Best cities for a psychiatric nurse
The best cities for psychiatric nurses are Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and El Paso, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for psychiatric nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for psychiatric nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a psychiatric nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for psychiatric nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for psychiatric nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a psychiatric nurse. While the absolute best city for psychiatric nurses is Sacramento, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for psychiatric nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a psychiatric nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for psychiatric nurses in 2025
1. Sacramento, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $99,902 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location quotient: 1.86 2. San Diego, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $96,581 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 3.51 3. El Paso, TX
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $79,161 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 1.70 4. Stockton, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $100,291 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $97,817 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.23 6. Fresno, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $99,266 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Bakersfield, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $98,951 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Francisco, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $102,084 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Oakland, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $101,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Long Beach, CA
Total psychiatric nurse jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $97,523 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for psychiatric nurses
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Stockton, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- (4 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (22 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (1 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (2 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
- (0 psychiatric nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a psychiatric nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $99,902 | $62,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $96,581 | $62,000 | 1,406,630 | 22 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $79,161 | $50,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 4 | Stockton, CA | $100,291 | $62,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $97,817 | $62,000 | 3,976,322 | 2 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $99,266 | $62,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $98,951 | $62,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $102,084 | $63,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $101,775 | $63,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $97,523 | $62,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $101,604 | $63,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 12 | Anaheim, CA | $97,371 | $62,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $101,587 | $63,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $97,296 | $62,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 15 | Irvine, CA | $97,198 | $62,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $97,055 | $62,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $77,638 | $48,000 | 1,492,510 | 1 |
| 18 | Chula Vista, CA | $96,520 | $62,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $71,221 | $46,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 20 | Irving, TX | $75,357 | $48,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 21 | Laredo, TX | $78,026 | $48,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 22 | Corpus Christi, TX | $77,626 | $48,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $77,046 | $48,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $76,618 | $48,000 | 2,303,482 | 1 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $75,345 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 26 | New York, NY | $80,407 | $49,000 | 8,537,673 | 60 |
| 27 | Fort Worth, TX | $75,555 | $49,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $84,323 | $50,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 29 | Anchorage, AK | $83,994 | $59,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 30 | Portland, OR | $77,257 | $49,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 31 | Arlington, TX | $75,495 | $49,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 32 | Lubbock, TX | $76,861 | $50,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 33 | Garland, TX | $75,192 | $48,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 34 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $96,566 | $62,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 35 | Plano, TX | $75,149 | $48,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 36 | Phoenix, AZ | $69,595 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 14 |
| 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,332 | $42,000 | 303,625 | 39 |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,594 | $42,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $76,977 | $48,000 | 256,902 | 10 |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $63,869 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 41 | Mesa, AZ | $69,534 | $44,000 | 484,587 | 1 |
| 42 | Cincinnati, OH | $62,962 | $41,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 43 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,236 | $52,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 44 | Newark, NJ | $85,179 | $52,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 45 | Reno, NV | $72,394 | $46,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 46 | Henderson, NV | $71,223 | $46,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 47 | Brookhaven, NY | $80,859 | $49,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $69,465 | $44,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $71,101 | $46,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | Islip, NY | $80,757 | $49,000 | 335,543 | - |
Highest paying cities for psychiatric nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. psychiatric nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $101,755 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $85,179 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $84,323 |
| 4 | Brentwood, NY | $80,732 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $77,257 |
| 6 | Irving, TX | $75,357 |
| 7 | Sparks, NV | $72,326 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $69,595 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,594 |
| 10 | Lakewood, WA | $67,334 |
| 11 | Danville, VA | $66,959 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $66,954 |
| 13 | Warren, OH | $65,173 |
| 14 | Aurora, CO | $61,216 |
| 15 | Chattanooga, TN | $56,765 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $56,081 |
Psychiatric nurse best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025