Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs in Virginia (2026)

Q: "How much do nurse practitioners make in Virginia?"

"The median annual wage for nurse practitioners in Virginia is $127,810, below the national median of $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $109,180 at the 25th percentile to $139,500 at the 75th."

Q: "How many nurse practitioners work in Virginia?"

"Virginia holds about 7,110 nurse practitioner jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 323,040, and BLS projects about 29,500 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34)."

Q: "Do I need a license to work as a nurse practitioner in Virginia?"

"Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. The national framework is a graduate degree (MSN or DNP) from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN, national certification through AANP or ANCC, and APRN licensure issued by the state board of nursing. How much a nurse practitioner may do independently - full, reduced or restricted practice authority - is set by each state and is one of the most consequential differences between them. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state board of nursing before you enroll in any program."

Q: "Can I earn a MSN or DNP online while working in Virginia?"

"Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of nursing."

Q: "What is the highest-paying area of Virginia for nurse practitioners?"

"Among Virginia metro areas with published data, Charlottesville reports the highest median at $142,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Q: "Is Virginia a good state for nurse practitioners?"

"On pay, the state median of $127,810 sits below the national $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.83 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live."

Updated July 24, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: Nurse Practitioners in Virginia earn a median $127,810 per year, below the national median of $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 7,110 of them. Licensing runs through your state board of nursing.

Nurse Practitioner Pay and Employment in Virginia at a Glance

Metric	Virginia	National	Source
Median annual wage	$127,810	$132,300	BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile	$99,990	$101,340	BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile	$109,180	$117,990	BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile	$139,500	$156,700	BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile	$161,470	$174,420	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment	7,110	323,040	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient	0.83	1.00	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)	not published by state	40.1%	BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Virginia Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Virginia median of $127,810 sits below the national median of $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.83 puts Virginia below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Virginia

Metro area	Median annual wage	Employment
Charlottesville	$142,950	480
Roanoke	$134,920	440
Winchester	$130,700	160
Richmond	$127,820	1,440
Staunton	$125,710	100
Blacksburg	$124,800	110
Virginia Beach	$124,530	1,300
Harrisonburg	$122,340	90
Lynchburg	$120,710	250

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Clinical placement is local: graduate nursing programs require supervised hours completed in person, and preceptor availability tracks the local health system.

Nurse Practitioners Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), nurse practitioners wages in Virginia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	4,050	$134,840	$138,570	$101,340	$175,440
Richmond	1,440	$127,820	$123,420	$96,720	$147,610
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	1,300	$124,530	$123,580	$101,530	$143,530
Kingsport-Bristol	480	$118,470	$116,680	$94,210	$134,770
Charlottesville	480	$142,950	$142,830	$111,560	$185,920
Roanoke	440	$134,920	$126,720	$101,640	$147,520
Lynchburg	250	$120,710	$126,240	$87,980	$181,990
Winchester	160	$130,700	$132,310	$104,520	$156,530
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	110	$124,800	$124,760	$102,570	$154,490
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	100	$125,710	$127,630	$102,560	$171,540
Harrisonburg	90	$122,340	$123,390	$98,320	$155,710

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Virginia Metro Areas With Published Data

Blacksburg * Charlottesville * Lynchburg * Richmond * Roanoke * Staunton * Virginia Beach * Winchester

Licensing and Credentials in Virginia

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. The national framework is a graduate degree (MSN or DNP) from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN, national certification through AANP or ANCC, and APRN licensure issued by the state board of nursing. How much a nurse practitioner may do independently - full, reduced or restricted practice authority - is set by each state and is one of the most consequential differences between them.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state board of nursing that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page: Defines the local group
Graduation rate: 30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry: 25%
Average net price (lower is better): 20%
Retention rate: 15%
Fully online availability: 10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.