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Top 10 Best and Worst States to Be a Nurse
NursingLink.com and CareerVoyages.gov
There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.
Top 10 Highest Nurse Paying States
| State | Salary (hourly) |
| 1. California | $25.45 |
| 2. Hawaii | $24.76 |
| 3. Massachusetts | $23.38 |
| 4. New Jersey | $23.33 |
| 5. Alaska | $23.09 |
| 6. Delaware | $22.98 |
| 7. Oregon | $22.91 |
| 8. Nevada | $22.83 |
| 9. Maryland | $22.79 |
| 10. Connecticut | $22.62 |
dwhowe61
over 4 years ago
14 comments
I am sorry but I have just recently applied for several jobs and the salary range on all of them was 35.00 to 45.00 per hour. This is for an RN in the state of Washington and California is even higher.
I think your figures for nurse salaries are a bit low.
msprodigious
over 4 years ago
96 comments
I don't think these hourly salary are for RN nurses maybe LPN or LVN. This is what I got paid doing Respiratory....my RN friends in California were making almost double what is presented here.....my Georgia RN friends made from $35-40 an hr.
lasernurse44
over 4 years ago
4 comments
these seem low..........
smaier
over 4 years ago
34 comments
Now ,If we can just find a job for my husband in Hawaii life would be perfect . It's a thought.
jessbarnes84
over 4 years ago
596 comments
I agree with kistpehe on this Topic. For those of You who don't know do a search on cost of living vs pay on any City/State You'all want to search salary for.
kistpehe
over 4 years ago
4 comments
I have been a nurse in Detroit, MI; South Bend, IN; and currently Chicago, IL. The best pay of the three for the cost of living was South Bend, IN. The worst of the three is Chicago, IL for the cost of living. Rule of thumb for good pay with low cost of living...go to a place where it is not as popular to live such as IN. The more popular a place is the less you will get paid vs. the cost of living.
NurseMIke
over 4 years ago
24 comments
I was going to say I'm a LPN and I make that much.
NurseMIke
over 4 years ago
24 comments
I was going to say I'm a LPN and I make that much.
nurse_dee_2006
over 4 years ago
50 comments
whitefang: You would do well to go anywhere else. You now have 5 continuous year of nursing experience. Apply anywhere else and interview. You will be amazed at the difference in your 'new' salary offers!
cyndi
over 4 years ago
2 comments
maine pays 28.00 for a new nurse just starting out.
Georgette_70
almost 5 years ago
10 comments
The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio and the University of Cincinnati ohio are both very good paying Jobs for RN's I have friends that work at both. The bonuses are awesome! When I get done in my program I am looking into relocating to closer to these.
whitefang
almost 5 years ago
4 comments
ive been a lvn for 5 yrs in the same hospital, same unit. my starting salary was 12.50 /hr. now in 5 yrs it is only at 14.05/hr. makes me want to go somewhere else after reading all the comments here.
10470
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
Wow, this is really helpful. I wonder where New York or Georgia place on this list.
irishgyrl
almost 5 years ago
74 comments
Hmmm...I'm wondering where Arizona is in all of this. I plan on relocating next summer after graduation. I did get a letter from the Tucson area and they stated that they are paying upwards of $40/hr for RN's?
studentinprogress
almost 5 years ago
4 comments
very helpful