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Every state needs nurses, but not all states offer the same benefits. The best states for nurses boast high employment rates, positive job outlooks and competitive salaries. Read on to learn which states are the best for nurses to meet their career and financial goals.
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U.S. Nurses: Salary and Job Outlook
After earning your license as a registered nurse (RN), you can find employment in hospital networks, small clinics, school systems or other facilities that offer patient care. RNs earn a median annual salary of $81,220, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS projects demand for RNs to increase by 6% between 2022 and 2032, double the national average of 3% job growth for all occupations.
According to the American Nurses Association, the need for nurses continues to grow due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an aging population, a rapidly retiring workforce and a greater focus on preventative care. Wherever you start your RN career, you can make a marked impact—but earnings, demand and career opportunities vary depending on where you live.
Best States for Nurses
Salary is a significant factor in any professional’s career decisions, but it’s not the only one to weigh when deciding where to work. You should also consider job availability, economic demand and licensing processes before settling on a place to grow your career.
By Employment Level
According to the BLS, the following states employ the most RNs in the United States.
- California: 325,620
- Texas: 231,060
- Florida: 197,630
- New York: 190,470
- Pennsylvania: 137,970
By Concentration of Nurses
A different set of states have the highest concentrations of nursing jobs. The following states employ the most nurses per 1,000 jobs:
- South Dakota: 32.99/1,000 jobs
- West Virginia: 31.13/1,000 jobs
- North Dakota: 27.88/1,000 jobs
- Massachusetts: 26.39/1,000 jobs
- Mississippi: 25.96/1,000 jobs
By Job Outlook
According to Projections Central, the following states have the best job outlook (average number of projected annual job openings) for nurses between 2020 and 2030:
- California: 21,200 projected positions
- Texas: 16,210 projected positions
- New York: 14,430 projected positions
- Florida: 13,250 projected positions
- Pennsylvania: 9,280 projected positions
By Salary
According to the BLS, RNs can earn the highest average wages in the following states.
- California: $133,340
- Hawai‘i: $113,220
- Oregon: $106,610
- Massachusetts: $104,150
- Alaska: $103,310
How To Get a Nursing License in a New State
Each state requires nurses to hold up-to-date licensure to practice as RNs. If you’re planning a move, it’s important to review your new state’s licensure requirements and identify any gaps well in advance.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) regulates nursing licensure requirements in the United States. Standards for initial licensure include graduating from an accredited RN program and passing the NCLEX-RN. Some states also conduct a criminal background check.
Compact States
RNs moving to a new state must first determine whether their current and new states participate in a licensing compact, which provides licensing reciprocity.
“Compact states” allow RNs to practice in any compact-participating state without completing another licensing process. Different rules apply for nurses transferring (or earning new) licenses between compact states, non-compact to compact states, compact to non-compact states, and non-compact to non-compact states.
The only active nursing compact in the U.S. is the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which includes 41 member states. NLC members grant RNs multi-state licenses, which allow them to practice in any NLC-participating state without jumping through the hoops of meeting a new state’s specific licensing guidelines. NLC nurses can offer their skills to another compact state in the event of a crisis and provide telehealth services across compact states.
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Compact began in August 2020 and, like the NLC, gives APRNs the ability to move between compact states without applying for new licensure. The APRN Compact requires seven participating states for implementation. At present, only four states hold APRN membership, with two states still pending.
Endorsem*nt
Regardless of your state’s compact status, you must apply for RN licensure by endorsem*nt when you move to a new state. This means your new state’s nursing regulatory board grants endorsem*nt (or a new license) based on your current licensure and whether you meet the state’s specific requirements. The process of earning endorsem*nt varies between compact and non-compact states.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Best States for Nurses
What is the best state for a nurse to live in?
Across the board, California holds the top position for best state for nurses concerning salary, job outlook and employment level. However, remember to factor in the cost of living, proximity to friends and loved ones, your values and your career goals when choosing a new state for your nursing career.
What states pay the most for nurses?
Your salary as a nurse varies according to your experience and your state’s cost of living. The states that pay nurses the most include California, Hawai‘i, Oregon, Massachusetts and Alaska.
What state has the highest demand for nurses?
Data from the BLS and Projections Central tells us which states have the highest demand for nurses. By job outlook, states with the highest demand for RNs include California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. By location quotient, the states with the highest concentrations of nurses are South Dakota, West Virginia, North Dakota, Massachusetts and Mississippi.
In what state are nurses paid the best?
By raw numbers, nurses in California make the most money, with an average annual salary of $133,340 according to the BLS. However, when considering salary data, it’s important to factor in the cost of living. As reported by the World Population Review, California has the fourth-highest cost of living in the United States. Other top-paying states for nurses—such as Hawai’i, Oregon, Massachusetts and Alaska—also rank in the top ten most expensive states to live in.
What type of nurse is most in demand?
If you have the drive to pursue a master’s in nursing, you can look forward to favorable hiring conditions: the BLS projects a whopping 45% nationwide job growth for nurse practitioners from 2022 to 2032. This number far exceeds the 6% projected for registered nurses. In fact, nurse practitioners are tied with wind turbine service technicians for the fastest-growing career in the country.
