Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a nurse manager
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like nurse managers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for nurse managers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that Washington is the best state for nurse managers, while Nevada and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $95,461 and Nevada has the highest median salary among all 50 states for nurse managers.
Washington is the best state for jobs for nurse managers, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $95,461, while the median pay in Alabama is $62,027.We found that the South is best for nurse managers, and the West is the worst. Las Vegas, NV is the best city in the country for nurse manager jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for nurse managers in 2025
1. Washington
Total nurse manager jobs: 3,105 Average annual salary: $95,461 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. Delaware
Total nurse manager jobs: 541 Average annual salary: $90,287 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Rhode Island
Total nurse manager jobs: 412 Average annual salary: $94,451 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
4. Nevada
Total nurse manager jobs: 637 Average annual salary: $105,315 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
5. Wyoming
Total nurse manager jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $88,646 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. Wisconsin
Total nurse manager jobs: 1,878 Average annual salary: $90,018 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
7. Pennsylvania
Total nurse manager jobs: 4,499 Average annual salary: $85,782 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. Vermont
Total nurse manager jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $84,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
9. Michigan
Total nurse manager jobs: 3,185 Average annual salary: $81,401 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
10. Connecticut
Total nurse manager jobs: 1,295 Average annual salary: $87,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Nurse manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a nurse manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a nurse manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $95,461 | $66,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,105 |
| 2 | Delaware | $90,287 | $65,000 | 961,939 | 541 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $94,451 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 412 |
| 4 | Nevada | $105,315 | $73,000 | 2,998,039 | 637 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $88,646 | $62,000 | 579,315 | 220 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $90,018 | $63,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,878 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $85,782 | $61,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,499 |
| 8 | Vermont | $84,529 | $62,000 | 623,657 | 314 |
| 9 | Michigan | $81,401 | $57,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,185 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $87,323 | $63,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,295 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $80,557 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 915 |
| 12 | New York | $90,354 | $65,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,733 |
| 13 | Idaho | $84,085 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 608 |
| 14 | Indiana | $78,553 | $56,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,380 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $88,746 | $62,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,931 |
| 16 | Montana | $80,775 | $55,000 | 1,050,493 | 502 |
| 17 | California | $97,122 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,430 |
| 18 | Oregon | $88,849 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,282 |
| 19 | Arizona | $83,128 | $58,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,137 |
| 20 | Maryland | $83,136 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,493 |
| 21 | Ohio | $80,812 | $57,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,392 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $76,558 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 378 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $77,856 | $56,000 | 6,715,984 | 2,099 |
| 24 | Alaska | $76,427 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 376 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $90,178 | $65,000 | 693,972 | 392 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $76,106 | $54,000 | 1,815,857 | 569 |
| 27 | Virginia | $81,327 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,343 |
| 28 | Texas | $76,494 | $53,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,906 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $78,743 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,189 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $71,907 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 553 |
| 31 | Colorado | $78,543 | $55,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,303 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $76,211 | $55,000 | 1,342,795 | 680 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $75,539 | $55,000 | 6,859,819 | 4,450 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $72,207 | $52,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,052 |
| 35 | Maine | $70,974 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 772 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $80,563 | $58,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,299 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $73,435 | $51,000 | 2,984,100 | 818 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $87,187 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 195 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $68,175 | $47,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,668 |
| 40 | Utah | $77,030 | $53,000 | 3,101,833 | 486 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $69,655 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,391 |
| 42 | Kansas | $70,227 | $50,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,134 |
| 43 | Florida | $66,940 | $46,000 | 20,984,400 | 9,608 |
| 44 | Illinois | $73,315 | $52,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,030 |
| 45 | Georgia | $67,590 | $48,000 | 10,429,379 | 4,042 |
| 46 | Iowa | $66,395 | $47,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,406 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $67,181 | $48,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,059 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $66,604 | $47,000 | 1,920,076 | 671 |
| 49 | Missouri | $66,006 | $47,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,975 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $65,180 | $47,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,464 |
| 51 | Alabama | $62,027 | $44,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,444 |
Highest paying states for nurse managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Nurse Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $95,461 |
| 2 | Delaware | $90,287 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $94,451 |
| 4 | Nevada | $105,315 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $88,646 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $90,018 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $85,782 |
| 8 | Vermont | $84,529 |
| 9 | Michigan | $81,401 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $87,323 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $80,557 |
| 12 | New York | $90,354 |
| 13 | Idaho | $84,085 |
| 14 | Indiana | $78,553 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $88,746 |
| 16 | Montana | $80,775 |
| 17 | California | $97,122 |
| 18 | Oregon | $88,849 |
| 19 | Arizona | $83,128 |
| 20 | Maryland | $83,136 |
| 21 | Ohio | $80,812 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $76,558 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $77,856 |
| 24 | Alaska | $76,427 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $90,178 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $76,106 |
| 27 | Virginia | $81,327 |
| 28 | Texas | $76,494 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $78,743 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $71,907 |
| 31 | Colorado | $78,543 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $76,211 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $75,539 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $72,207 |
| 35 | Maine | $70,974 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $80,563 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $73,435 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $87,187 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $68,175 |
| 40 | Utah | $77,030 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $69,655 |
| 42 | Kansas | $70,227 |
| 43 | Florida | $66,940 |
| 44 | Illinois | $73,315 |
| 45 | Georgia | $67,590 |
| 46 | Iowa | $66,395 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $67,181 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $66,604 |
| 49 | Missouri | $66,006 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $65,180 |
| 51 | Alabama | $62,027 |
Expert opinions on the best states for nurse managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for nurse managers 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 manager best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for nurse manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025