Best cities for a registered nurse
The best cities for registered nurses are Stockton, CA, Fresno, CA, and Bakersfield, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for registered nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for registered nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a registered nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for registered nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for registered nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a registered nurse. While the absolute best city for registered nurses is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for registered nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a registered nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for registered nurses in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Registered nurse jobs in StocktonTotal registered nurse jobs: 151 Average annual salary: $107,226 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 0.64 2. Fresno, CA
Registered nurse jobs in FresnoTotal registered nurse jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $105,399 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 0.70 3. Bakersfield, CA
Registered nurse jobs in BakersfieldTotal registered nurse jobs: 198 Average annual salary: $104,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location quotient: 0.66 4. Anchorage, AK
Registered nurse jobs in AnchorageTotal registered nurse jobs: 187 Average annual salary: $99,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.56 5. Albuquerque, NM
Registered nurse jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal registered nurse jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $79,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 1.01 6. Hempstead, NY
Registered nurse jobs in HempsteadTotal registered nurse jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $91,417 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 1.00 7. Reno, NV
Registered nurse jobs in RenoTotal registered nurse jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $86,469 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.49 8. Henderson, NV
Registered nurse jobs in HendersonTotal registered nurse jobs: 100 Average annual salary: $83,553 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.54 9. El Paso, TX
Registered nurse jobs in El PasoTotal registered nurse jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $77,559 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location quotient: 0.79 10. Islip, NY
Registered nurse jobs in IslipTotal registered nurse jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $91,663 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.60
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Best cities for registered nurses
- Stockton, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Albuquerque, NM
- Hempstead, NY
- Reno, NV
- Henderson, NV
- El Paso, TX
- Islip, NY
Detailed list of the best cities for a registered nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $107,226 | $66,000 | 307,072 | 151 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $105,399 | $65,000 | 522,053 | 4 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $104,473 | $64,000 | 376,380 | 198 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $99,295 | $58,000 | 298,192 | 187 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,629 | $49,000 | 559,277 | 121 |
| 6 | Hempstead, NY | $91,417 | $56,000 | 759,757 | 22 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $86,469 | $53,000 | 245,255 | 246 |
| 8 | Henderson, NV | $83,553 | $51,000 | 292,969 | 100 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $77,559 | $47,000 | 683,080 | 41 |
| 10 | Islip, NY | $91,663 | $56,000 | 335,543 | 2 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $83,653 | $51,000 | 632,912 | 165 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $77,686 | $47,000 | 530,706 | 159 |
| 13 | Lubbock, TX | $76,603 | $47,000 | 252,506 | 133 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $75,816 | $46,000 | 392,772 | 207 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $91,845 | $56,000 | 639,863 | 79 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $76,779 | $48,000 | 672,795 | 50 |
| 17 | Corpus Christi, TX | $74,523 | $45,000 | 325,733 | 150 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $103,107 | $63,000 | 324,722 | 157 |
| 19 | Newark, NJ | $89,855 | $55,000 | 281,764 | 134 |
| 20 | Glendale, AZ | $77,836 | $48,000 | 245,895 | 84 |
| 21 | Fort Wayne, IN | $68,370 | $43,000 | 264,488 | 210 |
| 22 | Oakland, CA | $108,352 | $66,000 | 420,005 | 182 |
| 23 | Oyster Bay, NY | $91,474 | $56,000 | 293,214 | 1 |
| 24 | Long Beach, CA | $103,624 | $64,000 | 470,130 | 131 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $68,967 | $43,000 | 278,508 | 226 |
| 26 | Mesa, AZ | $77,753 | $48,000 | 484,587 | 142 |
| 27 | Gilbert, AZ | $77,768 | $48,000 | 237,133 | 69 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $70,266 | $43,000 | 385,809 | 87 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $107,358 | $66,000 | 495,234 | 51 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,282 | $48,000 | 1,567,872 | 245 |
| 31 | Winston-Salem, NC | $68,563 | $41,000 | 242,203 | 10 |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $74,828 | $45,000 | 257,156 | 51 |
| 33 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,830 | $64,000 | 3,976,322 | 79 |
| 34 | New Orleans, LA | $70,464 | $42,000 | 391,495 | 179 |
| 35 | Wichita, KS | $66,829 | $41,000 | 389,902 | 206 |
| 36 | Lexington, KY | $66,584 | $41,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 37 | Chula Vista, CA | $102,475 | $63,000 | 267,172 | 29 |
| 38 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $100,728 | $67,000 | 351,792 | 58 |
| 39 | Hialeah, FL | $67,106 | $41,000 | 236,387 | 113 |
| 40 | North Las Vegas, NV | $83,535 | $51,000 | 238,702 | 15 |
| 41 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,810 | $48,000 | 1,615,017 | 46 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,959 | $47,000 | 303,625 | 33 |
| 43 | Fort Worth, TX | $75,858 | $46,000 | 854,113 | 100 |
| 44 | Anaheim, CA | $103,458 | $64,000 | 351,043 | 66 |
| 45 | Buffalo, NY | $88,195 | $54,000 | 256,902 | 16 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $77,731 | $47,000 | 452,602 | 46 |
| 47 | Chesapeake, VA | $77,621 | $46,000 | 237,940 | 108 |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $102,597 | $63,000 | 1,406,630 | 249 |
| 49 | San Jose, CA | $107,838 | $66,000 | 1,025,350 | 8 |
| 50 | Louisville, KY | $66,298 | $41,000 | 597,337 | 36 |
Highest paying cities for registered nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. registered nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $108,619 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $91,845 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $91,220 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $89,470 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $87,954 |
| 6 | Des Moines, WA | $87,094 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $85,221 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $83,653 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,629 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,282 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,810 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $77,559 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $77,161 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $76,779 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $74,641 |
| 16 | Austin, MN | $74,169 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $72,247 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $72,138 |
| 19 | Madison, WI | $72,115 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $71,819 |
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Updated January 8, 2025