Best cities for a nurse
The best cities for nurses are Anchorage, AK, Gilbert, AZ, and Stockton, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a nurse. While the absolute best city for nurses is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for nurses in 2026
1. Anchorage, AK
Nurse jobs in AnchorageTotal nurse jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $74,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.91 2. Gilbert, AZ
Nurse jobs in GilbertTotal nurse jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $66,243 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 1.00 3. Stockton, CA
Nurse jobs in StocktonTotal nurse jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $80,068 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.75 4. Hempstead, NY
Nurse jobs in HempsteadTotal nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $73,826 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 1.45 5. Sacramento, CA
Nurse jobs in SacramentoTotal nurse jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $80,109 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 0.66 6. Riverside, CA
Nurse jobs in RiversideTotal nurse jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $76,747 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location quotient: 1.74 7. Portland, OR
Nurse jobs in PortlandTotal nurse jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $75,010 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.47 8. Fresno, CA
Nurse jobs in FresnoTotal nurse jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $78,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 0.86 9. Phoenix, AZ
Nurse jobs in PhoenixTotal nurse jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $66,368 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 0.55 10. Tucson, AZ
Nurse jobs in TucsonTotal nurse jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $65,933 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 0.73
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Best cities for nurses
- Anchorage, AK
- Gilbert, AZ
- Stockton, CA
- Hempstead, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Portland, OR
- Fresno, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $74,960 | $64,000 | 298,192 | 19 |
| 2 | Gilbert, AZ | $66,243 | $42,000 | 237,133 | 10 |
| 3 | Stockton, CA | $80,068 | $52,000 | 307,072 | 11 |
| 4 | Hempstead, NY | $73,826 | $44,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $80,109 | $52,000 | 495,234 | 57 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $76,747 | $49,000 | 324,722 | 43 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $75,010 | $52,000 | 639,863 | 66 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $78,992 | $51,000 | 522,053 | 20 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,368 | $42,000 | 1,615,017 | 143 |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | $65,933 | $41,000 | 530,706 | 34 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,731 | $40,000 | 632,912 | 137 |
| 12 | Mesa, AZ | $66,223 | $42,000 | 484,587 | 9 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $61,659 | $40,000 | 292,969 | 10 |
| 14 | North Las Vegas, NV | $61,624 | $40,000 | 238,702 | 4 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $73,301 | $44,000 | 673,184 | 109 |
| 16 | Chandler, AZ | $66,284 | $42,000 | 247,477 | 16 |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $53,367 | $34,000 | 278,508 | 19 |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $80,834 | $52,000 | 420,005 | 14 |
| 19 | Bakersfield, CA | $78,366 | $50,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $54,154 | $34,000 | 385,809 | 50 |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | $61,935 | $37,000 | 452,602 | 22 |
| 22 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $72,203 | $47,000 | 351,792 | 57 |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $77,005 | $49,000 | 351,043 | 9 |
| 24 | Lexington, KY | $48,900 | $30,000 | 318,449 | 44 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,403 | $49,000 | 3,976,322 | 140 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,161 | $37,000 | 1,567,872 | 67 |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $64,278 | $42,000 | 245,255 | 10 |
| 28 | Norfolk, VA | $61,723 | $37,000 | 245,115 | 21 |
| 29 | Glendale, AZ | $66,412 | $42,000 | 245,895 | 3 |
| 30 | Albuquerque, NM | $50,256 | $32,000 | 559,277 | 122 |
| 31 | Aurora, CO | $56,844 | $38,000 | 361,710 | 71 |
| 32 | El Paso, TX | $55,871 | $35,000 | 683,080 | 14 |
| 33 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,950 | $29,000 | 264,488 | 38 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $66,257 | $42,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 35 | Corpus Christi, TX | $53,844 | $32,000 | 325,733 | 6 |
| 36 | Colorado Springs, CO | $56,814 | $38,000 | 465,101 | 71 |
| 37 | Garland, TX | $52,370 | $33,000 | 234,943 | 5 |
| 38 | Irvine, CA | $76,839 | $49,000 | 266,122 | 32 |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $71,175 | $44,000 | 256,902 | 14 |
| 40 | San Francisco, CA | $81,015 | $52,000 | 870,887 | 36 |
| 41 | Newark, NJ | $65,106 | $39,000 | 281,764 | 18 |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $52,617 | $33,000 | 860,090 | 63 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $52,475 | $33,000 | 392,772 | 9 |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,684 | $30,000 | 242,203 | 14 |
| 45 | Seattle, WA | $70,962 | $51,000 | 704,352 | 74 |
| 46 | San Jose, CA | $80,561 | $51,000 | 1,025,350 | 27 |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $77,132 | $49,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $63,768 | $38,000 | 614,664 | 56 |
| 49 | San Antonio, TX | $53,678 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | 49 |
| 50 | Santa Ana, CA | $76,931 | $49,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $81,015 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $75,010 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $73,670 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $73,301 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $72,203 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $70,962 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $69,860 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $66,368 |
| 9 | Providence, RI | $66,326 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $63,768 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $63,191 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,161 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,731 |
| 14 | Grand Rapids, MI | $58,319 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $57,691 |
| 16 | Austin, MN | $57,297 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $56,875 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $53,678 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $52,617 |
| 20 | Columbus, GA | $52,250 |
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Updated January 8, 2025