Salary AI Book a Demo

Private Duty Nurse Salary in the United States

How much does a Private Duty Nurse make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Private Duty Nurse in the United States is $90,857 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Private Duty Nurse's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $108,714
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,564 to $100,204
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,565
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Private Duty Nurse Salaries

A Private Duty Nurse's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Private Duty Nurse Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Private Duty Nurse's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $90,079
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,171
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,872
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $96,274
  • Expert (over 8 years): $96,588
Levels Salary
Entry Level Private Duty Nurse$90,079
Intermediate Level Private Duty Nurse$90,171
Senior Level Private Duty Nurse$91,872
Specialist Level Private Duty Nurse$96,274
Expert Level Private Duty Nurse$96,588
View as Graph

How Do Private Duty Nurse Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Private Duty Nurses. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $100,597.
  • California: $100,215.
  • Massachusetts: $98,880.

Top Paying Cities for Private Duty Nurses

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $114,598
  • San Francisco: $113,343
  • Oakland: $110,955

What Skills Can Increase a Private Duty Nurse's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 3.68% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Case Management (Mentioned in 3.59% Job Postings): Connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers, resources, and services to ensure they receive optimal, cost-effective care.
  • Staff Development (Mentioned in 1.66% Job Postings): Refers to all the policies, practices, and procedures used to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies of staff to improve the effectiveness and efficiency both of the individual and the University.
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 3.68%
Case Management 3.59%
Staff Development 1.66%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Private Duty Nurse's salary.

  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Data Collection: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oral Communication $102,669
13%
Verbal Communication $99,034
9%
Data Collection $97,217
7%
Get Latest Data

Private Duty Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Private Duty Nurse roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Private Duty Nurse positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Private Duty Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Private Duty Nurse

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$109,029$52.020%

How Education impacts a Private Duty Nurse's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Private Duty Nurses enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Private Duty Nurse with a Associate's Degree is between $85,594 and $90,244).

Private Duty Nurse Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Private Duty Nurse
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.4%
Associates 47.2%
Bachelors 44.6%
Masters 5.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Private Duty Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Private Duty Nurse's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$87,564
Average $90,857/year
$100,204
$7,297
Average $7,571/month
$8,350
$1,684
Average $1,747/week
$1,927
$42
Average $44/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $100,204 $8,350 $1,927 $48
Average $90,857 $7,571 $1,747 $44
25th Percentile $87,564 $7,297 $1,684 $42

Most common benefits for Private Duty Nurse

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Private Duty Nurse

Here are companies hiring for Private Duty Nurse and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Private Duty Nurse Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Private Duty Nurse job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Private Duty Nurse

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Private Duty Nurse?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Private Duty Nurse roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst