield, Massachusetts
Range: $125K – $145K
Lower cost of living than Boston but still competitive due to reliance on NPs for primary care in suburban and rural communities.
Hartford, Connecticut
Range: $135K – $160K
Market Strengths: Hartford Hospital, UConn Health, and insurance-driven corporate health programs.
Employers often offer loan repayment and sign-on bonuses due to cost-of-living challenges and competition with New York/Boston.
New Haven, Connecticut
Range: $130K – $150K
Yale-New Haven Health attracts top NP talent. Academic prestige + competitive packages but higher retention due to long-term career pathways.
Providence, Rhode Island
Range: $120K – $145K
Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan dominate NP hiring.
Smaller market but proximity to Boston creates competition, forcing employers to raise wages and offer flexible scheduling.
Portland, Maine
Range: $118K – $138K
Maine Medical Center anchors the city.
High demand for family practice and rural health NPs, with telehealth expanding compensation opportunities.
Lower housing costs balance slightly lower salaries.
Augusta, Maine (Capital)
Range: $110K – $130K
Smaller employers, community clinics, and state-run facilities dominate. Rural medicine incentives (loan repayment, housing stipends) often make up the difference in salary.
Manchester, New Hampshire
Range: $120K – $140K
Catholic Medical Center and Elliot Hospital compete for talent.
Suburban growth + aging population creates consistent demand.
Employers use work-life balance benefits (flexible shifts, 4-day workweeks) to compete.
Concord, New Hampshire (Capital)
Range: $115K – $132K
Smaller hospital systems but steady demand, particularly for primary care and mental health NPs.
Burlington, Vermont
Range: $115K – $135K
University of Vermont Medical Center is the state’s largest employer.
Salaries are lower than Boston but quality of life and strong benefits help attract and retain NPs.
Montpelier, Vermont (Capital)
Range: $110K – $128K
Market is small, with opportunities focused on state programs, rural health, and community-based medicine.
Market Drivers Across New England
Cost of Living: Boston and Hartford lead in salaries due to higher living expenses, while Portland and Burlington offer better balance of compensation vs. cost of living.
Specialty Premiums: Psychiatric, acute care, and cardiology NPs earn $10K–$25K more than family practice peers.
Employer Type: Hospital systems consistently pay more than independent practices, though private specialties (dermatology, orthopedics) can rival hospital pay.
Rural Incentives: Loan repayment, housing stipends, and sign-on bonuses are heavily used in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire to offset lower base salaries.
Benefits & Incentives: What’s Trending in 2025
Sign-On Bonuses: $7K–$20K (highest in Hartford and Boston)
Loan Repayment: $10K–$30K annually in underserved or rural markets
Continuing Education: $2.5K–$6K across most employers
Malpractice Insurance: Standard across the region ($3K–$8K value)
PTO: 18–25 days annually; sabbaticals emerging in academic centers
2025 Salary Outlook for New England NPs
Projected Growth: +4–6% overall
Premium Growth Markets: Boston, Hartford, Providence (+7–10% in specialties)
Retention Focus: Employers leaning on benefits like flexible scheduling, telehealth options, and mental health support to reduce turnover.
Hiring Challenges: Extended time-to-fill (70–100+ days), physician shortages, and burnout risk across hospital systems.
Bottom Line
New England remains one of the most attractive NP job markets in the country, with Boston and Hartford leading salaries and Portland, Manchester, and Burlington offering competitive pay with better cost-of-living trade-offs.
For employers, the key to success is offering market-aligned compensation packages and understanding that benefits, flexibility, and incentives are just as important as salary.
At Hire Nurse Practitioners, we’re committed to helping healthcare leaders build stronger teams, reduce turnover, and maintain the continuity of care their patients deserve.
📧 Contact us today to learn how our specialized approach can help you build a team that lasts