Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a public health nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Public health nurse opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for public health nurses, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for public health nurses.As public health nurses are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for public health nurses. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a public health nurse, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for public health nurse jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the Midwest is best for public health nurses, and the Northeast is the worst. San Mateo, CA is the best city in the country for public health nurse jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for public health nurses in 2025
1. Alaska
Total public health nurse jobs: 616 Average annual salary: $84,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
2. Vermont
Total public health nurse jobs: 702 Average annual salary: $70,757 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
3. Massachusetts
Total public health nurse jobs: 7,478 Average annual salary: $72,203 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
4. New York
Total public health nurse jobs: 8,707 Average annual salary: $78,153 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. New Hampshire
Total public health nurse jobs: 1,481 Average annual salary: $67,337 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
6. Delaware
Total public health nurse jobs: 905 Average annual salary: $71,626 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Rhode Island
Total public health nurse jobs: 671 Average annual salary: $89,223 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
8. Washington
Total public health nurse jobs: 4,836 Average annual salary: $74,644 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Hawaii
Total public health nurse jobs: 410 Average annual salary: $95,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
10. California
Total public health nurse jobs: 14,729 Average annual salary: $92,029 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
Public health nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a public health nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a public health nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $84,738 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 616 |
| 2 | Vermont | $70,757 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 702 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $72,203 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 7,478 |
| 4 | New York | $78,153 | $51,000 | 19,849,399 | 8,707 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $67,337 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,481 |
| 6 | Delaware | $71,626 | $47,000 | 961,939 | 905 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $89,223 | $59,000 | 1,059,639 | 671 |
| 8 | Washington | $74,644 | $47,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,836 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $95,738 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 410 |
| 10 | California | $92,029 | $57,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,729 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $63,927 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 9,494 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $59,511 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,258 |
| 13 | Oregon | $73,455 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,289 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $70,868 | $47,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,162 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $73,638 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,394 |
| 16 | Texas | $60,891 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 15,555 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $62,062 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 422 |
| 18 | Idaho | $67,159 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 986 |
| 19 | Maine | $57,121 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,276 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $57,126 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,917 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $76,660 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 680 |
| 22 | Maryland | $67,198 | $44,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,322 |
| 23 | Nevada | $63,705 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,351 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $56,885 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,654 |
| 25 | Arizona | $60,801 | $39,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,847 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $62,062 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 4,036 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $58,187 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,450 |
| 28 | Montana | $56,676 | $39,000 | 1,050,493 | 876 |
| 29 | Iowa | $56,858 | $39,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,467 |
| 30 | Michigan | $55,354 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 5,623 |
| 31 | Ohio | $52,663 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 8,589 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $52,354 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 801 |
| 33 | Florida | $52,714 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 15,288 |
| 34 | Virginia | $58,264 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,975 |
| 35 | Colorado | $58,727 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,606 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $52,075 | $35,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,493 |
| 37 | Utah | $57,251 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,008 |
| 38 | Kansas | $51,414 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,090 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $49,636 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,031 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $50,469 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,544 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $47,363 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 5,029 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $46,537 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 1,008 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $51,234 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 3,064 |
| 44 | Indiana | $46,889 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,832 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $49,227 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 6,952 |
| 46 | Illinois | $55,105 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,159 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $49,693 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,398 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $42,456 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,426 |
| 49 | Georgia | $49,696 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 6,421 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,230 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,786 |
| 51 | Alabama | $44,929 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,530 |
Highest paying states for public health nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Public Health Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $84,738 |
| 2 | Vermont | $70,757 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $72,203 |
| 4 | New York | $78,153 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $67,337 |
| 6 | Delaware | $71,626 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $89,223 |
| 8 | Washington | $74,644 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $95,738 |
| 10 | California | $92,029 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $63,927 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $59,511 |
| 13 | Oregon | $73,455 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $70,868 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $73,638 |
| 16 | Texas | $60,891 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $62,062 |
| 18 | Idaho | $67,159 |
| 19 | Maine | $57,121 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $57,126 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $76,660 |
| 22 | Maryland | $67,198 |
| 23 | Nevada | $63,705 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $56,885 |
| 25 | Arizona | $60,801 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $62,062 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $58,187 |
| 28 | Montana | $56,676 |
| 29 | Iowa | $56,858 |
| 30 | Michigan | $55,354 |
| 31 | Ohio | $52,663 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $52,354 |
| 33 | Florida | $52,714 |
| 34 | Virginia | $58,264 |
| 35 | Colorado | $58,727 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $52,075 |
| 37 | Utah | $57,251 |
| 38 | Kansas | $51,414 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $49,636 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $50,469 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $47,363 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $46,537 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $51,234 |
| 44 | Indiana | $46,889 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $49,227 |
| 46 | Illinois | $55,105 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $49,693 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $42,456 |
| 49 | Georgia | $49,696 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,230 |
| 51 | Alabama | $44,929 |
Expert opinions on the best states for public health nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for public health 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.
Public health nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for public health nurse jobs
Updated January 8, 2025