Best cities for a critical care nurse
The best cities for critical care nurses are Las Vegas, NV, Henderson, NV, and Bakersfield, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for critical care nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for critical care nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a critical care nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for critical care nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for critical care nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a critical care nurse. While the absolute best city for critical care nurses is Las Vegas, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for critical care nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a critical care nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for critical care nurses in 2026
1. Las Vegas, NV
Total critical care nurse jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $97,894 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 2.98 2. Henderson, NV
Total critical care nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $97,782 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 4.21 3. Bakersfield, CA
Total critical care nurse jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $119,811 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 1.94 4. Long Beach, CA
Total critical care nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $118,638 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $206,000 Location quotient: 1.91 5. Riverside, CA
Total critical care nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $118,254 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.73 6. Mesa, AZ
Total critical care nurse jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $85,867 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 2.79 7. Buffalo, NY
Total critical care nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $101,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location quotient: 1.00 8. Wichita, KS
Total critical care nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $82,416 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 1.20 9. San Diego, CA
Total critical care nurse jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $117,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 0.63 10. Reno, NV
Total critical care nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $97,688 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.39
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Best cities for critical care nurses
- Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Bakersfield, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Buffalo, NY
- Wichita, KS
- San Diego, CA
- Reno, NV
- (48 critical care nurse jobs)
- (8 critical care nurse jobs)
- (6 critical care nurse jobs)
- (8 critical care nurse jobs)
- (3 critical care nurse jobs)
- (9 critical care nurse jobs)
- (7 critical care nurse jobs)
- (7 critical care nurse jobs)
- (26 critical care nurse jobs)
- (2 critical care nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a critical care nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $97,894 | $57,000 | 632,912 | 48 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $97,782 | $56,000 | 292,969 | 8 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $119,811 | $69,000 | 376,380 | 6 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $118,638 | $68,000 | 470,130 | 8 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $118,254 | $68,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $85,867 | $48,000 | 484,587 | 9 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $101,999 | $55,000 | 256,902 | 7 |
| 8 | Wichita, KS | $82,416 | $46,000 | 389,902 | 7 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $117,473 | $67,000 | 1,406,630 | 26 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $97,688 | $58,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $81,033 | $44,000 | 683,080 | 13 |
| 12 | San Jose, CA | $121,094 | $71,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $119,097 | $71,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $118,962 | $68,000 | 3,976,322 | 27 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $102,877 | $54,000 | 673,184 | 26 |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $120,776 | $71,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 17 | Laredo, TX | $82,505 | $43,000 | 257,156 | 1 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $80,512 | $45,000 | 559,277 | 20 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $85,711 | $47,000 | 530,706 | 7 |
| 20 | Seattle, WA | $96,522 | $66,000 | 704,352 | 32 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $93,551 | $57,000 | 413,651 | 10 |
| 22 | Newark, NJ | $92,317 | $48,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $76,568 | $42,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $118,518 | $68,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $82,171 | $43,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 26 | San Francisco, CA | $120,887 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 27 | Portland, OR | $96,580 | $63,000 | 639,863 | 9 |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $73,882 | $38,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 29 | Phoenix, AZ | $86,029 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 14 |
| 30 | Oklahoma City, OK | $82,192 | $44,000 | 638,367 | 5 |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $80,635 | $41,000 | 2,303,482 | 40 |
| 32 | Saint Paul, MN | $93,615 | $57,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $97,767 | $57,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Aurora, CO | $80,347 | $48,000 | 361,710 | 13 |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $120,905 | $71,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | Hialeah, FL | $71,867 | $36,000 | 236,387 | 47 |
| 37 | Arlington, TX | $79,296 | $41,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 38 | Chesapeake, VA | $84,711 | $42,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 39 | Winston-Salem, NC | $78,439 | $39,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 40 | Miami, FL | $71,916 | $36,000 | 453,579 | 80 |
| 41 | Stockton, CA | $119,960 | $71,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | $85,009 | $42,000 | 452,602 | 4 |
| 43 | Dallas, TX | $79,192 | $41,000 | 1,317,929 | 24 |
| 44 | Kansas City, MO | $70,441 | $39,000 | 481,420 | 22 |
| 45 | Fort Worth, TX | $79,318 | $41,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 46 | New York, NY | $104,136 | $54,000 | 8,537,673 | 41 |
| 47 | Orlando, FL | $69,685 | $35,000 | 277,173 | 121 |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $120,234 | $70,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 49 | Baltimore, MD | $84,740 | $43,000 | 614,664 | 26 |
| 50 | Durham, NC | $78,709 | $39,000 | 263,016 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for critical care nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. critical care nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $121,120 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $104,136 |
| 3 | Springfield, MA | $103,117 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $97,894 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $97,065 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $96,522 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $93,551 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $84,740 |
| 9 | Little Rock, AR | $82,845 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $81,665 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $81,557 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $81,033 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $80,512 |
| 14 | Aurora, CO | $80,347 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $78,709 |
| 16 | Bowling Green, OH | $76,421 |
| 17 | Lebanon, TN | $73,945 |
| 18 | Saginaw, MI | $72,222 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $71,916 |
| 20 | Bowling Green, KY | $71,834 |
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Updated January 8, 2025