If you’re considering starting your nursing career, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is where to live and work. While it’s important to consider factors like family, lifestyle preferences, and career opportunities, salary and cost of living can also play a huge role in your choice. Let’s dive into the data and explore the highest-paying cities for nurses in every state!
Median Salary and Best-Paying Cities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for nurse practitioners is $121,610. That’s a pretty impressive number, but some cities stand out for offering even higher wages. San Jose and San Francisco, both in California, are among the best-paying cities for nurses. And if you’re looking at registered nurses specifically, Vivian Health found that Santa Cruz, California, tops the list with a median annual wage of $175,350. That’s more than double the national median salary for RNs!
Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that cities with higher salaries often have a higher cost of living as well. We’ll talk more about that in a bit.
Highest-Paying Cities for Nurses in Every State
Vivian Health did a fascinating ranking that looked at the metro area in each state where nurses earn some of the highest wages relative to other occupations in the area. Here’s what they found:
- Alabama — Daphne: $64,700
- Alaska — Fairbanks: $107,880
- Arizona — Yuma: $82,290
- Arkansas — Little Rock: $71,460
- California — Santa Cruz: $175,350
- Colorado — Pueblo: $82,780
- Connecticut — Danbury: $105,370
- Delaware — Dover: $78,320
- Florida — Sebastian: $79,190
- Georgia — Rome: $81,320
- Hawaii — Urban Honolulu: $127,020
- Idaho — Coeur d’Alene: $83,730
- Illinois — Kankakee: $80,470
- Indiana — Michigan City: $72,720
- Iowa — Sioux City: $62,860
- Kansas — Lawrence: $67,150
- Kentucky — Owensboro: $78,040
- Louisiana — Shreveport: $77,790
- Maine — Bangor: $83,750
- Maryland — Salisbury: $79,210
- Massachusetts — Leominster: $96,410
- Michigan — Flint: $86,210
- Minnesota — St. Cloud: $85,730
- Mississippi — Hattiesburg: $59,910
- Missouri — St. Louis: $77,390
- Montana — Missoula: $76,550
- Nebraska — Grand Island: $74,290
- Nevada — Las Vegas: $95,770
- New Hampshire — Manchester: $80,560
- New Jersey — Ocean City: $85,490
- New Mexico — Las Cruces: $78,270
- New York — New York City: $103,540
- North Carolina — Fayetteville: $82,390
- North Dakota — Fargo: $75,710
- Ohio — Canton: $74,950
- Oklahoma — Lawton: $77,070
- Oregon — Bend: $108,310
- Pennsylvania — Chambersburg: $84,090
- Rhode Island — Providence: $84,770
- South Carolina — Spartanburg: $81,520
- South Dakota — Rapid City: $62,920
- Tennessee — Cleveland: $76,620
- Texas — Wichita Falls: $79,800
- Utah — Provo: $75,090
- Vermont — Burlington: $77,230
- Virginia — Winchester: $81,940
- Washington — Spokane: $100,280
- West Virginia — Huntington: $77,240
- Wisconsin — Racine: $77,960
- Wyoming — Cheyenne: $81,680
Some interesting patterns emerge when you look at this list. Many of the highest-paying cities are smaller metro areas rather than the biggest cities in each state. For example, in Texas, Wichita Falls beats out larger cities like Houston and Dallas. And in Pennsylvania, Chambersburg tops the list rather than Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
This suggests that while big cities might have more job opportunities overall, smaller cities can sometimes offer a better balance of salary and cost of living.
Cost of Living Considerations
While a high salary is certainly appealing, it’s important to consider how far that money will go in different cities. Cost of living can vary widely across the country, with some cities being much more expensive than others.
For example, let’s compare Santa Cruz, California (the highest-paying city for RNs) with Hattiesburg, Mississippi (the highest-paying city in that state). According to BestPlaces.net, the cost of living index in Santa Cruz is 196.6, meaning it’s nearly twice as expensive as the national average. Housing, in particular, is more than four times the national average!
In contrast, Hattiesburg’s cost of living index is just 84.8, meaning it’s nearly 15% cheaper than the national average. Housing costs are less than half the national average.
So while a nurse in Santa Cruz might earn a median salary of $175,350, they’ll also be paying a lot more for housing, food, transportation, and other expenses. A nurse in Hattiesburg earning the median salary of $59,910 will likely have a lot more disposable income.
Making Your Decision
Ultimately, the decision of where to live and work as a nurse is a personal one that depends on your unique circumstances and priorities. But by taking salary and cost of living into account, you can make a more informed choice.
If you’re just starting out in your career, you might prioritize a city with a lower cost of living so you can build up your savings and pay off any student loans. As you gain experience and advance in your career, you might be able to afford a higher cost of living in exchange for a higher salary and more opportunities.
Remember, too, that salary isn’t everything. Consider factors like the type of nursing you want to do, the work culture at different hospitals and clinics, and the overall quality of life in different cities. Do you want to be close to family? Do you prefer a big city or a smaller town? Do you want to work in a specialty area like pediatrics or oncology? All of these factors can help guide your decision.
No matter where you end up, nursing is a rewarding and in-demand career with plenty of room for growth. By doing your research and weighing your options carefully, you can find the right city and the right job to launch your nursing journey. Best of luck!
