Jobs Similar to Nurse Practitioners
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nurse practitioners, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Physician Assistants, Family Medicine Physicians and Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Nurse Practitioners: $132,300 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Nurse Practitioners) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician AssistantsSame group | 87% | $135,880+3% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 86% | $244,180+85% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsSame group | 86% | $292,910+121% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 86% | $256,560+94% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 86% | $134,040+1% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 86% | $335,550+154% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Pediatricians, GeneralSame group | 86% | $210,040+59% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | HospitalistsSame group | 86% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | NeurologistsSame group | 85% | $248,560+88% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 85% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansSame group | 85% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | PharmacistsSame group | 85% | $140,910+7% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | PsychiatristsSame group | 84% | $281,870+113% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Clinical Nurse SpecialistsSame group | 84% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Acute Care NursesSame group | 84% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Preventive Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 84% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Sports Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 84% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Physical TherapistsSame group | 83% | $102,760−22% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Naturopathic PhysiciansSame group | 83% | $115,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Clinical Neuropsychologists | 83% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Physician Assistants
87% similar · $135,880 (+3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Family Medicine Physicians
86% similar · $244,180 (+85%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Obstetricians and Gynecologists
86% similar · $292,910 (+121%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4General Internal Medicine Physicians
86% similar · $256,560 (+94%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Nurse Midwives
86% similar · $134,040 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Emergency Medicine Physicians
86% similar · $335,550 (+154%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Pediatricians, General
86% similar · $210,040 (+59%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Hospitalists
86% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Neurologists
85% similar · $248,560 (+88%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Critical Care Nurses
85% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
85% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Pharmacists
85% similar · $140,910 (+7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Psychiatrists
84% similar · $281,870 (+113%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Clinical Nurse Specialists
84% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Acute Care Nurses
84% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Preventive Medicine Physicians
84% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Sports Medicine Physicians
84% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18Physical Therapists
83% similar · $102,760 (−22%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Naturopathic Physicians
83% similar · $115,210 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Clinical Neuropsychologists
83% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than nurse practitioners.
- Emergency Medicine Physicians86% similar · $335,550 (+154%)
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists86% similar · $292,910 (+121%)
- Psychiatrists84% similar · $281,870 (+113%)
- General Internal Medicine Physicians86% similar · $256,560 (+94%)
- Neurologists85% similar · $248,560 (+88%)
- Family Medicine Physicians86% similar · $244,180 (+85%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nurse practitioners also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Questions about jobs like nurse practitioners
What jobs are most similar to nurse practitioners?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Physician Assistants (87% similar), Family Medicine Physicians (86% similar), Obstetricians and Gynecologists (86% similar), General Internal Medicine Physicians (86% similar) and Nurse Midwives (86% similar).
Which jobs like nurse practitioners pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +154%; usually a graduate degree), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($292,910, +121%; usually a graduate degree) and Psychiatrists ($281,870, +113%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nurse practitioners ($132,300). Without more preparation than nurse practitioners usually need: Emergency Medicine Physicians, Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Psychiatrists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.