Nurse Practitioner Pay

Radford vs Richmond: Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)

Compare nurse practitioner salaries between Radford, VA and Richmond, VA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Radford, VA
$131,363
$63.16/hr
Richmond, VA
$132,230
$63.57/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRadford, VARichmond, VA
Median Salary$131,363$132,230
Hourly Rate$63.16$63.57
Entry Level (P10)$105,301$100,057
25th Percentile$124,133$111,550
75th Percentile$148,484$140,082
Top Earner (P90)$158,061$152,703
Total Employed61,440
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Radford ($131,363) and Richmond ($132,230) nurse practitioner salaries.RadfordRichmondMedian Salary$131,363$132,230Entry Level (P10)$105,301$100,057Top Earner (P90)$158,061$152,703US Median $136,864

Verdict

Richmond, VA offers better overall compensation for nurse practitioners, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Radford.

The salary gap between Radford and Richmond is $867 (0.66%). Richmond's median is -3.39% compared to the US national median of $136,864.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Radford spans $52,760,Richmond spans $52,646. Radford has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Radford
P10 (Entry)$105,301
P25$124,133
Median$131,363
P75$148,484
P90 (Top)$158,061
Richmond
P10 (Entry)$100,057
P25$111,550
Median$132,230
P75$140,082
P90 (Top)$152,703

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Richmond ($135,124 effective) pays 6.15% more than Radford ($127,290 effective).

Radford
Nominal: $131,363
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $127,290
Richmond
Nominal: $132,230
CoL Index: 97.858
Adjusted: $135,124

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Radford if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($158,061)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Richmond if…

  • Higher median salary ($132,230/year)
  • Larger job market (1,440 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $135,124)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse practitioner salaries in Radford grew 3.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 14.0% growth in Richmond over the same period.

Radford, VA

+3.7%

$122,393 (2024) → $126,982 (2025)

Richmond, VA

+14.0%

$112,100 (2019) → $127,820 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse practitioners more: Radford or Richmond?

Richmond has a higher median nurse practitioner salary at $132,230/year, compared to Radford at $131,363/year — a difference of $867 (0.66%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Radford and Richmond?

Radford nurse practitioners earn $63.16/hr while Richmond hygienists earn $63.57/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Radford to Richmond as a nurse practitioner?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Radford and Richmond. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Radford = $127,290, Richmond = $135,124), job availability (6 vs 1,440 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse practitioners earn in Radford vs Richmond?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse practitioners earn $105,301 in Radford and $100,057 in Richmond. The Radford area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.45% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov