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Best states for a neonatal nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for neonatal nurses in the United States. Neonatal nurse positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for neonatal nurses.Our research found that Washington is the best state for neonatal nurses, while Washington and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $93,014 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for neonatal nurses.
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 neonatal nurses.We found that the Midwest is best for neonatal nurses, and the Northeast is the worst. Berkeley, CA is the best city in the country for neonatal nurse jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for neonatal nurses in 2025
1. Washington
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 3,001 Average annual salary: $93,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
2. Delaware
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 497 Average annual salary: $88,271 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Pennsylvania
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 4,154 Average annual salary: $90,224 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
4. Massachusetts
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 3,404 Average annual salary: $81,961 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
5. Ohio
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 3,099 Average annual salary: $81,915 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
6. Wyoming
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 240 Average annual salary: $73,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
7. West Virginia
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 530 Average annual salary: $75,884 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. District of Columbia
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 368 Average annual salary: $101,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
9. Alaska
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 292 Average annual salary: $86,636 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
10. Maryland
Total neonatal nurse jobs: 1,918 Average annual salary: $85,303 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
Neonatal nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a neonatal nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a neonatal nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $93,014 | $55,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,001 |
| 2 | Delaware | $88,271 | $49,000 | 961,939 | 497 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $90,224 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,154 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $81,961 | $45,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,404 |
| 5 | Ohio | $81,915 | $46,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,099 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $73,775 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 240 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $75,884 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 530 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $101,174 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 368 |
| 9 | Alaska | $86,636 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 292 |
| 10 | Maryland | $85,303 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,918 |
| 11 | Oregon | $82,914 | $48,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,142 |
| 12 | Nevada | $80,541 | $46,000 | 2,998,039 | 571 |
| 13 | New York | $83,553 | $46,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,788 |
| 14 | California | $90,871 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,459 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $85,509 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,948 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $77,349 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,179 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $70,202 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,272 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $81,305 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 314 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $74,970 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,689 |
| 20 | Michigan | $76,510 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,157 |
| 21 | Idaho | $74,576 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 479 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $71,159 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,162 |
| 23 | Georgia | $73,965 | $40,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,185 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $69,428 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 693 |
| 25 | Arizona | $71,009 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,243 |
| 26 | Vermont | $68,370 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 304 |
| 27 | Colorado | $71,387 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,127 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $67,792 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,928 |
| 29 | Florida | $66,368 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 8,833 |
| 30 | Texas | $67,629 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,130 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $60,545 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 538 |
| 32 | Montana | $63,867 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 516 |
| 33 | Illinois | $72,693 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,253 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $72,416 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,517 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $68,400 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,735 |
| 36 | Kansas | $68,332 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 853 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $64,222 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 844 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $57,204 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 370 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $63,093 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 684 |
| 40 | Maine | $60,831 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 525 |
| 41 | Virginia | $64,832 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,914 |
| 42 | Alabama | $61,719 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,301 |
| 43 | Indiana | $58,984 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,247 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $62,127 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 575 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,290 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,005 |
| 46 | Missouri | $61,938 | $36,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,610 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $60,628 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 573 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $57,058 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 154 |
| 49 | Utah | $62,525 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 415 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,184 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,163 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $54,074 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,375 |
Highest paying states for neonatal nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Neonatal Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $93,014 |
| 2 | Delaware | $88,271 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $90,224 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $81,961 |
| 5 | Ohio | $81,915 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $73,775 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $75,884 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $101,174 |
| 9 | Alaska | $86,636 |
| 10 | Maryland | $85,303 |
| 11 | Oregon | $82,914 |
| 12 | Nevada | $80,541 |
| 13 | New York | $83,553 |
| 14 | California | $90,871 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $85,509 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $77,349 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $70,202 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $81,305 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $74,970 |
| 20 | Michigan | $76,510 |
| 21 | Idaho | $74,576 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $71,159 |
| 23 | Georgia | $73,965 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $69,428 |
| 25 | Arizona | $71,009 |
| 26 | Vermont | $68,370 |
| 27 | Colorado | $71,387 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $67,792 |
| 29 | Florida | $66,368 |
| 30 | Texas | $67,629 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $60,545 |
| 32 | Montana | $63,867 |
| 33 | Illinois | $72,693 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $72,416 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $68,400 |
| 36 | Kansas | $68,332 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $64,222 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $57,204 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $63,093 |
| 40 | Maine | $60,831 |
| 41 | Virginia | $64,832 |
| 42 | Alabama | $61,719 |
| 43 | Indiana | $58,984 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $62,127 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $57,290 |
| 46 | Missouri | $61,938 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $60,628 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $57,058 |
| 49 | Utah | $62,525 |
| 50 | Iowa | $52,184 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $54,074 |
Expert opinions on the best states for neonatal nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for neonatal 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.
Neonatal nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025