Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for nurses? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for nurse jobs.We wanted to look at the best states for nurses -- where there are plenty of nurse jobs to go around and nurses get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Massachusetts is the best state for jobs for nurses, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Massachusetts is $73,241, while the median pay in Alabama is $39,638.Massachusetts is the best state, and Eureka is the city with the highest pay for nurses.
10 best states for nurses in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total nurse jobs: 8,616 Average annual salary: $73,241 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
2. New York
Total nurse jobs: 12,341 Average annual salary: $73,583 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
3. Alaska
Total nurse jobs: 866 Average annual salary: $74,932 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Maine
Total nurse jobs: 1,797 Average annual salary: $62,731 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
5. Pennsylvania
Total nurse jobs: 12,859 Average annual salary: $61,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Washington
Total nurse jobs: 6,724 Average annual salary: $70,448 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Connecticut
Total nurse jobs: 2,996 Average annual salary: $68,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Oregon
Total nurse jobs: 3,039 Average annual salary: $75,028 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
9. California
Total nurse jobs: 17,184 Average annual salary: $78,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
10. Arizona
Total nurse jobs: 4,701 Average annual salary: $66,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $73,241 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 8,616 |
| 2 | New York | $73,583 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 12,341 |
| 3 | Alaska | $74,932 | $64,000 | 739,795 | 866 |
| 4 | Maine | $62,731 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,797 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $61,525 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 12,859 |
| 6 | Washington | $70,448 | $50,000 | 7,405,743 | 6,724 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $68,129 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,996 |
| 8 | Oregon | $75,028 | $52,000 | 4,142,776 | 3,039 |
| 9 | California | $78,160 | $50,000 | 39,536,653 | 17,184 |
| 10 | Arizona | $66,219 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,701 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $60,307 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,983 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $66,332 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 761 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $64,932 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 6,399 |
| 14 | Nevada | $62,108 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,671 |
| 15 | Michigan | $58,818 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 6,738 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $72,133 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 441 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $51,713 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 1,094 |
| 18 | Maryland | $63,436 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 5,201 |
| 19 | Vermont | $54,733 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 871 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,847 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 696 |
| 21 | Ohio | $53,012 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 10,215 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $57,866 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 4,158 |
| 23 | Texas | $53,140 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 20,437 |
| 24 | Virginia | $61,496 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 7,045 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $51,740 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,517 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $57,897 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 4,511 |
| 27 | Montana | $51,981 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 1,215 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,589 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 8,157 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $50,186 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,254 |
| 30 | Colorado | $56,929 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 4,671 |
| 31 | Florida | $49,399 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 21,485 |
| 32 | Georgia | $52,248 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 9,099 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $47,147 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 3,742 |
| 34 | Delaware | $52,021 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 1,091 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $48,863 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 3,224 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $48,810 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 9,185 |
| 37 | Idaho | $52,316 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,187 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $50,531 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 489 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $45,775 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 1,199 |
| 40 | Indiana | $45,404 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 6,756 |
| 41 | Utah | $52,184 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,067 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $45,934 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,970 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $45,705 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 4,455 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $42,117 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,742 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,725 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 6,855 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $47,114 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,822 |
| 47 | Kansas | $45,216 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,660 |
| 48 | Iowa | $44,959 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 3,147 |
| 49 | Missouri | $45,450 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 4,805 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,360 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 2,020 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,638 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 3,036 |
Highest paying states for nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $73,241 |
| 2 | New York | $73,583 |
| 3 | Alaska | $74,932 |
| 4 | Maine | $62,731 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $61,525 |
| 6 | Washington | $70,448 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $68,129 |
| 8 | Oregon | $75,028 |
| 9 | California | $78,160 |
| 10 | Arizona | $66,219 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $60,307 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $66,332 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $64,932 |
| 14 | Nevada | $62,108 |
| 15 | Michigan | $58,818 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $72,133 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $51,713 |
| 18 | Maryland | $63,436 |
| 19 | Vermont | $54,733 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,847 |
| 21 | Ohio | $53,012 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $57,866 |
| 23 | Texas | $53,140 |
| 24 | Virginia | $61,496 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $51,740 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $57,897 |
| 27 | Montana | $51,981 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,589 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $50,186 |
| 30 | Colorado | $56,929 |
| 31 | Florida | $49,399 |
| 32 | Georgia | $52,248 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $47,147 |
| 34 | Delaware | $52,021 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $48,863 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $48,810 |
| 37 | Idaho | $52,316 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $50,531 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $45,775 |
| 40 | Indiana | $45,404 |
| 41 | Utah | $52,184 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $45,934 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $45,705 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $42,117 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,725 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $47,114 |
| 47 | Kansas | $45,216 |
| 48 | Iowa | $44,959 |
| 49 | Missouri | $45,450 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,360 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,638 |
Expert opinions on the best states for nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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.
Nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for nurse jobs
Updated January 8, 2025