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Best states for a geriatric nursing assistant
Quoted expert
Shelly Wells Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for geriatric nursing assistants? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for geriatric nursing assistant jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant geriatric nursing assistant jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Connecticut is the best state in the country for geriatric nursing assistant jobs.
We figured that the best places for geriatric nursing assistant jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Connecticut is the best state for geriatric nursing assistant jobs, whereas Utah is the worst.
10 best states for geriatric nursing assistants in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 987 Average annual salary: $43,234 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. Indiana
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 2,294 Average annual salary: $39,256 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
3. Maine
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 795 Average annual salary: $40,142 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 2.44
4. Massachusetts
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 2,725 Average annual salary: $42,561 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
5. Michigan
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 2,465 Average annual salary: $38,813 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
6. Ohio
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 2,938 Average annual salary: $40,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
7. Washington
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 1,956 Average annual salary: $40,908 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
8. Oregon
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 1,063 Average annual salary: $40,384 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Minnesota
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 2,516 Average annual salary: $37,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
10. Pennsylvania
Total geriatric nursing assistant jobs: 3,426 Average annual salary: $36,999 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
Geriatric nursing assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a geriatric nursing assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a geriatric nursing assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $43,234 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 987 |
| 2 | Indiana | $39,256 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,294 |
| 3 | Maine | $40,142 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 795 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $42,561 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,725 |
| 5 | Michigan | $38,813 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,465 |
| 6 | Ohio | $40,935 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,938 |
| 7 | Washington | $40,908 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,956 |
| 8 | Oregon | $40,384 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,063 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $37,118 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,516 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $36,999 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,426 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $35,313 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,134 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $37,760 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 322 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $47,433 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 128 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $40,846 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,867 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $34,546 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,722 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $33,430 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 539 |
| 17 | Delaware | $38,700 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 249 |
| 18 | New York | $38,780 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,419 |
| 19 | California | $42,565 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,025 |
| 20 | Nevada | $38,528 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 281 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $34,033 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 705 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $33,884 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,101 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $34,913 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 239 |
| 24 | Alaska | $38,321 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 162 |
| 25 | Maryland | $37,092 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,671 |
| 26 | Arizona | $35,630 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,278 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $33,289 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 784 |
| 28 | Iowa | $32,658 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,070 |
| 29 | Montana | $31,949 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 392 |
| 30 | Vermont | $33,489 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 193 |
| 31 | Virginia | $36,078 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,611 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,297 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,433 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $31,706 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 645 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $34,093 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 70 |
| 35 | Idaho | $33,043 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 401 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $31,546 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 261 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,784 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 888 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $36,692 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 110 |
| 39 | Alabama | $32,286 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 613 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,296 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,432 |
| 41 | Georgia | $32,125 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,422 |
| 42 | Texas | $32,283 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,037 |
| 43 | Florida | $29,816 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,550 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $30,331 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,099 |
| 45 | Colorado | $31,500 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,368 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $28,406 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 558 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,816 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 626 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $28,581 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 532 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $28,898 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 417 |
| 50 | Illinois | $29,485 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,277 |
| 51 | Utah | $28,339 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 452 |
Highest paying states for geriatric nursing assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Geriatric Nursing Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $43,234 |
| 2 | Indiana | $39,256 |
| 3 | Maine | $40,142 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $42,561 |
| 5 | Michigan | $38,813 |
| 6 | Ohio | $40,935 |
| 7 | Washington | $40,908 |
| 8 | Oregon | $40,384 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $37,118 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $36,999 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $35,313 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $37,760 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $47,433 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $40,846 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $34,546 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $33,430 |
| 17 | Delaware | $38,700 |
| 18 | New York | $38,780 |
| 19 | California | $42,565 |
| 20 | Nevada | $38,528 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $34,033 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $33,884 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $34,913 |
| 24 | Alaska | $38,321 |
| 25 | Maryland | $37,092 |
| 26 | Arizona | $35,630 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $33,289 |
| 28 | Iowa | $32,658 |
| 29 | Montana | $31,949 |
| 30 | Vermont | $33,489 |
| 31 | Virginia | $36,078 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,297 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $31,706 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $34,093 |
| 35 | Idaho | $33,043 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $31,546 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,784 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $36,692 |
| 39 | Alabama | $32,286 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $31,296 |
| 41 | Georgia | $32,125 |
| 42 | Texas | $32,283 |
| 43 | Florida | $29,816 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $30,331 |
| 45 | Colorado | $31,500 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $28,406 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,816 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $28,581 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $28,898 |
| 50 | Illinois | $29,485 |
| 51 | Utah | $28,339 |
Expert opinions on the best states for geriatric nursing assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for geriatric nursing assistants to find work opportunities?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Nursing, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Nurses continue to be in high demand throughout the nation. While new graduate nurses may not be able to find their dream "no weekends, day shift position in their favorite specialty" right out of school, there are opportunities abound for the new nurse to build their skills to prepare for that dream position. The demand for nurses in community-based agencies is increasing. Nurses who have completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree find expanded leadership opportunities, public health, and non-traditional nursing positions. One does not have to live in or near a large city to find a chance to work as a registered nurse as there are countless positions in rural America waiting for the right graduate nurses.
Geriatric nursing assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025