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Best states for an intensive care unit nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become an intensive care unit nurse at American Mobile Healthcare, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for intensive care unit nurses that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that Delaware is the best state for intensive care unit nurses in America. The best city in America for intensive care unit nurses with the highest pay is Santa Clara, CA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for intensive care unit nurses.We found that Delaware is the best state for intensive care unit nurse jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.
10 best states for intensive care unit nurses in 2026
1. Delaware
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 942 Average annual salary: $105,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $187,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
2. Nevada
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 1,474 Average annual salary: $106,451 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
3. North Dakota
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 835 Average annual salary: $95,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. Massachusetts
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 6,544 Average annual salary: $101,274 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. New Mexico
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 1,829 Average annual salary: $88,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
6. Wyoming
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 423 Average annual salary: $95,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Oregon
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 2,590 Average annual salary: $101,487 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. Connecticut
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 2,068 Average annual salary: $100,335 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Pennsylvania
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 9,318 Average annual salary: $82,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
10. Utah
Total intensive care unit nurse jobs: 1,000 Average annual salary: $99,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
Intensive care unit nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an intensive care unit nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an intensive care unit nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $105,612 | $59,000 | 961,939 | 942 |
| 2 | Nevada | $106,451 | $65,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,474 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $95,309 | $63,000 | 755,393 | 835 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $101,274 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,544 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $88,370 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,829 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $95,693 | $61,000 | 579,315 | 423 |
| 7 | Oregon | $101,487 | $65,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,590 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $100,335 | $56,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,068 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $82,567 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 9,318 |
| 10 | Utah | $99,356 | $62,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,000 |
| 11 | California | $106,231 | $64,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,251 |
| 12 | Washington | $95,055 | $63,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,131 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $96,610 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,910 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $89,497 | $54,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,523 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $92,991 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 655 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $80,496 | $46,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,417 |
| 17 | Georgia | $84,869 | $46,000 | 10,429,379 | 7,175 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $80,701 | $44,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,658 |
| 19 | Montana | $83,930 | $56,000 | 1,050,493 | 1,000 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $81,446 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 6,890 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $76,827 | $41,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,404 |
| 22 | Michigan | $80,285 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 5,748 |
| 23 | New York | $90,382 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 8,756 |
| 24 | Arizona | $84,435 | $49,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,137 |
| 25 | Illinois | $87,906 | $52,000 | 12,802,023 | 7,307 |
| 26 | Alaska | $82,944 | $72,000 | 739,795 | 646 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $72,499 | $46,000 | 869,666 | 1,046 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $76,180 | $41,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,500 |
| 29 | Vermont | $76,187 | $43,000 | 623,657 | 694 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $77,249 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,589 |
| 31 | Ohio | $72,530 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 8,577 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $89,940 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 605 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $83,571 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,452 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $73,901 | $39,000 | 5,024,369 | 3,362 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $71,075 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 3,009 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $76,326 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,752 |
| 37 | Florida | $71,199 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 15,367 |
| 38 | Iowa | $74,349 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,547 |
| 39 | Kansas | $72,933 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,153 |
| 40 | Maryland | $78,857 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,347 |
| 41 | Texas | $72,816 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 14,730 |
| 42 | Missouri | $75,274 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 4,003 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $87,931 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 423 |
| 44 | Maine | $63,470 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,420 |
| 45 | Virginia | $76,063 | $40,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,953 |
| 46 | Indiana | $66,869 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,056 |
| 47 | Idaho | $71,003 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 891 |
| 48 | Alabama | $71,579 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,504 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $55,753 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,659 |
| 50 | Colorado | $68,752 | $42,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,664 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $56,108 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,398 |
Highest paying states for intensive care unit nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Intensive Care Unit Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $105,612 |
| 2 | Nevada | $106,451 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $95,309 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $101,274 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $88,370 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $95,693 |
| 7 | Oregon | $101,487 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $100,335 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $82,567 |
| 10 | Utah | $99,356 |
| 11 | California | $106,231 |
| 12 | Washington | $95,055 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $96,610 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $89,497 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $92,991 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $80,496 |
| 17 | Georgia | $84,869 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $80,701 |
| 19 | Montana | $83,930 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $81,446 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $76,827 |
| 22 | Michigan | $80,285 |
| 23 | New York | $90,382 |
| 24 | Arizona | $84,435 |
| 25 | Illinois | $87,906 |
| 26 | Alaska | $82,944 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $72,499 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $76,180 |
| 29 | Vermont | $76,187 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $77,249 |
| 31 | Ohio | $72,530 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $89,940 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $83,571 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $73,901 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $71,075 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $76,326 |
| 37 | Florida | $71,199 |
| 38 | Iowa | $74,349 |
| 39 | Kansas | $72,933 |
| 40 | Maryland | $78,857 |
| 41 | Texas | $72,816 |
| 42 | Missouri | $75,274 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $87,931 |
| 44 | Maine | $63,470 |
| 45 | Virginia | $76,063 |
| 46 | Indiana | $66,869 |
| 47 | Idaho | $71,003 |
| 48 | Alabama | $71,579 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $55,753 |
| 50 | Colorado | $68,752 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $56,108 |
Expert opinions on the best states for intensive care unit nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for intensive care unit nurses to find work opportunities?
Vilma Davis
Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Lincoln University
As previously mentioned, there is a need for nurses throughout the United States. Most nursing programs will intermittently have nurse recruiters come on campus, giving students an opportunity to ask questions and get information about the job market. This is one way that graduates can get plugged into where the needs of nurses are. Graduates can also visit the websites of various hospitals and see what openings are available for which they can apply. Doing a simple google search for "nursing jobs" will yield a plethora of available jobs that they can review and make the decision which they would like to pursue.
Intensive care unit nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025