Nurse Practitioners Top U.S. Jobs Ranking for Third Year Running
Event summary
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) ranked No. 1 job in America for the third consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Jobs rankings.
- NPs led in Best Job, Best Health Care Job, and Best STEM Job categories.
- Over 461,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. deliver patient-centered care across various settings.
- Gallup Poll shows nurses, including NPs, remain the most trusted profession for over two decades.
The big picture
The third consecutive top ranking for NPs underscores their growing role in addressing primary care shortages and evolving healthcare needs. This recognition comes amid broader industry shifts toward value-based care and workforce trust as foundational to effective healthcare delivery. The NP profession's dominance in rankings reflects both its expanding scope and the public's enduring confidence in these providers.
What we're watching
- Workforce Demand
- How sustained demand for NPs will impact healthcare delivery and workforce planning.
- Regulatory Influence
- Whether continued recognition will drive policy changes expanding NP practice authority.
- Professional Growth
- The pace at which NP numbers grow and how it affects primary care access.