Best cities for a head nurse
The best cities for head nurses are San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head nurse. While the absolute best city for head nurses is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a head nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head nurses in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $157,133 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Sacramento, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $156,240 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Oakland, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $156,717 Lowest 10 percent warn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $250,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Fremont, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,844 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. San Jose, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,271 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $247,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Stockton, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $155,240 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Fresno, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $150,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Bakersfield, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $146,201 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Los Angeles, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $142,434 Lowest 10 percent warn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Long Beach, CA
Total head nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $141,414 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for head nurses
- San Francisco, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Long Beach, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a head nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $157,133 | $98,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $156,240 | $97,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $156,717 | $98,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | $155,844 | $97,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $155,271 | $97,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $155,240 | $97,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $150,384 | $93,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 8 | Bakersfield, CA | $146,201 | $91,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $142,434 | $89,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $141,414 | $88,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 11 | Anaheim, CA | $141,113 | $88,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 12 | Santa Ana, CA | $140,809 | $87,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 13 | Irvine, CA | $140,480 | $87,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $140,467 | $87,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $137,605 | $85,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 16 | Chula Vista, CA | $137,180 | $85,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,265 | $61,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $99,088 | $61,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $108,551 | $67,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $98,783 | $61,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 21 | Portland, OR | $111,644 | $71,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 22 | Glendale, AZ | $98,358 | $60,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 23 | Saint Paul, MN | $98,337 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,301 | $60,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 25 | Scottsdale, AZ | $98,185 | $60,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 26 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $128,004 | $90,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 27 | Chandler, AZ | $97,905 | $60,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 28 | Anchorage, AK | $103,974 | $68,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $97,865 | $60,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 30 | Gilbert, AZ | $97,830 | $60,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 31 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,396 | $61,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $81,081 | $48,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $96,576 | $59,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 34 | Detroit, MI | $75,305 | $40,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 35 | Seattle, WA | $97,459 | $62,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $84,286 | $51,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | Newark, NJ | $89,310 | $42,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $89,293 | $42,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $86,766 | $53,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 40 | Lubbock, TX | $78,556 | $46,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 41 | Dallas, TX | $76,194 | $43,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 42 | Denver, CO | $86,405 | $54,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 43 | Aurora, CO | $86,358 | $53,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 44 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,436 | $44,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 45 | Austin, TX | $76,145 | $43,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 46 | Arlington, TX | $76,332 | $44,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $76,121 | $43,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,016 | $38,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 49 | Irving, TX | $76,261 | $44,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 50 | San Antonio, TX | $76,115 | $43,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
Highest paying cities for head nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. head nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $98,396 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $91,608 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $86,380 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $83,669 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $81,081 |
| 6 | Meridian, MS | $71,988 |
| 7 | Gaithersburg, MD | $71,720 |
| 8 | Glen Ellyn, IL | $71,127 |
| 9 | Mechanicsville, VA | $70,783 |
| 10 | Bridgeport, CT | $67,906 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $65,499 |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | $65,370 |
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Updated January 8, 2025