Best cities for a practical nurse
The best cities for practical nurses are Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and Glendale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for practical nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for practical nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a practical nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for practical nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for practical nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a practical nurse. While the absolute best city for practical nurses is Henderson, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for practical nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a practical nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for practical nurses in 2026
1. Henderson, NV
Total practical nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $83,744 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 0.60 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total practical nurse jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $84,384 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 0.64 3. Glendale, AZ
Total practical nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $74,431 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 2.43 4. Toledo, OH
Total practical nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $67,911 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 0.75 5. Portland, OR
Total practical nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $80,049 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.39 6. Phoenix, AZ
Total practical nurse jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $74,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 0.48 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total practical nurse jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $72,201 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.33 8. Albuquerque, NM
Total practical nurse jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $69,829 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 2.38 9. El Paso, TX
Total practical nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $70,445 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location quotient: 1.17 10. Fort Wayne, IN
Total practical nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $65,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location quotient: 0.58
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Best cities for practical nurses
- Henderson, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- Glendale, AZ
- Toledo, OH
- Portland, OR
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Albuquerque, NM
- El Paso, TX
- Fort Wayne, IN
- (1 practical nurse jobs)
- (9 practical nurse jobs)
- (4 practical nurse jobs)
- (2 practical nurse jobs)
- (8 practical nurse jobs)
- (18 practical nurse jobs)
- (6 practical nurse jobs)
- (19 practical nurse jobs)
- (4 practical nurse jobs)
- (2 practical nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a practical nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henderson, NV | $83,744 | $49,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $84,384 | $50,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 3 | Glendale, AZ | $74,431 | $44,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $67,911 | $40,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $80,049 | $49,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,363 | $44,000 | 1,615,017 | 18 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,201 | $42,000 | 303,625 | 6 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,829 | $42,000 | 559,277 | 19 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $70,445 | $41,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $65,522 | $38,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $77,305 | $45,000 | 281,764 | 36 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $70,382 | $41,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,838 | $44,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,824 | $38,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $93,660 | $55,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $69,644 | $40,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 17 | North Las Vegas, NV | $84,128 | $49,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 18 | San Francisco, CA | $94,972 | $56,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $78,493 | $48,000 | 704,352 | 11 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $68,745 | $39,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $90,455 | $54,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 22 | Long Beach, CA | $82,518 | $49,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 23 | San Jose, CA | $94,315 | $56,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 24 | Oakland, CA | $94,757 | $56,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $94,473 | $56,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Anchorage, AK | $71,549 | $48,000 | 298,192 | 4 |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $72,457 | $43,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 28 | Stockton, CA | $93,766 | $55,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 29 | Columbus, OH | $67,873 | $39,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $91,908 | $54,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 31 | Scottsdale, AZ | $74,233 | $44,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 32 | Chandler, AZ | $73,819 | $44,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 33 | Fort Worth, TX | $65,865 | $38,000 | 854,113 | 3 |
| 34 | Mesa, AZ | $73,781 | $44,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 35 | Gilbert, AZ | $73,723 | $44,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 36 | Raleigh, NC | $70,978 | $40,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 37 | Madison, WI | $61,616 | $37,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $70,890 | $40,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 39 | Bakersfield, CA | $89,168 | $53,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $77,440 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 45 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $68,582 | $40,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 42 | Houston, TX | $68,386 | $39,000 | 2,303,482 | 9 |
| 43 | New Orleans, LA | $66,447 | $37,000 | 391,495 | 1 |
| 44 | Chula Vista, CA | $78,172 | $47,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 45 | San Antonio, TX | $69,366 | $39,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 46 | Laredo, TX | $70,000 | $40,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 47 | Winston-Salem, NC | $68,962 | $39,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $60,280 | $36,000 | 660,388 | 4 |
| 49 | Jersey City, NJ | $77,364 | $45,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 50 | Boston, MA | $74,984 | $44,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for practical nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. practical nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster, CA | $85,786 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $80,049 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $78,493 |
| 4 | Smithtown, NY | $77,535 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $77,305 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,838 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $76,541 |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | $76,027 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $74,363 |
| 10 | Concord, NH | $72,359 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $71,549 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $70,314 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,829 |
| 14 | Thomasville, NC | $68,934 |
| 15 | Charleston, WV | $68,917 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $68,745 |
| 17 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,824 |
| 18 | Charleston, SC | $64,257 |
| 19 | Knoxville, TN | $62,803 |
| 20 | Lawton, OK | $62,559 |
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Updated January 8, 2025