Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide: Texas
Texas emergency departments see everything from oil‑rig crush injuries in the Permian Basin to rattlesnake bites in the Hill Country—and they increasingly rely on Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioners (ENPs) to keep wait times down and patient outcomes up. Before you negotiate your next contract or relocate to the Lone Star State, use this guide to benchmark ENP salaries by region, setting, and experience level. All figures are current as of 2025 and combine data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas Workforce Commission, and leading compensation sites.
How Texas ENP Pay Stacks Up Nationally
Texas offers a compelling blend of high patient volume and comparatively low cost of living. According to the BLS, the national median wage for nurse practitioners across all specialties is $132,050. Texas NPs come in lower at $127,080, but ENPs often command premiums for trauma skills, procedural competence, and 24/7 shift availability.
To put that in perspective, consider the state’s spending power: Texas has no state income tax, which can offset a slightly smaller base salary compared to states like California or New Jersey. Additionally, many Texas hospital systems add shift differentials ($5–$9 per hour) for nights and weekends, plus “house supervisor” stipends for ENPs authorized to work outside of regular hours.
Key Takeaway
If you value take‑home pay and are willing to work high‑acuity night shifts, Texas can rival or surpass headline salaries in higher‑paying states once taxes and differentials are factored in.
Average Emergency NP Salary in Texas
Before diving into the numbers, note that compensation sources use different methodologies—some pull employer job postings, others aggregate self‑reported pay. The following table blends multiple datasets so you can see the range.
This table summarizes salary estimates from four high‑authority sources to give you a realistic band rather than a single (possibly inflated) figure.
| Data Source | Average Annual Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BLS (Texas NP median, May 2024) | $127,080 | Includes all NP specialties; ENPs trend 5–10 % higher |
| Salary.com (Tx Emergency NP) | $134,770 | Dallas |
| Indeed (user‑reported, 500+ salaries) | $128,600 | Rounded statewide average |
| Vivian Health (travel ENP contracts) | $3,100/week + housing | Equivalent to ≈ $161k annualized |
A blended midpoint lands around $132,000 – $136,000 for staff ENPs, with travel roles and Level I trauma centers pushing well above $150k.
Salary by Texas Metro Area
Patient acuity, cost of living, and local competition all influence pay. The following introduction explains why metro-level data helps prospective ENPs negotiate regionally appropriate salaries, and then presents the detailed table.
| Metro Area | Mean ENP Pay | Local Cost‑of‑Living Index† | Notable Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land | $140,200 | 92 | Memorial Hermann, HCA Texas, UTHealth Houston |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington | $134,770 | 96 | Parkland Health, Methodist Health System, Baylor Scott & White |
| Austin–Round Rock–Georgetown | $131,100 | 104 | St. David's, Ascension Seton, Dell Children's |
| San Antonio–New Braunfels | $128,900 | 89 | University Health, Christus Santa Rosa, Baptist Health |
| West Texas (Midland–Odessa) | $138,800 | 93 | Medical Center Hospital, Odessa Regional |
†National average = 100. A lower index means cheaper overall living costs.
Why Cost of Living Matters
An ENP making $131k in Austin may have less disposable income than one earning $129k in San Antonio because housing in Austin averages 30 % higher. When comparing offers, calculate net salary after taxes and typical monthly expenses (rent, childcare, insurance) instead of focusing solely on the gross figure.
Pay Differentials by Work Setting
Texas ENPs can choose from diverse practice environments: Level I trauma centers in Houston, freestanding ERs along I‑35, and rural critical‑access hospitals in the Panhandle. Each comes with different pay structures, which the introductory paragraph below clarifies before the reader examines the figures.
| Setting | Typical Base Range | Shift Differential | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I Trauma Center | $140k – $155k | +$8/night | High acuity, unionized or large‑system benefits |
| Freestanding Emergency Center | $132k – $145k | +$6/night | Often 12‑hour shifts; smaller teams |
| Rural Critical‑Access Hospital | $125k – $135k | +$250/call day | Autonomy; may cover ED + inpatient |
| Urgent‑Care Chain (24/7) | $120k – $130k | +$4/weekend | Lower acuity; procedures like lac repair |
Impact of Experience and Certification
Experienced proceduralists and board‑certified ENPs earn more—sometimes much more. The following bullet list breaks down how specific credentials raise your negotiating power.
Before listing the salary bumps, a two‑sentence intro explains why each credential adds measurable value in the Texas job market.
- ENP‑C certification: Employers report adding $4,000 – $7,500 annually to base pay for proof of specialty competence.
- Advanced trauma credentials, such as ATLS or CALS certification, can add $1–$ 2 per hour in trauma centers.
- Ultrasound proficiency: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) skills often yield signing bonuses of $2,000–$3,000.
- Leadership roles: ENPs who supervise APC teams or serve as ED house supervisors command an extra $5,000 – $10,000.
- Five+ years' ED NP experience: Every additional year after five years averages a 2% pay bump.
Benefits and Perks to Negotiate
Salary is only part of the package. Texas hospital systems often sweeten offers with perks, and this paragraph explains why total compensation should influence decision-making before the subsequent list.
- Student‑loan repayment: Up to $20,000 over three years for working in rural or underserved counties.
- Relocation stipends: $5,000 – $10,000 for moves > 100 miles.
- Monthly housing allowances: Common in West Texas oilfield cities, where housing is scarce.
- CME stipends: $2,000 – $3,000 annually, plus time off to attend conferences.
- Productivity bonuses: 5 – 15 % of base pay if encounter metrics are met.
- Extra shift premiums: $150 – $200 per additional 12‑hour shift beyond FTE.
How to Boost Your Texas ENP Salary
Eager to push past the midpoint salary range? Use these targeted strategies:
- Bundle credentials: Pair ENP‑C with ACLS EP or Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) to stand out.
- Seek rural contracts: Many critical‑access sites add $ 10k "rural hardship" stipends plus free onsite housing.
- Master POCUS: Hospitals pay for ultrasound‑trained NPs who can shorten the length of stay.
- Volunteer for night shifts: Consistently working 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. can increase your annual take-home by $15,000.
- Negotiate call pay in writing: Ensure standby hours count toward overtime calculations under Texas labor law.
Internal Resources for Further Research
- NP Salary Guide to benchmark against other states.
- Texas NP Licensure Guide: Practice Authority Details.
- Online Emergency NP Programs if you're still earning hours toward ENP‑C.
Sources
- Texas Workforce Commission. Occupational Employment Statistics (2025).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurse Practitioner State Wages (May 2024).
- Salary.com. Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner Salary in Dallas, TX (2025).
- Indeed. Emergency Nurse Practitioner Salaries in Texas (2025 snapshot).
- Vivian Health. Travel Nurse Practitioner Contracts (2025).
- 11 Highest Paid Nurse Practitioner (NP) Specialties - April 24, 2025
- Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide: Texas - December 25, 2024
- Prepare for the ENP Certification Exam: Your Roadmap to Passing on the First Try - November 11, 2024
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