Best cities for an intensive care unit nurse
The best cities for intensive care unit nurses are Henderson, NV, Fresno, CA, and Bakersfield, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for intensive care unit nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for intensive care unit nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an intensive care unit nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for intensive care unit nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for intensive care unit nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an intensive care unit nurse. While the absolute best city for intensive care unit nurses is Henderson, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for intensive care unit nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for an intensive care unit nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for intensive care unit nurses in 2026
1. Henderson, NV
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $106,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 2.79 2. Fresno, CA
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $107,981 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 2.00 3. Bakersfield, CA
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $107,163 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location quotient: 1.52 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $106,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.69 5. Reno, NV
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $106,978 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 0.57 6. Milwaukee, WI
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $89,899 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 0.70 7. Albuquerque, NM
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $88,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.84 8. Oakland, CA
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $109,000 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.63 9. Portland, OR
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $100,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 0.53 10. Detroit, MI
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $80,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location quotient: 1.26
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Best cities for intensive care unit nurses
- Henderson, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- Milwaukee, WI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Oakland, CA
- Portland, OR
- Detroit, MI
- (9 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (13 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (8 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (19 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (5 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (16 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (13 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (7 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (21 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
- (31 intensive care unit nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an intensive care unit nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henderson, NV | $106,689 | $63,000 | 292,969 | 9 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $107,981 | $64,000 | 522,053 | 13 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $107,163 | $63,000 | 376,380 | 8 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $106,851 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 19 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $106,978 | $65,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $89,899 | $53,000 | 595,047 | 16 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $88,449 | $51,000 | 559,277 | 13 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $109,000 | $65,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $100,939 | $65,000 | 639,863 | 21 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $80,503 | $45,000 | 672,795 | 31 |
| 11 | Mesa, AZ | $84,430 | $49,000 | 484,587 | 8 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $89,435 | $54,000 | 252,551 | 10 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $102,012 | $55,000 | 673,184 | 39 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $96,721 | $61,000 | 413,651 | 14 |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | $72,967 | $42,000 | 389,902 | 22 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,881 | $62,000 | 3,976,322 | 50 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $80,637 | $45,000 | 403,090 | 7 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $80,543 | $45,000 | 638,367 | 16 |
| 19 | Lexington, KY | $77,329 | $41,000 | 318,449 | 8 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $104,177 | $61,000 | 1,406,630 | 35 |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $84,359 | $48,000 | 530,706 | 12 |
| 22 | Saint Paul, MN | $96,779 | $61,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $84,522 | $49,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $72,912 | $41,000 | 278,508 | 5 |
| 25 | Long Beach, CA | $105,483 | $62,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,942 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | 23 |
| 27 | Chandler, AZ | $84,452 | $49,000 | 247,477 | 7 |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $81,786 | $42,000 | 287,027 | 4 |
| 29 | Louisville, KY | $77,288 | $42,000 | 597,337 | 12 |
| 30 | Anchorage, AK | $82,665 | $72,000 | 298,192 | 8 |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $94,988 | $63,000 | 704,352 | 24 |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $74,271 | $42,000 | 683,080 | 5 |
| 33 | North Las Vegas, NV | $106,711 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $83,840 | $44,000 | 281,764 | 16 |
| 35 | Winston-Salem, NC | $81,711 | $42,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 36 | San Jose, CA | $109,147 | $65,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 37 | San Francisco, CA | $109,153 | $65,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 38 | Memphis, TN | $75,938 | $41,000 | 652,717 | 12 |
| 39 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,502 | $49,000 | 1,615,017 | 28 |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO | $75,196 | $44,000 | 481,420 | 21 |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $72,276 | $39,000 | 860,090 | 28 |
| 42 | Hialeah, FL | $71,750 | $37,000 | 236,387 | 20 |
| 43 | Irvine, CA | $105,137 | $61,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 44 | Lubbock, TX | $73,433 | $41,000 | 252,506 | 3 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $85,093 | $44,000 | 472,522 | 28 |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $76,202 | $40,000 | 660,388 | 14 |
| 47 | Fort Wayne, IN | $67,431 | $38,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 48 | New Orleans, LA | $71,029 | $37,000 | 391,495 | 15 |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $109,024 | $65,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 50 | Stockton, CA | $108,113 | $65,000 | 307,072 | - |
Highest paying cities for intensive care unit nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. intensive care unit nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $109,199 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $106,978 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $102,012 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $101,153 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $100,939 |
| 6 | Rochester, MN | $97,467 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $90,653 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $90,161 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $89,899 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $88,056 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $88,031 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $85,093 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $84,502 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $83,865 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,942 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $80,543 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $80,503 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $78,936 |
| 19 | Richmond, KY | $77,163 |
| 20 | Richmond, VA | $75,862 |
Intensive care unit nurse best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025