Nurses may move to new states only to find their pay drops drastically. Before planning any move, a person must know the average salary for their profession in the new location. The following guide provides a brief overview of the best states for nurses where they can find the highest pay and best opportunities.
Median Annual Salary
Looking at the United States overall, the median annual salary for a nurse is $81,200. This equals $39 per hour, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. To evaluate how each state ranks, a person needs to look at the cost-of-living index (COLI), which uses a baseline value of 100. This value is indicative of the national average cost of goods and services. States with a value higher than 100 are more expensive, while those below 100 are more affordable. Individuals can use this information to determine whether they should pursue a career as a nurse practitioner.
California
California ranks first in the nation for nurses’ pay. Registered nurses in the state earn an annual median salary of $177,670 or $63.78 an hour. This state also employs more nurses than any other. However, the state has a cost-of-living index of 149.9, making it one of the most expensive states.
Hawaii
Who wouldn’t want to live in Hawaii and enjoy the sun, sand, and gorgeous weather? Nurses may wish to move to the state when they learn the median salary for registered nurses is $120,100 or $57.74 an hour. Before looking for homes in Hawaii, however, men and women must know this is the most expensive state to live in. In Hawaii, nurse practitioners make $132,610 a year, so a person might wish to pursue this advanced training.
Oregon
At one time, people could easily afford to live in Oregon. In recent decades, however, the cost of living has risen. The state now has a COLI of 116.2, leading to the need for higher nurse salaries. Registered nurses in this state may make as little as $81,470 or as much as $131,210. Most nurses find their pay falls somewhere in between, as the median annual salary for RNs is $106,680 or $51.29 hourly.
Alaska
Alaska doesn’t appeal to many people. No major tech industries call this state, and the climate doesn’t appeal to a wide range of people. Nurses in the state earn a median annual salary of $102,260, which they need. The COLI for the state is 125.3, which means they could find numerous other places with better weather and a lower cost of living.
Washington
Washington is home to several top nursing schools. People attending one of these schools may want to stay when they graduate. Registered nurses in the state earn a median salary of $101,230. Many individuals settle in the Seattle-Tacoma area because there are several major hospitals where they can find employment, and the annual salary for RNs is slightly higher than the state average.
After seeing a list of the top five states for nurses ‘ pay, nurses might assume they must live on the West Coast to make a decent salary. Parts of the East Coast also pay these medical professionals well. RNs in New York, for example, earn a median salary of $100,370, while those in Washington, D.C., can expect to bring home a median salary of $98.970. Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut round out the top ten. Minnesota ranks 13th in registered nurse pay, with a median annual salary of $84,060. Regardless of where one chooses to live, becoming a nurse practitioner increases annual and hourly pay, so it’s an option every RN should consider today.
