10 best and worst states for nurses

Amy Baxter | | Health Exec | Policy & Regulations
a patient talks with her doctor, both are women of color

Not all states are equal when it comes to the job quality and opportunity of being a nurse the U.S. While the profession is in high demand, with expectations that the industry will double the rate of the average occupation by 2026, there are several challenges to being a nurse depending on location.

WalletHub compared the 50 states plus the District of Columbia across 21 metrics that assess nursing job opportunities in the nation. The list took into account metrics across two dimensions––work environment and opportunity and competition––looking at nursing salary, the prevalence of healthcare facilities and laws and regulations.

Best states for nurses:

  1. Oregon
  2. Minnesota
  3. Washington
  4. New Mexico
  5. Maine
  6. Montana
  7. Arizona
  8. Nevada
  9. New Hampshire
  10. Iowa

Nevada was ranked as the No. 1 state for the highest annual nursing salary, followed by Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona and Ohio. On the other end of the spectrum, Maryland, Vermont, Maine, New York and the District of Columbia were among the lowest annual nursing salaries.

While ranking as the worst state for nurses, the District of Columbia was tied with three other states for the most nursing job openings per capita. New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont also had the most job openings, followed by Massachusetts. The District of Columbia was tied with North Dakota for the state with highest competition by 2026. By comparison, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, California and Washington were ranked as the five states with the lowest competition by 2026.

Worst states for nurses:

  1. Virginia
  2. Vermont
  3. Ohio
  4. Mississippi
  5. Alabama
  6. Oklahoma
  7. Louisiana
  8. Hawaii
  9. New York
  10. District of Columbia

See the full ranking from WalletHub here.

Amy Baxter
Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

Related Content

Mangione now faces federal charges, death penalty in murder of UHC CEO
FDA issues Class I recall on counterfeit infusion pump batteries
FDA issues alert on PCNL sheath safety after patient death
DOJ sues CVS over unlawful opioid prescriptions and reimbursement
FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders
Advancing AI for vascular surgery will require a commitment to data integrity

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

AI in Healthcare
From Capitol Hill to a hospital near you? 5 federal recommendations for healthcare AI policy

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Cardiovascular Business
Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.