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Best states for a registered nurse in the icu
Quoted expert
Vilma Davis
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Are you thinking of becoming a registered nurse in the icu and really want to work at Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company? Turns out, your chances to become a registered nurse in the icu are better in some states than others.As registered nurse in the icus are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for registered nurse in the icus. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a registered nurse in the icu, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Connecticut is the best state for jobs for registered nurse in the icus, and Utah is the worst. The most common pay in Connecticut is $130,568, while the median pay in Utah is $71,653.If you are currently seeking employment as a registered nurse in the icu, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for registered nurse in the icus in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 2,485 Average annual salary: $130,568 Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Maine
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 1,241 Average annual salary: $100,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
3. New Hampshire
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 1,369 Average annual salary: $102,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
4. Massachusetts
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 6,597 Average annual salary: $108,123 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $184,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
5. Pennsylvania
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 7,971 Average annual salary: $101,536 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
6. Wisconsin
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 3,178 Average annual salary: $109,067 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
7. New York
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 7,592 Average annual salary: $113,970 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
8. Rhode Island
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 555 Average annual salary: $115,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
9. New Jersey
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 3,773 Average annual salary: $115,469 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
10. Michigan
Total registered nurse in the icu jobs: 4,246 Average annual salary: $103,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Registered nurse in the icu jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered nurse in the icu
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered nurse in the icu
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $130,568 | $79,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,485 |
| 2 | Maine | $100,219 | $58,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,241 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $102,004 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,369 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $108,123 | $63,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,597 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $101,536 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 7,971 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $109,067 | $66,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,178 |
| 7 | New York | $113,970 | $67,000 | 19,849,399 | 7,592 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $115,344 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 555 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $115,469 | $68,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,773 |
| 10 | Michigan | $103,586 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,246 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $96,153 | $54,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,456 |
| 12 | California | $116,224 | $70,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,619 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $91,798 | $51,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,179 |
| 14 | Delaware | $97,154 | $55,000 | 961,939 | 890 |
| 15 | Ohio | $94,704 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 6,519 |
| 16 | Indiana | $91,226 | $52,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,764 |
| 17 | Vermont | $94,394 | $55,000 | 623,657 | 647 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $91,848 | $51,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,953 |
| 19 | Arizona | $95,186 | $55,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,932 |
| 20 | Illinois | $98,931 | $58,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,761 |
| 21 | Maryland | $104,400 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,743 |
| 22 | Nevada | $98,307 | $58,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,054 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $92,482 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,467 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $114,935 | $72,000 | 1,427,538 | 337 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $99,777 | $61,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,834 |
| 26 | Florida | $89,908 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 17,520 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $91,519 | $51,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,050 |
| 28 | Texas | $90,888 | $50,000 | 28,304,596 | 14,448 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $109,852 | $63,000 | 693,972 | 581 |
| 30 | Washington | $93,393 | $59,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,033 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $85,744 | $54,000 | 755,393 | 668 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $84,749 | $46,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,977 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $89,102 | $54,000 | 579,315 | 387 |
| 34 | Oregon | $96,127 | $59,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,063 |
| 35 | Montana | $87,827 | $56,000 | 1,050,493 | 816 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $82,305 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 875 |
| 37 | Idaho | $91,986 | $57,000 | 1,716,943 | 890 |
| 38 | Alaska | $73,045 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 654 |
| 39 | Georgia | $87,168 | $47,000 | 10,429,379 | 7,324 |
| 40 | Virginia | $92,840 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,450 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $82,973 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,962 |
| 42 | Kansas | $84,145 | $48,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,177 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $89,869 | $53,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,065 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $85,845 | $46,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,252 |
| 45 | Missouri | $89,499 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,978 |
| 46 | Alabama | $84,959 | $46,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,510 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $82,213 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,775 |
| 48 | Iowa | $79,409 | $46,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,440 |
| 49 | Colorado | $81,185 | $47,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,817 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $82,025 | $44,000 | 10,273,419 | 5,266 |
| 51 | Utah | $71,653 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 741 |
Highest paying states for registered nurse in the icus
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Nurse In The ICU Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $130,568 |
| 2 | Maine | $100,219 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $102,004 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $108,123 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $101,536 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $109,067 |
| 7 | New York | $113,970 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $115,344 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $115,469 |
| 10 | Michigan | $103,586 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $96,153 |
| 12 | California | $116,224 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $91,798 |
| 14 | Delaware | $97,154 |
| 15 | Ohio | $94,704 |
| 16 | Indiana | $91,226 |
| 17 | Vermont | $94,394 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $91,848 |
| 19 | Arizona | $95,186 |
| 20 | Illinois | $98,931 |
| 21 | Maryland | $104,400 |
| 22 | Nevada | $98,307 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $92,482 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $114,935 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $99,777 |
| 26 | Florida | $89,908 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $91,519 |
| 28 | Texas | $90,888 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $109,852 |
| 30 | Washington | $93,393 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $85,744 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $84,749 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $89,102 |
| 34 | Oregon | $96,127 |
| 35 | Montana | $87,827 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $82,305 |
| 37 | Idaho | $91,986 |
| 38 | Alaska | $73,045 |
| 39 | Georgia | $87,168 |
| 40 | Virginia | $92,840 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $82,973 |
| 42 | Kansas | $84,145 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $89,869 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $85,845 |
| 45 | Missouri | $89,499 |
| 46 | Alabama | $84,959 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $82,213 |
| 48 | Iowa | $79,409 |
| 49 | Colorado | $81,185 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $82,025 |
| 51 | Utah | $71,653 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered nurse in the icus
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Registered nurses in the icu 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 nurse in the icu best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025