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Best states for a registered nurse unit manager
Quoted expert
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for registered nurse unit managers in the United States. Registered nurse unit manager 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 nurse unit managers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for registered nurse unit managers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for registered nurse unit manager jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for registered nurse unit managers.We found that the Midwest is best for registered nurse unit managers, and the Northeast is the worst. Oakland, CA is the best city in the country for registered nurse unit manager jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for registered nurse unit managers in 2025
1. Alaska
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $91,785 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. New York
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 9,658 Average annual salary: $97,632 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
3. Delaware
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 923 Average annual salary: $92,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. West Virginia
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 1,360 Average annual salary: $80,152 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
5. Massachusetts
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 7,153 Average annual salary: $88,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
6. Pennsylvania
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 10,224 Average annual salary: $81,695 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
7. California
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 13,989 Average annual salary: $113,241 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
8. Connecticut
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 2,522 Average annual salary: $87,458 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. Michigan
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 5,638 Average annual salary: $85,072 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Oregon
Total registered nurse unit manager jobs: 2,534 Average annual salary: $92,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
Registered nurse unit manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered nurse unit manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered nurse unit manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $91,785 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 700 |
| 2 | New York | $97,632 | $69,000 | 19,849,399 | 9,658 |
| 3 | Delaware | $92,939 | $66,000 | 961,939 | 923 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $80,152 | $58,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,360 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $88,610 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 7,153 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $81,695 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 10,224 |
| 7 | California | $113,241 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 13,989 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $87,458 | $61,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,522 |
| 9 | Michigan | $85,072 | $60,000 | 9,962,311 | 5,638 |
| 10 | Oregon | $92,032 | $66,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,534 |
| 11 | Washington | $86,476 | $61,000 | 7,405,743 | 5,473 |
| 12 | Nevada | $86,207 | $59,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,394 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $107,763 | $77,000 | 693,972 | 573 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $87,027 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 5,057 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $85,589 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 656 |
| 16 | Maryland | $85,984 | $61,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,349 |
| 17 | Maine | $74,947 | $53,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,543 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $80,078 | $58,000 | 5,795,483 | 3,505 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $77,970 | $57,000 | 579,315 | 416 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $74,403 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,931 |
| 21 | Vermont | $74,755 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 720 |
| 22 | Ohio | $73,269 | $53,000 | 11,658,609 | 8,515 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $75,651 | $56,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,570 |
| 24 | Idaho | $79,460 | $56,000 | 1,716,943 | 955 |
| 25 | Arizona | $77,780 | $54,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,960 |
| 26 | Texas | $73,443 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 17,048 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $73,270 | $51,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,643 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $74,146 | $55,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,342 |
| 29 | Georgia | $76,668 | $56,000 | 10,429,379 | 7,228 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $79,460 | $57,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,683 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $86,828 | $71,000 | 1,427,538 | 376 |
| 32 | Missouri | $75,090 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,805 |
| 33 | Indiana | $68,960 | $50,000 | 6,666,818 | 5,763 |
| 34 | Montana | $71,438 | $51,000 | 1,050,493 | 947 |
| 35 | Utah | $75,113 | $53,000 | 3,101,833 | 954 |
| 36 | Colorado | $75,661 | $55,000 | 5,607,154 | 4,016 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $65,419 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 862 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $69,821 | $51,000 | 10,273,419 | 6,959 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $63,809 | $44,000 | 4,684,333 | 3,138 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $66,842 | $49,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,959 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $62,408 | $46,000 | 869,666 | 960 |
| 42 | Illinois | $73,854 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,900 |
| 43 | Florida | $62,740 | $43,000 | 20,984,400 | 17,873 |
| 44 | Virginia | $72,565 | $52,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,897 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $63,688 | $46,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,696 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $59,624 | $44,000 | 6,715,984 | 5,187 |
| 47 | Iowa | $66,259 | $49,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,424 |
| 48 | Alabama | $65,943 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,541 |
| 49 | Kansas | $60,597 | $45,000 | 2,913,123 | 2,245 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $57,086 | $41,000 | 5,024,369 | 3,514 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $63,113 | $47,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,349 |
Highest paying states for registered nurse unit managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Nurse Unit Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $91,785 |
| 2 | New York | $97,632 |
| 3 | Delaware | $92,939 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $80,152 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $88,610 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $81,695 |
| 7 | California | $113,241 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $87,458 |
| 9 | Michigan | $85,072 |
| 10 | Oregon | $92,032 |
| 11 | Washington | $86,476 |
| 12 | Nevada | $86,207 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $107,763 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $87,027 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $85,589 |
| 16 | Maryland | $85,984 |
| 17 | Maine | $74,947 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $80,078 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $77,970 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $74,403 |
| 21 | Vermont | $74,755 |
| 22 | Ohio | $73,269 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $75,651 |
| 24 | Idaho | $79,460 |
| 25 | Arizona | $77,780 |
| 26 | Texas | $73,443 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $73,270 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $74,146 |
| 29 | Georgia | $76,668 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $79,460 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $86,828 |
| 32 | Missouri | $75,090 |
| 33 | Indiana | $68,960 |
| 34 | Montana | $71,438 |
| 35 | Utah | $75,113 |
| 36 | Colorado | $75,661 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $65,419 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $69,821 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $63,809 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $66,842 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $62,408 |
| 42 | Illinois | $73,854 |
| 43 | Florida | $62,740 |
| 44 | Virginia | $72,565 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $63,688 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $59,624 |
| 47 | Iowa | $66,259 |
| 48 | Alabama | $65,943 |
| 49 | Kansas | $60,597 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $57,086 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $63,113 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered nurse unit managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for registered nurse unit managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.
Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Family nurse practitioners are highly qualified primary care providers. States where NPs have full practice authority afford much more opportunities than states (such as Texas) where NP practice is restricted. The WHO designated 2020 as 'the International Year of the Nurse," and they have recently announced extending this into 2021. The WHO Director-General stated, "Nurses and midwives are the backbones of every health system: in 2020, we're calling on all counties to invest in nurses and midwives ". Nurses can always find a job; I think the major issue impacting the public's access to quality primary health care services is the unhelpful NP practice restrictions in many states across the nation.
Registered nurse unit manager best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025