5 Happiest Nurse Practitioner Specialties

Who are the happiest nurse practitioners?

Some of the happiest nurse practitioner specialties include:

• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner 
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
• Long-Term Care (LTC) Nurse Practitioner

Among these, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners working in outpatient care are considered one of the happiest nurse practitioner specialties because of the great work life balance with no weekends, no on-call duties and also a high average annual salary of $130,280.

(To find more of the happiest nurse practitioner specialties that we cover in our np board review, check out the Happiest APRN Jobs reddit forum.)

1. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Outpatient Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) provide mental health care in community settings. They work with patients suffering from severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders (SUDs). Their duties include diagnosing mental health conditions, prescribing medication, therapy, and managing treatment plans. In outpatient settings.

Salary & Compensation

The average annual salary for an Outpatient PMHNP is $130,280.

Here’s what some Outpatient PMHNPs say about their roles:

"Outpatient community mental health. I’m PMHNP. Max of 12 pts a day. No weekends no call. Majority of pts have severe mental illness/SUD. It’s rewarding most days. I really enjoy it."

2. Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner (OHNP)

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Occupational Health NPs focus on the health and well-being of employees within specific workplaces, such as pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing plants, or corporate offices. They conduct pre-employment physicals, monitor workplace injuries, promote wellness programs, and manage chronic conditions in employees. Additionally, Occupational Health NPs are involved in employee health screenings, vaccination programs, and ensuring compliance with workplace safety regulations.

Salary & Compensation

The average annual salary for an Occupational Health NP is $127,980.

Here's why they are happy:

"The occupational health NP’s I work with at a pharmaceutical manufacturing business (large scale) are extremely happy with their jobs. I’m working as an occ health RN, currently in F-NP school and plan to transition into that as a provider. Great pay, laid back work, the employees(patients) are amazing. Lots of great benefits and hours. Really couldn’t ask for a better position."

3. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Women’s health nurse practitioners focus on providing primary care for women across all stages of life. They perform routine gynecological exams such as pap smears, STD testing, and breast exams, along with managing birth control, family planning, and other preventive care services. In many settings, they collaborate with OB-GYNs who handle high-risk or emergent cases, leaving the NP to focus on preventive and routine care.

Salary & Compensation

The average annual salary of a women’s health NP is $116,660.

Here’s what some women’s health NPs are saying:

"Women’s health. Paps, std testing, birth control. No call, weekends or holidays. Very few stressful encounters. The OBGYNS take all the emergent or high level cases."

4. Dermatology Nurse Practitioner (DNP)

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Dermatology nurse practitioners specialize in diagnosing and treating a variety of skin conditions, including rashes, acne, eczema, and skin cancer. They perform skin cancer screenings, biopsies, cryotherapy, and minor surgical procedures while prescribing both topical and oral treatments. Many dermatology NPs work in outpatient clinics, med spas, or dermatology practices, focusing on both medical and cosmetic dermatology.

Salary & Compensation

The average annual salary of a dermatology NP is $111,860. Compensation can be even higher in private dermatology practices or aesthetic clinics that offer elective cosmetic procedures.

Here’s what some dermatology NPs have to say:

"I love my dermatology bubble, really well compensated and great work/life balance!"

5. Long-Term Care (LTC) Nurse Practitioner 

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

LTC NPs are responsible for providing care to patients in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, or long-term care facilities. They perform rounds on patients, manage chronic conditions, and address both complex and routine healthcare needs. Common issues include arthritis, chronic pain, cognitive disorders, and geriatric care. NPs in LTC settings also have the flexibility to work day shifts while having their own discretion over charting and scheduling.

Salary & Compensation

The average annual salary for LTC nurse practitioners is $97,768.

Here’s how some LTC NPs describe their experience:

"This is my first job, but I’m happy in LTC/rehab. You round on patients, and go. We work either 5 8s or 4 10s. You get a bonus for exceeding RVU requirements (which isn’t hard), and if you’re in a well-rated building. We have no cap on our RVUs. If you wanna leave super early, or come in late, you can meet your RVU requirements and chart at home. No one is watching your hours or whereabouts like a hawk. Great work life balance. I never have to take weekends, holidays nights or call. You see complex cases and patients and it can be challenging, but you’ll also have fairly easy “runny nose” and “arthritic pain”. I always pictured myself in family medicine, or in women’s health/peds but I’ll probably never leave. At least not for awhile."

Which NP specialty is most in demand?

Family Nurse Practitioners are among the most in-demand nurse practitioner specialties due to a shortage of physicians in family medicine and also their ability to manage a wide range of health issues.

What field of NP makes the most money?

As of March 2025, according to Salary.com, Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners earn the highest salary of all nurse practitioner specialties, with an average annual salary of $142,326.

What is the easiest nurse practitioner specialty?

The easiest nurse practitioner specialty to get into and find a job after graduation is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) due to shortage of mental health professionals, increasing program availability, and growing job market.

What is the hardest NP specialty?

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) is considered one of the hardest nurse practitioner specialties due to the high-stress environments and complex patient care it involves.

What is the lowest paid nurse practitioner?

Public health nurse practitioners is one of the lowest paid nurse practitioner with an average annual salary of $70,928.