Explore family medicine nurse practitioner and physician assistant salary ranges, hourly rates, and how locum tenens work changes earning potential.
Family medicine nurse practitioners and physician assistants earn between $117,000 and $145,000 annually across major benchmarks, with meaningful variation based on practice setting, panel size, and whether the clinician works locum tenens assignments.
| Source | What it Measures | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 (SOC 29-1171) | Mean annual wage, NPs | $128,490 |
| AANP NP Compensation Survey (2024) | Median total compensation, NPs | $130,000 |
| Source | What it Measures | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 (SOC 29-1071) | Mean annual wage, PAs | $130,020 |
| AAPA PA Salary Report (2024) | Median total compensation, PAs | $133,000 |
Family medicine NPs and PAs are the primary care workforce backbone in rural and underserved markets. Locum demand is structural because these markets cannot recruit permanent providers quickly enough.
| Compensation Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| W-2 employed NP (BLS mean) | ~$62 /hr |
| W-2 employed PA (BLS mean) | ~$6 /hr |
| Locum tenens — lower band | $85 /hr |
| Locum tenens — upper band | $125 /hr |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024; Barton Associates market data 2025–2026.
Family medicine NP and PA locum premiums are highest in rural and HPSA-designated markets where the access gap is most acute.
Family medicine APP pay is driven by supply-demand imbalance in rural and underserved markets. HRSA designates more than 7,200 primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas across the country — these markets consistently pay above the national median for both NPs and PAs.
HRSA designates more than 7,200 primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas across the country. Family medicine APP locum demand is structural, not cyclical.
A standard full-time family medicine NP or PA sees 15 to 20 patients per day across a 40-hour clinical week. Urgent care and rural health clinic settings often have higher patient volumes and correspondingly higher locum rates. Full practice authority states allow NPs to practice independently, which expands the range of locum assignments available.
Locum rates range from $85 to $125 per hour. The four scenarios below use representative rates from within that band.
To exceed $200,000: target rural health clinics, FQHC coverage, and urgent care assignments at the top of the rate band.
Family medicine NP and PA locum income scales with market scarcity. Rural and HPSA-designated markets consistently command the highest rates.
A $100/hr locum rate versus a $62/hr W-2 equivalent is a meaningful structural advantage. 1099 NPs and PAs unlock business deductions across licensing, CE, travel, and equipment; higher retirement contributions through a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k); the Qualified Business Income deduction of up to 20%; and S-corp structuring at higher income levels. Barton partners with Earned to help locum clinicians navigate these decisions.
Barton coordinates your job search from start to finish!
We’ll schedule a phone consultation to discuss your interests, goals, and work history to find the right opportunities.
Your Barton rep will submit your information to the facility you want to take an assignment at and work on next steps.
Barton handles licensing, credentialing, and travel arrangements before you arrive so you’re ready on day one.
Most earn between $128,490 (BLS NP mean) and $133,000 (AAPA PA median). Locum tenens rates of $85–$125/hr can push annual income above $200,000 for full-time locum clinicians.
W-2 employed NPs and PAs average approximately $62–$63 per hour based on BLS data. Locum tenens rates range from $85 to $125 per hour, with the top of the band reserved for rural and HPSA-designated market coverage.
Yes. Full-time locum roles can reach approximately $220,800 annually at $115/hr working 16 shifts per month. Hybrid models combining employed income with regular locum shifts can push total compensation above $178,000.
HRSA-designated Health Professional Shortage Areas pay the highest locum premiums. Rural health clinics, FQHCs, and urgent care centers in underserved markets consistently outpay suburban private practice.
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