Best cities for a school nurse
The best cities for school nurses are Newark, NJ, Stockton, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for school nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for school nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a school nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for school nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for school nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a school nurse. While the absolute best city for school nurses is Newark, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for school nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a school nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for school nurses in 2025
1. Newark, NJ
Total school nurse jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $69,085 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 5.98 2. Stockton, CA
Total school nurse jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $69,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location quotient: 4.20 3. Boston, MA
Total school nurse jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $77,185 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.32 4. Oakland, CA
Total school nurse jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $70,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 2.08 5. Jersey City, NJ
Total school nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $69,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 1.14 6. Buffalo, NY
Total school nurse jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $67,385 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 2.43 7. Louisville, KY
Total school nurse jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $52,036 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 2.97 8. Bakersfield, CA
Total school nurse jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $67,347 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 2.75 9. Portland, OR
Total school nurse jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $83,081 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.80 10. Indianapolis, IN
Total school nurse jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $56,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 1.58
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Best cities for school nurses
- Newark, NJ
- Stockton, CA
- Boston, MA
- Oakland, CA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Buffalo, NY
- Louisville, KY
- Bakersfield, CA
- Portland, OR
- Indianapolis, IN
- (28 school nurse jobs)
- (6 school nurse jobs)
- (38 school nurse jobs)
- (8 school nurse jobs)
- (15 school nurse jobs)
- (10 school nurse jobs)
- (21 school nurse jobs)
- (5 school nurse jobs)
- (11 school nurse jobs)
- (25 school nurse jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a school nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $69,085 | $47,000 | 281,764 | 28 |
| 2 | Stockton, CA | $69,871 | $42,000 | 307,072 | 6 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $77,185 | $53,000 | 673,184 | 38 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $70,363 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 8 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $69,112 | $47,000 | 264,152 | 15 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $67,385 | $46,000 | 256,902 | 10 |
| 7 | Louisville, KY | $52,036 | $36,000 | 597,337 | 21 |
| 8 | Bakersfield, CA | $67,347 | $41,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $83,081 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 11 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $56,004 | $39,000 | 855,164 | 25 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $61,879 | $43,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $68,452 | $41,000 | 522,053 | 4 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,396 | $43,000 | 1,567,872 | 13 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,662 | $42,000 | 303,625 | 8 |
| 15 | Fort Wayne, IN | $56,862 | $39,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 16 | Lexington, KY | $52,152 | $36,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $70,146 | $42,000 | 495,234 | 9 |
| 18 | Santa Ana, CA | $66,026 | $41,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 19 | Chula Vista, CA | $65,246 | $41,000 | 267,172 | 6 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $48,584 | $33,000 | 660,388 | 20 |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $47,576 | $33,000 | 278,508 | 4 |
| 22 | Anchorage, AK | $72,892 | $49,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 23 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,061 | $43,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 24 | El Paso, TX | $50,350 | $33,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 25 | New Orleans, LA | $48,765 | $33,000 | 391,495 | 7 |
| 26 | San Jose, CA | $69,905 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 17 |
| 27 | Anaheim, CA | $66,087 | $41,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $65,819 | $41,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 29 | New York, NY | $68,040 | $46,000 | 8,537,673 | 52 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $57,201 | $40,000 | 2,704,958 | 33 |
| 31 | Seattle, WA | $79,364 | $48,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $62,747 | $43,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 33 | Omaha, NE | $52,427 | $36,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 34 | Fremont, CA | $70,087 | $42,000 | 233,136 | 2 |
| 35 | Brookhaven, NY | $68,499 | $47,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 36 | Los Angeles, CA | $66,442 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 15 |
| 37 | Minneapolis, MN | $57,040 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 38 | Islip, NY | $68,349 | $47,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 39 | Oyster Bay, NY | $68,287 | $47,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 40 | Fort Worth, TX | $49,054 | $33,000 | 854,113 | 5 |
| 41 | San Francisco, CA | $70,496 | $42,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 42 | Glendale, AZ | $46,258 | $30,000 | 245,895 | 6 |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $68,146 | $46,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Columbus, OH | $46,845 | $32,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 45 | Reno, NV | $56,197 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 46 | Memphis, TN | $48,088 | $33,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV | $53,015 | $33,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 48 | Mesa, AZ | $46,180 | $30,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM | $55,002 | $37,000 | 559,277 | 1 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,155 | $32,000 | 298,800 | 6 |
Highest paying cities for school nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. school nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $84,734 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $83,340 |
| 3 | Federal Way, WA | $79,445 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $77,185 |
| 5 | Fairfield, CA | $70,416 |
| 6 | Dover, DE | $69,298 |
| 7 | Hackensack, NJ | $69,232 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $68,040 |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | $66,742 |
| 10 | Manchester, NH | $65,286 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,396 |
| 12 | Bangor, ME | $58,170 |
| 13 | Palatine, IL | $57,290 |
| 14 | Roseville, MN | $57,068 |
| 15 | Mishawaka, IN | $56,967 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $54,285 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $49,464 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $49,133 |
| 19 | Wilmington, NC | $46,401 |
| 20 | Tucson, AZ | $46,056 |
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Updated January 8, 2025