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UnitedHealth Group
Syracuse, New York

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Nurse PractitionerFull-Time Physician-Supervised State

Listed compensation

$92k-$164k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Psychiatry Services of New York, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to join our team in Syracuse, New York. As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, you will treat a wide variety of mental health conditions that reflect the needs of our diverse patient population. We offer a variety of solutions that meet the unique needs of our workforce and the patients they serve. From clinical operations such as credentialing to business operations such as contracting, we provide organizational support that allows our providers to focus on what matters - providing care.

Primary Responsibilities

Utilize evidence-based screening tools and diagnostic criteria to formulate comprehensive treatment plans

Deliver individual and group psychotherapy sessions, employing various therapeutic modalities tailored to each patient's needs

Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications per established protocols and clinical guidelines; monitor medication efficacy and side effects, adjusting treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes

Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic medical records and clinical documentation, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements

Participate in our patient growth strategy by providing a profile for online directories and other marketing efforts

We are committed to your well-being and growth, offering a comprehensive package of perks and benefits with varying eligibility based on role, including:

  • Competitive salary & eligibility for quarterly incentive bonuses
  • Flexible work models & paid time off when you need it
  • Health and well-being benefits like health insurance, 401k matching, and other family support and wellness resources
  • Professional development with CME reimbursement and dedicated learning time to advance your career

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

Clear, active and unrestricted Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) license in the state of New York

Board certified as a PMHNP-BC by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or eligible for board certification

Active DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) registration

Preferred Qualifications

  • 2+ years of clinical experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing in an outpatient setting
  • Experience providing patient education, specifically regarding medication treatment adherence and aftercare services
  • Experience counseling patients using advanced psychotherapeutic techniques, including in group settings
  • Experience treating substance addiction and co-occurring disorders
  • Experience working with patients in different age groups, including older adults

Experience Working with Couples or Family Counseling

Experience working with computers for professional communication and medical documentation - Excel, Outlook, Athena RMS (or other EHRs)

Explore opportunities at Optum Behavioral Care. We’re revolutionizing behavioral health care delivery for individuals, clinicians and the entire health care system. Together, we are bringing high-end medical service, compassionate care and industry leading solutions to our most vulnerable patient populations.

Our holistic approach addresses the physical, mental and social needs of our patients wherever they may be - helping patients access and navigate care anytime and anywhere. We’re connecting care to create a seamless health journey for patients across care settings.

Join our team, it’s your chance to improve the lives of millions while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).

No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $91,700 to $163,700 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life.

Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes.

We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Key Responsibilities

The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will formulate comprehensive treatment plans using evidence-based tools and deliver individual or group psychotherapy. They are also responsible for prescribing and managing psychotropic medications while maintaining accurate electronic medical records.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a clear, active, and unrestricted PMHNP license in New York and be board certified by the ANCC. An active DEA registration is also required, along with a preference for at least two years of clinical experience in an outpatient psychiatric setting.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Medication managementTreatment planningSubstance addiction treatmentGroup therapyCouples counseling

Psychiatry — Nurse Practitioner Career Context

UnitedHealth Group ranks #8 of 20 employers hiring Nurse Practitioner on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay, and holds silver-tier status on the Top Employers work-life index, composite score 75/100, 1,407 active listings.

Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 18% are remote, 56% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Psychiatry pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$128k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $118k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Nurse Practitioner Jobs

42 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution42 jobs · 34 employers

8
<$145k
7
$145k-160k
12
$160k-175k
8
$175k-190k
7
$190k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs

401k / retirement match
85% this job
CME allowance
58% this job
Sign-on bonus
48% this job
Loan repayment
18%
Relocation assistance
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$85k-$235k
#2

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$145k-$210k
#3

In-Home Health - Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant (Full Time) - Ulster, NY

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#4

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

$80k-$200k
+ 40 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 4.8
Better work-life than 30% of Psychiatry (NP) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,247 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Syracuse

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$219k≈ 2.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,541/mo≈ 20% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.7
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Syracuse, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About UnitedHealth Group

Hospitals and Health Care
Eden Prairie , Minnesota
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive salary
Quarterly incentive bonuses
Flexible work models
Paid time off
Health insurance
401k matching
CME reimbursement
Dedicated learning time