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Best states for a veterinary nurse
Quoted expert
Dr. James Roush
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
It seems like veterinary nurses are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for veterinary nurses aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for veterinary nurse 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 veterinary nurses.We found that Washington is the best state for veterinary nurse jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for veterinary nurses in 2025
1. Washington
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 328 Average annual salary: $41,260 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
2. Alaska
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $42,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
3. Nevada
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $38,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Massachusetts
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 550 Average annual salary: $37,574 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
5. California
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 937 Average annual salary: $44,250 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. North Dakota
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $40,939 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
7. Maine
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $37,234 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
8. Nebraska
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $35,931 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. New Hampshire
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $35,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
10. Rhode Island
Total veterinary nurse jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $35,786 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
Veterinary nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a veterinary nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a veterinary nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $41,260 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 328 |
| 2 | Alaska | $42,493 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 31 |
| 3 | Nevada | $38,456 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 88 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $37,574 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 550 |
| 5 | California | $44,250 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 937 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $40,939 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 7 | Maine | $37,234 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 47 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $35,931 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 88 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $35,456 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 84 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,786 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 45 |
| 11 | Idaho | $40,205 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 32 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,740 | $27,000 | 3,588,184 | 126 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $33,931 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 32 |
| 14 | Oregon | $38,024 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 106 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,834 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 333 |
| 16 | New York | $36,106 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 477 |
| 17 | Vermont | $37,334 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 13 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $34,312 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 211 |
| 19 | Colorado | $34,756 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 207 |
| 20 | Maryland | $36,903 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 186 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $33,713 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 321 |
| 22 | Illinois | $33,243 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 554 |
| 23 | Delaware | $33,896 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 38 |
| 24 | Montana | $31,054 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 127 |
| 25 | Michigan | $30,490 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 649 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $29,484 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 91 |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,930 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 226 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $30,720 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 124 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $32,990 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 50 |
| 30 | Ohio | $31,888 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 253 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,741 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 27 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $30,340 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 362 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $31,502 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 16 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $31,151 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 114 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $32,369 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 209 |
| 36 | Missouri | $28,059 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 335 |
| 37 | Indiana | $29,979 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 154 |
| 38 | Florida | $28,623 | $21,000 | 20,984,400 | 718 |
| 39 | Kansas | $28,739 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 103 |
| 40 | Alabama | $30,032 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 77 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $33,001 | $24,000 | 693,972 | 36 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $26,862 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 163 |
| 43 | Texas | $28,186 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 675 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $28,362 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 162 |
| 45 | Iowa | $29,828 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 63 |
| 46 | Utah | $28,501 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 60 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $28,165 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 99 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,206 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 86 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $26,431 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 86 |
| 50 | Georgia | $25,707 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 304 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $24,825 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 33 |
Highest paying states for veterinary nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Veterinary Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $41,260 |
| 2 | Alaska | $42,493 |
| 3 | Nevada | $38,456 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $37,574 |
| 5 | California | $44,250 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $40,939 |
| 7 | Maine | $37,234 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $35,931 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $35,456 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,786 |
| 11 | Idaho | $40,205 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,740 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $33,931 |
| 14 | Oregon | $38,024 |
| 15 | Arizona | $33,834 |
| 16 | New York | $36,106 |
| 17 | Vermont | $37,334 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $34,312 |
| 19 | Colorado | $34,756 |
| 20 | Maryland | $36,903 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $33,713 |
| 22 | Illinois | $33,243 |
| 23 | Delaware | $33,896 |
| 24 | Montana | $31,054 |
| 25 | Michigan | $30,490 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $29,484 |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,930 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $30,720 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $32,990 |
| 30 | Ohio | $31,888 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,741 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $30,340 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $31,502 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $31,151 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $32,369 |
| 36 | Missouri | $28,059 |
| 37 | Indiana | $29,979 |
| 38 | Florida | $28,623 |
| 39 | Kansas | $28,739 |
| 40 | Alabama | $30,032 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $33,001 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $26,862 |
| 43 | Texas | $28,186 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $28,362 |
| 45 | Iowa | $29,828 |
| 46 | Utah | $28,501 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $28,165 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,206 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $26,431 |
| 50 | Georgia | $25,707 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $24,825 |
Expert opinions on the best states for veterinary nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for veterinary nurses to find work opportunities?
Dr. James Roush
Doughman Professor, Small Animal Surgery, Interim Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Affairs, Kansas State University
Veterinary medicine is spread widely across the United States and graduates currently can find work in almost any geographic location they desire. There are, of course, more jobs near large population centers, but almost every area has a demand for new graduates right now.
Veterinary nurse best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025