Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a private duty nurse
Quoted expert
Sylvia Mayer
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like private duty nurses are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for private duty nurses aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for private duty nurses -- where there are plenty of private duty nurse jobs to go around and private duty nurses get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for private duty nurses. Massachusetts is the best state for private duty nurses, where the median salary is $79,308.We found that the South is best for private duty nurses, and the Northeast is the worst. Springfield, MA is the best city in the country for private duty nurse jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for private duty nurses in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total private duty nurse jobs: 2,476 Average annual salary: $79,308 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
2. Maine
Total private duty nurse jobs: 358 Average annual salary: $75,607 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Pennsylvania
Total private duty nurse jobs: 2,997 Average annual salary: $60,543 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. Michigan
Total private duty nurse jobs: 1,743 Average annual salary: $62,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
5. Rhode Island
Total private duty nurse jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $89,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
6. Connecticut
Total private duty nurse jobs: 677 Average annual salary: $67,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
7. New York
Total private duty nurse jobs: 2,211 Average annual salary: $74,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. New Jersey
Total private duty nurse jobs: 1,343 Average annual salary: $74,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. California
Total private duty nurse jobs: 4,507 Average annual salary: $77,259 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
10. New Hampshire
Total private duty nurse jobs: 394 Average annual salary: $59,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
Private duty nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a private duty nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a private duty nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $79,308 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,476 |
| 2 | Maine | $75,607 | $56,000 | 1,335,907 | 358 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $60,543 | $44,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,997 |
| 4 | Michigan | $62,466 | $46,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,743 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $89,026 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 161 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $67,355 | $49,000 | 3,588,184 | 677 |
| 7 | New York | $74,586 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,211 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $74,019 | $54,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,343 |
| 9 | California | $77,259 | $57,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,507 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $59,309 | $43,000 | 1,342,795 | 394 |
| 11 | Washington | $67,392 | $51,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,175 |
| 12 | Nevada | $64,981 | $48,000 | 2,998,039 | 327 |
| 13 | Oregon | $67,767 | $51,000 | 4,142,776 | 503 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $58,657 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,170 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $54,367 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 841 |
| 16 | Delaware | $59,685 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 213 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $53,445 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,353 |
| 18 | Arizona | $59,409 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 937 |
| 19 | Vermont | $56,092 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 180 |
| 20 | Alaska | $64,404 | $56,000 | 739,795 | 109 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $70,655 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 115 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $71,662 | $63,000 | 1,427,538 | 88 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $56,088 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 101 |
| 24 | Ohio | $53,026 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,113 |
| 25 | Indiana | $52,080 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,559 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $56,134 | $41,000 | 3,930,864 | 502 |
| 27 | Illinois | $57,218 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,069 |
| 28 | Maryland | $57,883 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,231 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $53,496 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,736 |
| 30 | Colorado | $60,258 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 592 |
| 31 | Idaho | $56,551 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 213 |
| 32 | Kansas | $51,737 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 582 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $54,512 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 743 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $47,909 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 444 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $51,369 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 168 |
| 36 | Montana | $50,799 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 268 |
| 37 | Virginia | $56,847 | $41,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,433 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $48,059 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 256 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $50,002 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 431 |
| 40 | Georgia | $50,897 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,010 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $50,630 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 414 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,297 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 642 |
| 43 | Texas | $51,295 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,269 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $48,226 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 399 |
| 45 | Alabama | $49,410 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 694 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $49,916 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 639 |
| 47 | Florida | $43,020 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,587 |
| 48 | Missouri | $44,897 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,181 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $43,263 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 675 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $46,697 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 384 |
| 51 | Utah | $47,686 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 178 |
Highest paying states for private duty nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Private Duty Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $79,308 |
| 2 | Maine | $75,607 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $60,543 |
| 4 | Michigan | $62,466 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $89,026 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $67,355 |
| 7 | New York | $74,586 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $74,019 |
| 9 | California | $77,259 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $59,309 |
| 11 | Washington | $67,392 |
| 12 | Nevada | $64,981 |
| 13 | Oregon | $67,767 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $58,657 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $54,367 |
| 16 | Delaware | $59,685 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $53,445 |
| 18 | Arizona | $59,409 |
| 19 | Vermont | $56,092 |
| 20 | Alaska | $64,404 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $70,655 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $71,662 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $56,088 |
| 24 | Ohio | $53,026 |
| 25 | Indiana | $52,080 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $56,134 |
| 27 | Illinois | $57,218 |
| 28 | Maryland | $57,883 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $53,496 |
| 30 | Colorado | $60,258 |
| 31 | Idaho | $56,551 |
| 32 | Kansas | $51,737 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $54,512 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $47,909 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $51,369 |
| 36 | Montana | $50,799 |
| 37 | Virginia | $56,847 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $48,059 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $50,002 |
| 40 | Georgia | $50,897 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $50,630 |
| 42 | Iowa | $49,297 |
| 43 | Texas | $51,295 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $48,226 |
| 45 | Alabama | $49,410 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $49,916 |
| 47 | Florida | $43,020 |
| 48 | Missouri | $44,897 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $43,263 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $46,697 |
| 51 | Utah | $47,686 |
Expert opinions on the best states for private duty nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for private duty nurses to find work opportunities?
Sylvia Mayer
Associate Professor, Director of Admissions & Progressions for Nursing, Southern Adventist University
-Yes, they are still hiring new graduates. More nurses are needed! Though still employed, nurses may be unable to work a regular schedule due to family needs or illness, children at home doing online school, or personal health issues. All of this is also the frequent need for a pipeline of nurses entering the workforce.
-Residency or orientation programs are robust and needed now more than ever. Employers are not fast-tracking new nurses without the right orientation.
-Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are seeking ways to support exhausted or fatigued nurses and employees. Creative self-care strategies include flexible schedules, mental health support resources, cross-training nurses to float and relieve nurses in the high-stress area, giving career-ladder credit for swimming, and other new Covid-19 related requirements.
Private duty nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for private duty nurse jobs
Updated January 8, 2025