Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a pediatric 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 pediatric 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 pediatric nurse jobs.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for pediatric nurse jobs.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for pediatric nurses. Washington is the best state for pediatric nurses, where the median salary is $86,565.We found that Washington is the best state for pediatric nurse jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.
10 best states for pediatric nurses in 2025
1. Washington
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 4,763 Average annual salary: $86,565 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
2. New York
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 6,810 Average annual salary: $93,153 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
3. California
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 12,303 Average annual salary: $109,841 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
4. Oregon
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 1,963 Average annual salary: $87,932 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
5. Louisiana
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 2,311 Average annual salary: $72,654 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
6. Nevada
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 988 Average annual salary: $84,378 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. Florida
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 16,090 Average annual salary: $73,358 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
8. Pennsylvania
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 7,329 Average annual salary: $74,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
9. Ohio
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 5,923 Average annual salary: $74,094 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
10. Illinois
Total pediatric nurse jobs: 5,723 Average annual salary: $81,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
Pediatric nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a pediatric nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a pediatric nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $86,565 | $52,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,763 |
| 2 | New York | $93,153 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 6,810 |
| 3 | California | $109,841 | $66,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,303 |
| 4 | Oregon | $87,932 | $52,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,963 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $72,654 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,311 |
| 6 | Nevada | $84,378 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 988 |
| 7 | Florida | $73,358 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 16,090 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $74,588 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 7,329 |
| 9 | Ohio | $74,094 | $42,000 | 11,658,609 | 5,923 |
| 10 | Illinois | $81,727 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 5,723 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $86,238 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,366 |
| 12 | Delaware | $74,049 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 836 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $74,968 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 4,747 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $71,668 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,920 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $68,871 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,512 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $67,359 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 367 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $79,439 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 445 |
| 18 | Kansas | $69,091 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,643 |
| 19 | Texas | $68,636 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 12,960 |
| 20 | Montana | $66,494 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 791 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $88,276 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 484 |
| 22 | Alaska | $72,707 | $60,000 | 739,795 | 542 |
| 23 | Arizona | $68,499 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,448 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $70,966 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,194 |
| 25 | Idaho | $70,645 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 779 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $66,699 | $39,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,528 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $70,456 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 5,565 |
| 28 | Michigan | $68,331 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,644 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $66,995 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,855 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $68,165 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,002 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $84,975 | $65,000 | 1,427,538 | 305 |
| 32 | Alabama | $67,090 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,213 |
| 33 | Missouri | $67,414 | $41,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,785 |
| 34 | Maryland | $72,303 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,277 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $58,902 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,083 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $58,280 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 623 |
| 37 | Colorado | $65,487 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,421 |
| 38 | Indiana | $60,118 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,271 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $66,966 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,508 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $56,166 | $37,000 | 869,666 | 837 |
| 41 | Georgia | $62,085 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 6,265 |
| 42 | Virginia | $66,670 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,958 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $60,425 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,800 |
| 44 | Utah | $64,388 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 681 |
| 45 | Vermont | $47,281 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 557 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $50,746 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,131 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $60,677 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,105 |
| 48 | Maine | $43,750 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 924 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $59,295 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,376 |
| 50 | Iowa | $54,245 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,160 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $60,674 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 994 |
Highest paying states for pediatric nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Pediatric Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $86,565 |
| 2 | New York | $93,153 |
| 3 | California | $109,841 |
| 4 | Oregon | $87,932 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $72,654 |
| 6 | Nevada | $84,378 |
| 7 | Florida | $73,358 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $74,588 |
| 9 | Ohio | $74,094 |
| 10 | Illinois | $81,727 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $86,238 |
| 12 | Delaware | $74,049 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $74,968 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $71,668 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $68,871 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $67,359 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $79,439 |
| 18 | Kansas | $69,091 |
| 19 | Texas | $68,636 |
| 20 | Montana | $66,494 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $88,276 |
| 22 | Alaska | $72,707 |
| 23 | Arizona | $68,499 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $70,966 |
| 25 | Idaho | $70,645 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $66,699 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $70,456 |
| 28 | Michigan | $68,331 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $66,995 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $68,165 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $84,975 |
| 32 | Alabama | $67,090 |
| 33 | Missouri | $67,414 |
| 34 | Maryland | $72,303 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $58,902 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $58,280 |
| 37 | Colorado | $65,487 |
| 38 | Indiana | $60,118 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $66,966 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $56,166 |
| 41 | Georgia | $62,085 |
| 42 | Virginia | $66,670 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $60,425 |
| 44 | Utah | $64,388 |
| 45 | Vermont | $47,281 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $50,746 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $60,677 |
| 48 | Maine | $43,750 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $59,295 |
| 50 | Iowa | $54,245 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $60,674 |
Expert opinions on the best states for pediatric nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pediatric 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.
Pediatric nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for pediatric nurse jobs
Updated January 8, 2025