Best cities for a mental health nurse
The best cities for mental health nurses are Henderson, NV, Albuquerque, NM, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for mental health nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for mental health nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a mental health nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for mental health nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for mental health nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a mental health nurse. While the absolute best city for mental health nurses is Henderson, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for mental health nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a mental health nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for mental health nurses in 2025
1. Henderson, NV
Total mental health nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $108,780 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location quotient: 1.08 2. Albuquerque, NM
Total mental health nurse jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $96,397 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 3.38 3. Toledo, OH
Total mental health nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $93,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 1.01 4. Cleveland, OH
Total mental health nurse jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $95,451 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.95 5. Oakland, CA
Total mental health nurse jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $117,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 1.73 6. Portland, OR
Total mental health nurse jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $103,726 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location quotient: 0.75 7. Glendale, AZ
Total mental health nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $100,467 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 0.55 8. Sacramento, CA
Total mental health nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $116,102 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location quotient: 1.08 9. Detroit, MI
Total mental health nurse jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $96,333 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 0.50 10. El Paso, TX
Total mental health nurse jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $94,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 0.79
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Best cities for mental health nurses
- Henderson, NV
- Albuquerque, NM
- Toledo, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Oakland, CA
- Portland, OR
- Glendale, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- (2 mental health nurse jobs)
- (30 mental health nurse jobs)
- (3 mental health nurse jobs)
- (10 mental health nurse jobs)
- (11 mental health nurse jobs)
- (17 mental health nurse jobs)
- (1 mental health nurse jobs)
- (15 mental health nurse jobs)
- (7 mental health nurse jobs)
- (3 mental health nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a mental health nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henderson, NV | $108,780 | $60,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $96,397 | $53,000 | 559,277 | 30 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $93,876 | $52,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $95,451 | $53,000 | 385,809 | 10 |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $117,164 | $65,000 | 420,005 | 11 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $103,726 | $58,000 | 639,863 | 17 |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $100,467 | $56,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $116,102 | $64,000 | 495,234 | 15 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $96,333 | $54,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $94,157 | $51,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $114,810 | $64,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 12 | Bakersfield, CA | $112,688 | $62,000 | 376,380 | 2 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $101,528 | $57,000 | 256,902 | 8 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $98,295 | $56,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 15 | Lexington, KY | $80,758 | $44,000 | 318,449 | 8 |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $113,063 | $62,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $107,412 | $61,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $88,860 | $49,000 | 860,090 | 11 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,641 | $52,000 | 302,398 | 9 |
| 20 | Stockton, CA | $116,186 | $64,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 21 | Arlington, TX | $83,093 | $45,000 | 392,772 | 7 |
| 22 | San Jose, CA | $116,853 | $65,000 | 1,025,350 | 15 |
| 23 | Lubbock, TX | $89,106 | $48,000 | 252,506 | 1 |
| 24 | Laredo, TX | $85,364 | $46,000 | 257,156 | 1 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $90,492 | $52,000 | 413,651 | 16 |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $94,495 | $53,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,655 | $56,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $92,773 | $52,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 29 | Santa Ana, CA | $107,311 | $59,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $103,416 | $57,000 | 704,352 | 16 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,742 | $60,000 | 3,976,322 | 26 |
| 32 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,306 | $61,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,419 | $56,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 34 | Fort Wayne, IN | $89,839 | $50,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 35 | Cincinnati, OH | $83,627 | $46,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 36 | North Las Vegas, NV | $109,153 | $60,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX | $85,910 | $46,000 | 1,492,510 | 10 |
| 38 | San Francisco, CA | $117,376 | $65,000 | 870,887 | 13 |
| 39 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,622 | $46,000 | 855,164 | 9 |
| 40 | Newark, NJ | $102,385 | $57,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | $87,357 | $48,000 | 237,940 | 3 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $100,338 | $56,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Anaheim, CA | $107,612 | $60,000 | 351,043 | 1 |
| 44 | Tucson, AZ | $98,303 | $54,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 45 | Colorado Springs, CO | $85,361 | $48,000 | 465,101 | 20 |
| 46 | Chandler, AZ | $99,936 | $55,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 47 | Mesa, AZ | $99,920 | $55,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 48 | New York, NY | $102,474 | $57,000 | 8,537,673 | 53 |
| 49 | Gilbert, AZ | $99,860 | $55,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $90,773 | $51,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for mental health nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. mental health nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $117,376 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $106,953 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $105,797 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $104,812 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $104,554 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $103,416 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $100,419 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $99,655 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $95,953 |
| 10 | Lansing, MI | $95,856 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $95,265 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $90,641 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $88,918 |
| 14 | Richmond, VA | $88,606 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $85,910 |
| 16 | Fort Collins, CO | $85,659 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $83,622 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $77,512 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $77,502 |
| 20 | Clearwater, FL | $76,305 |
Mental health nurse best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025