Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a registered health nurse
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for registered health nurses in the United States. Registered health nurse positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for registered health nurses.Our research found that Washington is the best state for registered health nurses, while Rhode Island and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $90,571 and Rhode Island has the highest median salary among all 50 states for registered health nurses.
Washington is the best state for jobs for registered health nurses, and Iowa is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $90,571, while the median pay in Iowa is $56,186.We found that Washington is the best state for registered health nurse jobs, whereas Iowa is the worst.
10 best states for registered health nurses in 2025
1. Washington
Total registered health nurse jobs: 5,494 Average annual salary: $90,571 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
2. Connecticut
Total registered health nurse jobs: 2,145 Average annual salary: $94,769 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Delaware
Total registered health nurse jobs: 821 Average annual salary: $93,425 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. Massachusetts
Total registered health nurse jobs: 5,604 Average annual salary: $96,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. Alaska
Total registered health nurse jobs: 619 Average annual salary: $87,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Vermont
Total registered health nurse jobs: 614 Average annual salary: $82,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
7. Rhode Island
Total registered health nurse jobs: 552 Average annual salary: $116,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
8. California
Total registered health nurse jobs: 14,056 Average annual salary: $107,050 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
9. New Hampshire
Total registered health nurse jobs: 1,173 Average annual salary: $81,122 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
10. Maine
Total registered health nurse jobs: 1,042 Average annual salary: $75,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
Registered health nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered health nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered health nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,571 | $59,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,494 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $94,769 | $62,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,145 |
| 3 | Delaware | $93,425 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 821 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $96,144 | $63,000 | 6,859,819 | 5,604 |
| 5 | Alaska | $87,323 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 619 |
| 6 | Vermont | $82,555 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 614 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $116,585 | $76,000 | 1,059,639 | 552 |
| 8 | California | $107,050 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 14,056 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $81,122 | $53,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,173 |
| 10 | Maine | $75,957 | $49,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,042 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $93,669 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,513 |
| 12 | Oregon | $92,350 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,788 |
| 13 | Nevada | $84,909 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,016 |
| 14 | New York | $90,785 | $59,000 | 19,849,399 | 6,046 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $99,484 | $66,000 | 1,427,538 | 302 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $70,118 | $47,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,103 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $78,447 | $51,000 | 12,805,537 | 6,339 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $95,021 | $62,000 | 693,972 | 596 |
| 19 | Maryland | $89,367 | $58,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,208 |
| 20 | Arizona | $72,722 | $47,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,960 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $72,570 | $51,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,136 |
| 22 | Michigan | $77,179 | $53,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,632 |
| 23 | Texas | $72,790 | $48,000 | 28,304,596 | 13,097 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $66,754 | $46,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,150 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $70,291 | $50,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,450 |
| 26 | Virginia | $77,657 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,006 |
| 27 | Idaho | $73,677 | $49,000 | 1,716,943 | 854 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $66,754 | $46,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,037 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $66,445 | $46,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,760 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $69,189 | $46,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,539 |
| 31 | Indiana | $67,084 | $47,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,998 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $65,829 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,341 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $72,488 | $53,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,867 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $65,939 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,979 |
| 35 | Florida | $64,093 | $42,000 | 20,984,400 | 13,271 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $62,746 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 645 |
| 37 | Colorado | $67,108 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,908 |
| 38 | Alabama | $65,567 | $45,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,595 |
| 39 | Georgia | $69,581 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 4,835 |
| 40 | Illinois | $71,224 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,431 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $62,974 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,431 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $65,579 | $45,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,203 |
| 43 | Ohio | $63,669 | $44,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,036 |
| 44 | Missouri | $64,018 | $45,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,114 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $57,182 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 743 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $59,323 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 383 |
| 47 | Montana | $60,339 | $43,000 | 1,050,493 | 733 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $61,081 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 973 |
| 49 | Kansas | $58,380 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,580 |
| 50 | Utah | $61,089 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 784 |
| 51 | Iowa | $56,186 | $40,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,924 |
Highest paying states for registered health nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Health Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $90,571 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $94,769 |
| 3 | Delaware | $93,425 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $96,144 |
| 5 | Alaska | $87,323 |
| 6 | Vermont | $82,555 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $116,585 |
| 8 | California | $107,050 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $81,122 |
| 10 | Maine | $75,957 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $93,669 |
| 12 | Oregon | $92,350 |
| 13 | Nevada | $84,909 |
| 14 | New York | $90,785 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $99,484 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $70,118 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $78,447 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $95,021 |
| 19 | Maryland | $89,367 |
| 20 | Arizona | $72,722 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $72,570 |
| 22 | Michigan | $77,179 |
| 23 | Texas | $72,790 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $66,754 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $70,291 |
| 26 | Virginia | $77,657 |
| 27 | Idaho | $73,677 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $66,754 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $66,445 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $69,189 |
| 31 | Indiana | $67,084 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $65,829 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $72,488 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $65,939 |
| 35 | Florida | $64,093 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $62,746 |
| 37 | Colorado | $67,108 |
| 38 | Alabama | $65,567 |
| 39 | Georgia | $69,581 |
| 40 | Illinois | $71,224 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $62,974 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $65,579 |
| 43 | Ohio | $63,669 |
| 44 | Missouri | $64,018 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $57,182 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $59,323 |
| 47 | Montana | $60,339 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $61,081 |
| 49 | Kansas | $58,380 |
| 50 | Utah | $61,089 |
| 51 | Iowa | $56,186 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered health nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for registered 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.
Registered health nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for registered health nurse jobs
Updated January 8, 2025