Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) Jobs

What is the role of a pediatric nurse practitioner?

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) provide care to children. This includes infants to young adults. PNPs typically diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and perform annual checkups. 

Their patients are usually under the age of 18, but they may see young adults depending on what their facility accepts.

How much do pediatric nurse practitioners make?

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), PNPs earned an average of $108,500 in 2019. For more details on PNP salaries, check out our salary guide.

Is a pediatric nurse practitioner the same as a pediatrician?

PNPs and pediatricians usually work side-by-side. But they differ in their responsibilities and scope.

• Pediatricians are certified physicians who’ve completed four years of medical school. Along with any residency training and certifications they’ve earned. 
• PNPs have a more limited scope of practice, they focus primarily on providing services like physical exams, diagnosing and treating common illnesses, and prescribing medication. The limits on what medications they can prescribe varies by state. Mainly, they cannot perform major surgeries.

A pediatrician may also supervise PNPs depending on the restrictions each state possesses.

What is the job outlook for pediatric nurse practitioners in 2024?

The job outlook for PNPs is promising. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employment of nurse practitioners (NPs) overall will grow by 52.16% from 2020 to 2030.

While this is not specific to PNPs, the overall growth for NPs jobs in the future likely reflects the demand for PNPs as well.