Top 5 Best States for Nurses
Choosing the right place to pursue your nursing career is crucial for both your professional success and personal life satisfaction. Luckily, nursing is a highly portable career—and nurses are always in demand almost anywhere you go.
With such a diverse range of places to live across the U.S., it can be challenging to decide where you want to put down roots. In this article, we’ll explore the best states for nurses to live and work based on what you can expect to make, your job prospects, education and medical facilities, and work-life balance.
The 5 Best States for Nurses
- California
- Washington
- Texas
- New York
- Massachusetts
1. California
California is the first on our list of the best states for nurses. It offers a wealth of benefits and opportunities that contribute a fulfilling nursing career.
High Employment and Nursing Salaries
California is the most populous state in the country, so it’s not a surprise that it has the highest employment level of nurses, with around 325,620 RNs alone. On top of that, it’s also one of the best-paying states for nurses with an unmatched median salary of $133,340 a year. That, even adjusted to the high cost of living in the state, still pays around 20% more than the national average.
High Nurse Shortage
It’s estimated that in the next decade, California will experience an 18% shortage of nurses, which will leave space for new professionals like you to enter this job market.
Great Job Prospects
With a large and diverse population, California is one of the best states for nurses who are bilingual. But anyone can find a job that suits their lifestyle and career goals in California. From urban hospitals to rural clinics, California offers a wide range of work environments to choose from.
Full Practice Authority State
California grants nurse practitioners (NPs) full authority, allowing them to practice to the full extent of their education and training. As an NP this automatically opens more job opportunities for you.
Top Medical Facilities
The Golden State is home to renowned medical institutions such as:
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Stanford Health Care
- UCLA Medical Center
Working in these organizations can help you gain valuable experience and give you access to cutting-edge technology, allowing you to provide quality care to patients while growing your skillset.
Mandated Nursing Ratio
California has taken burnout among nurses seriously. They implemented a capped nurse-to-patient ratio, which makes the state one of the best places to work as a nurse.
Best Cities for Nurses in California
California also has the highest-paying cities for nurses in the U.S. In particular, San Francisco, San José, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa offer a combination of high salaries, excellent healthcare facilities and a vibrant lifestyle, making them attractive destinations for nursing professionals.
Find nursing jobs in California .
2. Washington
Washington consistently ranks as one of the best states for nurses. Here’s why you might want to consider moving to the Pacific Northwest.
Lots of Nurse Openings Coming
Over the next decade, Washington will face the worst nurse shortage in the country, with around 26% of the nursing workforce missing. This high demand for nurses translates into more job opportunities, job security and salary negotiation power for you.
High Nursing Salaries
Nurses in Washington enjoy high average nursing salaries with an annual wage of $101,670, making it one of the top states for nurse pay.
Strong Economy and Attractive Lifestyle
Washingtonians enjoy unparalleled access to nature, from mountains to the ocean to the rainforest, as well as an excellent economy, a good education system, and well-maintained infrastructure. As a nurse, this means you can expect a strong commitment to quality healthcare institutions and education from lawmakers.
Full Practice Policies
Working in Washington state, you’ll have full practice authority as an NP. This expands the scope of your practice and enhances your career options.
Protective Overtime Regulations
Washington state has protective overtime regulations in place, ensuring that nurses are fairly compensated for their time, which promotes a healthy work-life balance at hospitals and clinics.
Top Medical Facilities
Some of the best medical institutions in the Evergreen State are:
- the University of Washington Medical Center
- Swedish Medical Center
- Virginia Mason Medical Center.
Working in these institutions provides nurses with valuable experience and the opportunity to work alongside skilled healthcare professionals who are at the top of their fields.
Best Cities for Nurses in Washington
Some of the best places to live as a nurse in Washington are Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. All three cities are known for their high quality of life and top-notch medical facilities and job prospects.
Find nursing jobs in Washington .
3. Texas
Texas is one of the most diverse and fastest-growing states in the U.S., which more than earns it a spot on our list of the best states for nurses.
Robust Employment Opportunities
Texas has the second-highest nursing employment levels in the U.S., with approximately 231,060 nursing professionals. The state's large population and diverse healthcare system provide a wide range of job opportunities for nurses.
Competitive Sign-on Bonuses
To encourage nurses to move to Texas, sign-on bonuses for RNs nearly doubled in the Lone Star State, from about $5,800 to an average of $10,700 in recent years.
Partial Student Loan Reimbursement
Under the Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program, if you work as a nurse for 12 consecutive months in a qualified rural community in Texas, you can get up to $10,000 to pay your student loan.
Projected Nursing Shortage
Texas will be short on RNs and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) in the next few years, particularly in nursing homes, residential care, and home health settings.
Top Medical Facilities
For exceptional healthcare services and opportunities for professional growth, look into working at these top medical facilities in Texas:
- Houston Methodist Hospital
- UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas
- Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
- Baylor University Medical Center
Full Practice Authority
Looking for more reasons why Texas is one of the best states for nurses? To tackle the lack of healthcare resources across the state, Texas has recently allowed APRNs to practice without being under the authority of a licensed physician.
Best Cities for Nurses in Texas
Houston and San Antonio are both powerhouses when it comes to healthcare in the U.S. Austin and Dallas also shine for their education and research facilities, as well as top hospitals.
Find nursing jobs in Texas .
4. New York
New York is widely recognized as one of the best states for nurses in the U.S. Several factors have given New York this reputation.
Abundant Job Opportunities
New York boasts a high demand for nursing professionals. With around 190,470 people employed as nurses, it has the fourth-highest number of nursing jobs in the country. It also offers a wide array of employment options across various specialties and settings. APRNs in New York are also free to practice independently of physicians.
Competitive Compensation
Nurses in New York enjoy competitive salaries that exceed the national average and sit at $100,000 per year on average. Considering New York is the third Best State for Quality of Life according to WalletHub, and there’s way more to New York than the city, you’ll be able to maintain a high quality of life with that salary.
Top Medical Facilities
Some of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in the country are located in New York and include:
- Mount Sinai Health System
- NYU Langone Health
- Presbyterian Hospital
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center
As a nurse, you’ll gain invaluable experience and the ability to use state-of-the-art technology at these medical facilities.
Continuing Education, Professional Development, and Networking
New York supports initiatives that promote lifelong learning for nurses, including conferences, workshops, and financial assistance programs for further education. On top of that, the numerous healthcare conferences and seminars that take place in the city make New York one of the best states for nurses to connect and learn about the newest advancements.
Best Cities for Nurses in New York
New York offers a diverse range of recreational, cultural, and entertainment opportunities. Some of the best places to be a nurse in this state are New York City, Albany, and Buffalo. In all of these places, nurses can enjoy a vibrant lifestyle outside of work, with access to world-class museums, theaters, parks, and a rich culinary scene.
Find nursing jobs in New York .
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a global leader in healthcare and innovation—and one of the best states for nurses.
Top State Rankings
Massachusetts has an impressive reputation. It ranks number one in Best Places to Live in 2022 according to WalletHub, as well as number 11 in the Best States Overall by U.S. News. These positions reflect the state's commitment to providing exceptional quality of life for residents as far as education, healthcare, safety, and the economy go.
Competitive Salaries
Nurses in Massachusetts earn high salaries, reflecting the state's high cost of living. The average annual income for registered nurses in the state is around $104,150 a year. Boston in particular is one of the highest-paying cities for nurses in the country, where nursing salaries can about $126,454 a year.
Progressive Practice Environment
Massachusetts fosters a progressive practice environment, allowing NPs to provide comprehensive care to their patients without physician oversight.
Top Educational and Research Institutions
Nurses in Massachusetts have access to first-class educational programs and continuing education courses, such as those from Harvard Medical School, Boston College Connell School of Nursing, or the Massachusetts Nurse Association. This enables them to build and continually enhance their knowledge and skills throughout their careers.
Top Medical Facilities
Massachusetts is renowned for its world-class healthcare organizations which include:
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
These institutions offer nurses access to advanced technology and research opportunities, as well as exposure to a diverse patient population.
Best Cities for Nurses in Massachusetts
Along with the Boston-Cambridge area, other great options in Massachusetts for nurses in terms of education and income-earning potential include Worcester and Springfield.
Find nursing jobs in Massachusetts .
3 Underrated States for Nurses
Looking for more options? Here are three more underrated states for nurses. For their strong salaries when adjusted for the cost of living, their promising job outlook for nursing professionals, and their growing economies, look into:
- Nevada ($84,280 per year, job growth forecast of +23%)
- Minnesota ($86,860 per year, job growth forecast of +7%)
- New Mexico ($82,948 per year, job growth forecast of +14%)
Las Vegas, NV, Rochester, MN, and Albuquerque, NM, are among the best cities for nurses adjusted for cost of living.
Explore All the Jobs Available in the Best States for Nurses on Monster
Now that you have an idea of the best places to work as a nurse, it’s time to pick where to apply for your dream job. Create a free account and upload your resume to Monster today. We’ll send you customized job alerts, so you’ll always know when and where a new opportunity pops up. Plus, our partner recruiters will be able to contact you directly with new nursing opportunities.