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Best states for a school 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 school nurses in the United States. School 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 school nurses.In fact, our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state for school nurses in America. The best city in America for school nurses with the highest pay is Providence, RI.
The median salary for school nurses in Massachusetts is $77,072. Compare that to the median salary in Missouri of $43,631, which ranked worst for school nurses, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a school nurse, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for school nurses in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total school nurse jobs: 6,601 Average annual salary: $77,072 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
2. Alaska
Total school nurse jobs: 610 Average annual salary: $72,819 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Washington
Total school nurse jobs: 4,814 Average annual salary: $78,838 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. New Hampshire
Total school nurse jobs: 1,433 Average annual salary: $65,289 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
5. Pennsylvania
Total school nurse jobs: 8,867 Average annual salary: $63,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
6. Oregon
Total school nurse jobs: 2,461 Average annual salary: $83,135 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
7. Delaware
Total school nurse jobs: 811 Average annual salary: $69,463 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. Rhode Island
Total school nurse jobs: 633 Average annual salary: $84,613 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
9. New York
Total school nurse jobs: 9,064 Average annual salary: $68,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
10. Connecticut
Total school nurse jobs: 2,267 Average annual salary: $66,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
School nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a school nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a school nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $77,072 | $53,000 | 6,859,819 | 6,601 |
| 2 | Alaska | $72,819 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 610 |
| 3 | Washington | $78,838 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,814 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $65,289 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,433 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $63,169 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 8,867 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,135 | $51,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,461 |
| 7 | Delaware | $69,463 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 811 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $84,613 | $58,000 | 1,059,639 | 633 |
| 9 | New York | $68,009 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 9,064 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $66,472 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,267 |
| 11 | Vermont | $59,202 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 649 |
| 12 | Maine | $58,339 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 1,187 |
| 13 | Michigan | $62,625 | $43,000 | 9,962,311 | 4,989 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $57,575 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 705 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $62,146 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 381 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $68,875 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,423 |
| 17 | Indiana | $56,209 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 4,810 |
| 18 | Montana | $55,040 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 906 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $62,070 | $44,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,960 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $51,710 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 863 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $54,951 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,393 |
| 22 | California | $67,286 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,631 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $67,885 | $47,000 | 693,972 | 528 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $51,727 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,022 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $52,134 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 2,190 |
| 26 | Maryland | $57,802 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,080 |
| 27 | Idaho | $56,857 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 847 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,031 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 6,785 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $51,996 | $36,000 | 4,454,189 | 2,212 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $57,005 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,360 |
| 31 | Utah | $55,267 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 750 |
| 32 | Texas | $49,195 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 14,489 |
| 33 | Nevada | $53,557 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,265 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $52,316 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,300 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,430 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 4,182 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $49,700 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,987 |
| 37 | Ohio | $47,222 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 7,721 |
| 38 | Colorado | $54,200 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,380 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $59,193 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 325 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $48,761 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,195 |
| 41 | Florida | $47,220 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 13,099 |
| 42 | Georgia | $49,362 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 6,296 |
| 43 | Virginia | $49,510 | $34,000 | 8,470,020 | 5,470 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $48,192 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,471 |
| 45 | Alabama | $48,405 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,082 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $46,478 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 6,045 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,391 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,328 |
| 48 | Arizona | $46,167 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,567 |
| 49 | Iowa | $45,065 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 2,197 |
| 50 | Kansas | $42,640 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,934 |
| 51 | Missouri | $43,631 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 3,402 |
Highest paying states for school nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. School Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $77,072 |
| 2 | Alaska | $72,819 |
| 3 | Washington | $78,838 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $65,289 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $63,169 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,135 |
| 7 | Delaware | $69,463 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $84,613 |
| 9 | New York | $68,009 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $66,472 |
| 11 | Vermont | $59,202 |
| 12 | Maine | $58,339 |
| 13 | Michigan | $62,625 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $57,575 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $62,146 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $68,875 |
| 17 | Indiana | $56,209 |
| 18 | Montana | $55,040 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $62,070 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $51,710 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $54,951 |
| 22 | California | $67,286 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $67,885 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $51,727 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $52,134 |
| 26 | Maryland | $57,802 |
| 27 | Idaho | $56,857 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,031 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $51,996 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $57,005 |
| 31 | Utah | $55,267 |
| 32 | Texas | $49,195 |
| 33 | Nevada | $53,557 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $52,316 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,430 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $49,700 |
| 37 | Ohio | $47,222 |
| 38 | Colorado | $54,200 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $59,193 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $48,761 |
| 41 | Florida | $47,220 |
| 42 | Georgia | $49,362 |
| 43 | Virginia | $49,510 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $48,192 |
| 45 | Alabama | $48,405 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $46,478 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,391 |
| 48 | Arizona | $46,167 |
| 49 | Iowa | $45,065 |
| 50 | Kansas | $42,640 |
| 51 | Missouri | $43,631 |
Expert opinions on the best states for school nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for school 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.
School nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025