Top 10 Best and Worst States to Be a Nurse

After reading several of these comments, I think we need to value ourselves and our profession more. We should be demanding more compensation for the knowledge and risks we take with this profession. It is sad that a plumber or electrician makes more than a nurse. It's sad that a family law attorney can charge 270.00 to 400.00 per hour for their services and we can't be valued enough to be paid for what we are really worth in saving lives every day. I think nurses should unionize across the country to finally get the message to these hospitals, agencies, and LTC facilities that we deserve much more than the pittance that they throw at us.

Living in Northern Illinois, the pay rates for RN's are not high enough for the cost of living. With over 30 years experience, I am working 2 jobs just to survive! The pay rates are from 26.00 to 32.00 per hour which is an insult to the profession. We deserve to make at least $50.00 per hour and up. Also, the health insurance benefits are very costly. Twenty years ago, I made 21.00 per hour and the pay rates have not increased enough for inflationary cost of living expenses. And they wonder why seasoned nurses are fed up!

I work in KS and started out last year as a new grad at $21.50. those must be old figures.

I know that California nurses make more than that. Also, by law, they get time and a half after 8 hours for every shift they work. And believe me, after working in about 43 hospitals, sometimes the wage doesn't matter. I agree with nursebuttercup. Management is a consideration also.

Do you have any other indicators besides wage to determine "top states to be a nurse"?

I think it is important to look at the cost of living in whatever state you are looking at. California is one of the highest paying, but the cost of living is so much higher than other places. The information about Oklahoma is incorrect. I make over $20 an hour, that's without shift diff($23nightd/$25 nights-weekends)/non agency. I do not know of any hospital in the Okc metro that pays under $18. Average rent/morgage here is $400-900 month. California is $1300+ a month. Gas in Okc is cheaper, utilities are cheaper, groceries are cheaper ect..My paycheck stretches a lot further here than in California. Why don't you calculate the cost of living and then tell us whose making better money?

Texas - DFW area. I have a friend doing pedi-home health (RN) making about 78-80K a year. I just started a Hospice Job - making about 58K a year. But when I was job hunting one big FTW hospital said they were starting RN's without recent experience at $21.50. The best wages go to nurses who specialize or work agency positions. When I posted my resume my phone rang off the hook with agencies just dying to hire nurses. I wanted a local low key M-F job though.
Best advice I have to young nurses: get in the hospital - do the time, pay your dues and then take that experience you earned with little pay and go make some bucks. They will send you anywhere you want to go, pay your expenses, etc. The sky's the limit!

I knew Oklahoma would rate low but the cost of living is also very low. I have lived and worked in alot of the higher paying staes and the cost of living ate up alot more of my salary. I recently reached the $20.25 /hr after 5 years as a Case Manager who supervised. I went to salary and lost money but negotiated more paid vacation---3 weeks. I have free medical, dental and vision, they pay the 1st $1000, then I pay the next $1000, then its all paid by them. Really a pretty good deal with matching 401K. My daughter is BSN MSN in OR Management in VA and makes $95,000/yr.