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The United States is currently in the throes of a nursing shortage, which naturally presents nurses with unprecedented opportunities for career growth and mobility. That said, these opportunities will differ from state to state, so the real question is: Which states will give nurses the BEST chances for professional—and personal—satisfaction?
There have been a number of studies done to address this topic, so we decided to make things easier by collecting all of their key insights into one place. Specifically, we focused on studies that ranked states on four key factors: RN job availability, RN salaries, affordability, and overall quality of life.
Below, we’ve provided ranked lists of the top 10 states for each category, as well as the relevant data points that contributed to each state’s rank.
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The 10 States With the Greatest Need for RNs
First, we wanted to know which states have the greatest need for RNs--or, in other words, which states will have the most RN jobs available.
The following list is from a 2017 Nurse.org report on the states with the highest demand for RNs. For their report, they looked at the U.S. Health and Human Resources Administration’s (HRSA)’s projections for RN supply and demand in 2030 and then ranked the states in order of shortage to surplus. You’ll notice that the last three states are projected to have a small surplus, so the job markets should be more competitive than those of the other seven states.
1. California
- 2030 RN Supply (Total # of Working RNs): 343,400
- 2030 RN Demand (Total # of RNs Needed): 387,900
- Shortage: -44,500 RNs
2. Texas
- 2030 RN Supply: 253,400
- 2030 RN Demand: 269,300
- Shortage: -15,900 RNs
3. New Jersey
- 2030 RN Supply: 90,800
- 2030 RN Demand: 102,200
- Shortage: -11,400 RNs
4. South Carolina
- 2030 RN Supply: 52,100
- 2030 RN Demand: 62,500
- Shortage: -10,400 RNs
5. Alaska
- 2030 RN Supply: 18,400
- 2030 RN Demand: 23,800
- Shortage: -5,400 RNs
6. Georgia
- 2030 RN Supply: 98,800
- 2030 RN Demand: 101,000
- Shortage: -2,200 RNs
7. South Dakota
- 2030 RN Supply: 11,700
- 2030 RN Demand: 13,600
- Shortage: -1,900 RNs
8. Montana
- 2030 RN Supply: 12,300
- 2030 RN Demand: 12,100
- Surplus: +200 RNs
9. North Dakota
- 2030 RN Supply: 9,900
- 2030 RN Demand: 9,200
- Surplus: +700 RNs
10. New Hampshire
- 2030 RN Supply: 21,300
- 2030 RN Demand: 20,200
- Surplus: +1,100 RNs
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The 10 Highest-Paying States for Registered Nurses
Once we knew which states had the most job availability, we then wanted to focus on where RNs could earn the highest salaries.
Nightingale College published a handy guide on RN salaries by state, which included figures for average salaries adjusted for each state’s cost of living. The data was based on 2017 salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and cost of living data from Numbeo.
Below, you’ll find a list of the top 10 highest-paying states for RNs, in order of highest salary to lowest and adjusted for each state’s cost of living.
1. Nevada
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $80,986
2. Arizona
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $78,415
3. Texas
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $78,412
4. Minnesota
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $77,773
5. Michigan
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $76,239
6. Washington
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $74,143
7. Illinois
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $74,109
8. New Mexico
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $73,402
9. Georgia
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $72,891
10. Wisconsin
Average RN Salary (Adjusted): $71,830
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The Most & Least Affordable States for RNs
When considering salaries and earning potential in different states, one important aspect to keep in mind is your cost of living. To help you get a better picture of your earning potential in different states, we turned to U.S. News & World Report's 2019 Affordability Rankings, which was part of their larger Overall Best States of 2019 ranking (more on this later). To determine how affordable each state was, U.S. News gave them scores on two metrics: Cost of living and housing affordability. Based on those scores, each state then received an overall ranking on a scale of 1 to 50, with 1 being the most affordable and 50 being the least affordable.
The 5 Most Affordable States for RNs
Here are the five states that are most affordable to live in. We've also included their scores for the individual metrics to give you more context.
| Rank | State | Cost of Living Score | Housing Affordability Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 13 | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio | 16 | 2 |
| 3 | Indiana | 9 | 3 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Michigan | 5 | 9 |
The 5 Least Affordable States for RNs
Here are the five states that are least affordable to live in.
| Rank | State | Cost of Living Score | Housing Affordability Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Massachusetts | 43 | 41 |
| 47 | New York | 48 | 39 |
| 48 | Oregon | 45 | 47 |
| 49 | California | 49 | 49 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 50 | 50 |
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The 10 Best States for RNs’ Quality of Life
After we identified the best states for RN career stability and salary potential, we turned our attention to the states that could provide RNs with the highest quality of life.
U.S. News & World Report published their “Best States for Quality of Life in 2018” ranking, which was based on each state’s scores for two categories: A “Natural Environment” score (e.g., drinking water quality, air quality) and a “Social Environment” score (e.g., community engagement, social support). States that made the top of the list do the best job of promoting their residents’ well-being. Below, we’ve provided the 10 states that made the top of U.S. News & World Report’s list.
Want to go to nursing school in one of these states? We also added the top three undergraduate and graduate nursing programs to the list, based on Niche.com’s and U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the country’s top undergraduate and master’s in nursing programs, respectively.
1. North Dakota
- Top 3 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs:
- North Dakota State University
- University of Jamestown
- University of North Dakota
- Top 3 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs:
- North Dakota State University
- University of Mary
- University of North Dakota
2. Minnesota
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- St. Olaf College
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- St. Catherine University
- Minnesota State University – Moorhead
- Augsburg College
3. Wisconsin
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of Wisconsin
- Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Marquette University
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- Marquette University
- University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
4. New Hampshire
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- Saint Anselm College
- University of New Hampshire
- Rivier University
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- Franklin Pierce University
- Rivier University
- Southern New Hampshire University
5. South Dakota
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- Augustana University
- University of South Dakota
- South Dakota State University
- Top 2 MSN Programs:
- South Dakota State University - Brookings
- Mount Marty College
6. Mississippi
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of Mississippi
- Mississippi College
- William Carey University
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- Alcorn State University
- Delta State University
- Mississippi University for Women
7. Arkansas
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of Arkansas
- Harding University
- Arkansas Tech University
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- University of Arkansas
- University of Central Arkansas
- Harding University
8. New Mexico
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of New Mexico
- New Mexico State University
- Brookline College - Albuquerque
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- New Mexico State University
- Eastern New Mexico University
- University of New Mexico
9. Iowa
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- University of Iowa
- Luther College
- Dordt College
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- University of Iowa
- Briar Cliff University
- Allen College
10. Colorado
- Top 3 BSN Programs:
- Regis University
- University of Colorado – Denver
- University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
- Top 3 MSN Programs:
- University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus
- University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
- University of Northern Colorado
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Any Triple-Hitters?
Unfortunately, no one state has it all. While Minnesota, New Mexico, and Wisconsin all landed within the top 10 for highest RN salaries and best quality of life, each missed the mark when it came to greatest need for RNs. And although Georgia and Texas both ranked high on the list in terms of RN demand and salary potential, they fell to the middle and bottom of the pack for quality of life scores. Then there’s New Hampshire and both North and South Dakota: These states offer RNs great job opportunities and quality of life, but they don’t do nearly as well when it comes to salary.
Not one state has it all (yet), but be sure to check out this table of all 50 states (and, where possible, Washington D.C.) to see where they land within each category. As for your job search, it may make compromising in one category a tad easier if the state only narrowly missed making the top 10. Just keep in mind that they’re ranked 1-51, with #1 signifying the “best” state and #51 signifying the “worst” state.
| State | "Most Demand for RNs" Rank | "Highest RN Salaries" Rank | "Quality of Life" Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 28 | 34 | 35 |
| Alaska | 5 | 40 | 19 |
| Arizona | 11 | 2 | 39 |
| Arkansas | 39 | 26 | 7 |
| California | 1 | 39 | 50 |
| Colorado | 37 | 12 | 10 |
| Connecticut | 21 | 42 | 38 |
| Delaware | 12 | 11 | 24 |
| District of Columbia | N/A | 50 | N/A |
| Florida | 50 | 31 | 33 |
| Georgia | 6 | 9 | 32 |
| Hawaii | 20 | 51 | 36 |
| Idaho | 24 | 15 | 20 |
| Illinois | 23 | 7 | 47 |
| Indiana | 44 | 18 | 48 |
| Iowa | 40 | 36 | 9 |
| Kansas | 43 | 28 | 16 |
| Kentucky | 41 | 30 | 27 |
| Louisiana | 14 | 20 | 42 |
| Maine | 27 | 46 | 12 |
| Maryland | 42 | 49 | 31 |
| Massachusetts | 13 | 41 | 25 |
| Michigan | 30 | 5 | 29 |
| Minnesota | 19 | 4 | 2 |
| Mississippi | 33 | 23 | 6 |
| Missouri | 46 | 14 | 15 |
| Montana | 8 | 25 | 13 |
| Nebraska | 22 | 21 | 14 |
| Nevada | 34 | 1 | 43 |
| New Hampshire | 10 | 43 | 4 |
| New Jersey | 3 | 32 | 49 |
| New Mexico | 38 | 8 | 8 |
| New York | 47 | 47 | 37 |
| North Carolina | 45 | 27 | 34 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 35 | 1 |
| Ohio | 49 | 13 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | 17 | 17 |
| Oregon | 15 | 38 | 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 35 | 16 | 44 |
| Rhode Island | 16 | 44 | 23 |
| South Carolina | 4 | 33 | 30 |
| South Dakota | 7 | 45 | 5 |
| Tennessee | 36 | 24 | 28 |
| Texas | 2 | 3 | 46 |
| Utah | 25 | 29 | 22 |
| Vermont | 17 | 48 | 26 |
| Virginia | 48 | 22 | 41 |
| Washington | 31 | 6 | 21 |
| West Virginia | 26 | 37 | 45 |
| Wisconsin | 32 | 10 | 3 |
| Wyoming | 18 | 19 | 11 |