Best Cities For Nurses With Average Salaries

If you are a nurse, you may discover that some regions are preferable to work in than others. Some regions have more job options and more income potential than others. Researching these places might help you choose a location that provides employment security and helps you to maximize your earnings.

Best cities for nurses

1. San Francisco, California

• Average salary: $132,179 per year
• Location quotient: 0.85

As one of the highest-paying towns for nurses, this city by the bay has numerous work possibilities to help offset the high cost of living. San Francisco has a population of approximately one million people who require a wide range of health care services. The neighborhood also provides handy transportation choices for nurses to and from their workplaces.

2. Modesto, California

• Average salary: $154,542 per year
• Location quotient: 1.25

Along with a variety of work options in a prestigious health care and nursing education system, Modesto nurses are among the highest paid in the country. This community provides more affordable housing options and cost-of-living benefits than many other California communities. Modesto is home to both a lively city center and a thriving agricultural sector in the neighboring farmlands. The city’s high location quotient allows it to hire more nurses than the national average.

3. San Jose, California

• Average salary: $113,354 per year
• Location quotient: 0.89

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, San Jose and the nearby cities of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are among the highest-paying metropolitan areas for nurses. It employs more than 20,000 nurses across multiple specializations. San Jose and its sister cities provide a thriving environment for health care workers, with three major health care institutions recruiting registered nurses for training and employment.

4. Honolulu, Hawaii

• Average salary: $97,811 per year
• Location quotient: 0.94

Hawaii’s tropical environment and scenic beaches make it an appealing area for nurses to work. Along with increasing compensation, nurses are in high demand in the state, with shortages projected by 2024. Despite its isolation from other states, Hawaii is home to a number of organizations dedicated to the professional growth of nurses.

5. Boston, Massachusetts

• Average salary: $102,663 per year
• Location quotient: 1.18

Nurse employment in Boston and the surrounding metropolitan area is among the highest in the country. This historic city has a cutting-edge health care system, including a network of research hospitals. The Boston area has approximately 60 schools and universities, making it an ideal location for health care education.

6. Washington, D.C.

• Average salary: $94,713 per year
• Location quotient: 0.69

Washington, D.C., is the capital of the United States and a worldwide hub for government officials, visitors, and visiting dignitaries. Working in highly recognized medical facilities can also be beneficial for a nurse. Although the District is not a state, it does have its own nursing board through which you can obtain a license to practice.

7. Boise, Idaho

• Average salary: $142,828 per year
• Location quotient: 1.08

Boise, Idaho’s largest city, provides nurses with a low cost of living and great earnings. It can be an appealing location for nurses to settle because it is both metropolitan and adjacent to the state’s rural charm. Regardless of your expertise, working as a nurse in Boise allows you to live the lifestyle you desire.

8. New York, New York

• Average salary: $144,755 per year
• Location quotient: 0.96

New York is the most densely inhabited metropolis in the United States, which creates significant health-care needs. The New York metropolitan area employs the most registered nurses in the country. Experts predict an approaching nursing shortfall as a huge number of city nurses prepare to retire.

9. Durham, North Carolina

• Average salary: $90,673 per year
• Location quotient: 2.25

Durham is dubbed the “City of Medicine” because to its significant concentration of health care jobs and facilities. If you’re looking for a non-metropolitan area, Durham is an excellent choice for registered nurses seeking high-paying positions in a more suburban setting. You might also seek professional assistance from local nursing groups.

10. Phoenix, Arizona

• Average salary: $88,976 per year
• Location quotient: 0.88

As the population of Arizona’s largest city grows, so will the demand for nurses. Health-care facilities are expanding in this arid community. Family medicine and emergency care are two popular nursing specialty.

11. Detroit, Michigan

• Average salary: $105,001 per year
• Location quotient: 1.12

The state of Michigan employs more nurses than the national average, and Detroit, with its lower-than-average cost of living, is a high-paying city for nurses. Several state organizations employ nurses, but you can also apply for opportunities at significant commercial enterprises. Some Detroit nurses specialize in a variety of patient populations, including children, diabetics, and the elderly.

12. Anchorage, Alaska

• Average salary: $52,707 per year
• Location quotient: 1.19

Alaska is the highest-paying state for registered nurses. It also employs a larger than typical number of nurses. Anchorage, the largest city in this harsh state, has a diverse range of medical services.

13. Tucson, Arizona

• Average salary: $116,194 per year
• Location quotient: 1.19

Tucson, nestled in the mountains, is another nurse-friendly location thanks to its cheap average cost of living and good pay. Tucson has a large private health industry. While registered nurses benefit from a favorable location quotient, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners benefit even more.

14. Las Vegas, Nevada

• Average salary: $92,191 per year
• Location quotient: 0.92

This city is becoming increasingly popular as a professional destination outside of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Nurses in this state can earn a good wage while paying no income taxes and living at a low cost. Registered nurses have a somewhat greater location quotient than nurse practitioners.

15. Houston, Texas

• Average salary: $81,528 per year
• Location quotient: 0.87

The fourth-biggest city in the United States is home to the world’s largest medical institution, making it an excellent location for nurses to find work. Houston employs more than 50,000 registered nurses and offers possibilities for nursing professionals with additional degrees. Texas is noted for its diverse sectors and low cost of living.

16. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Average salary: $116,884 per year
• Location quotient: 1.28

The Philadelphia metropolitan area, one of the oldest cities in the country, employs more registered nurses than the national average. The area established its first hospital during the Colonial period. With a scarcity of nurses in the city, this is a great spot for registered nurses to find work.

17. Charlottesville, Virginia

• Average salary: $91,565 per year
• Location quotient: 1.57

Charlottesville, located among the Blue Ridge Mountains, relies heavily on health care to sustain its economy. Nurses in Charlottesville earn good pay and have a low cost of living. This region has an especially high demand for nurse anesthetists.

18. Cincinnati, Ohio

• Average salary: $89,094 per year
• Location quotient: 1.08

Cincinnati is a developing Midwest economy with numerous prospects for health care workers. The location for registered nurses is 1.08, but other professionals have strong job security as well. Two in particular are nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners.

19. Greensboro, North Carolina

• Average salary: $88,712 per year
• Location quotient: 0.77

Greensboro, with its high earning potential and lower-than-average cost of living, is an appealing location for nurses. This city’s employment is particularly concentrated on the health-care industry. Many professions prefer the location quotients of registered nurses, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners.

20. Providence, Rhode Island

• Average salary: $97,964 per year
• Location quotient: 1.13

Providence’s health-care institutions serve a large metropolitan region, and the state employs more nurses than the norm. While nurse anesthetists have a lower location quotient than the average, other occupations benefit from higher location quotients. Examples include nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.

quotients. Examples include nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.

21. Atlanta, Georgia

• Average salary: $87,145 per year
• Location quotient: 0.76

Atlanta, a southern business and cultural hub, is also a thriving area for nurses. It is home to the state’s largest medical facility. The location quotient is lower for nurse anesthetists and not reported for nurse midwives, although registered nurses and nurse practitioners frequently work in this city.

22. Chicago, Illinois

• Average salary: $97,126 per hour
• Location quotient: 1.06

Chicago, the Midwest’s largest city and the third-largest in the United States, is likely to experience a nursing shortage in coming years. You may be able to obtain employment stability by working in this city. Approximately 100,000 registered nurses are employed in total.

23. Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Average salary: $97,711 per year
• Location quotient: 1.24

Albuquerque is home to a variety of specialty medical programs and health care institutions, and it employs almost 10,000 registered nurses. The strong demand for licensed practical and vocational nurses draws a large number of health care professionals. You can also boost your career by applying for nursing assistant employment in Albuquerque.

24. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Average salary: $132,958 per year
• Location quotient: 1.28

Milwaukee is one of the most affordable major cities to live in, given to high professional salaries and a lower-than-average cost of living. Registered nurses can work in a variety of health-care settings, including those that serve both children and adults. Location quotients are also advantageous for nurse midwives and nurse practitioners.

25. Dallas, Texas

• Average salary: $81,524 per year
• Location quotient: 0.81

Dallas is one of the country’s major areas recruiting the most nurses in a state with one of the top five nurse employment rates. Dallas, a thriving city in industry, agriculture, and the arts, is home to a number of medical complexes, including a pediatric hospital. The city employs more than 60,000 registered nurses.

26. Miami, Florida

• Average salary: $83,760 per year
• Location quotient: 1.00

Miami, a city with significant cultural roots, also has a robust health-care system where nurses can find high-paying jobs. Local universities have medical centers for research and training. Over 50,000 registered nurses work in Miami.

27. St. Louis, Missouri

• Average salary: $159,476 per year
• Location quotient: 1.14

St. Louis is a hub for registered nurses, as it houses one of the world’s largest health care facilities. It has a high earning potential and a location quotient of 11.14 for registered nurses. Nursing educators may find the location appealing as a workplace.

28. Tampa, Florida

• Average salary: $80,763 per year
• Location quotient: 1.11

Florida is one of the top five states with the highest number of nurses. Tampa, one of Florida’s largest cities on the west coast, is a booming destination for registered nurses, thanks to a strong health-care system that includes more than 20 hospitals and well regarded nursing schools. Nurses are paid a higher-than-average wage in a state with no income tax.

29. Louisville, Kentucky

• Average salary: $142,414 per year
• Location quotient: 1.12

Louisville employs a considerable number of registered nurses among five health care institutions. One of the most visible organizations is a local university’s medical center. You might also expect nurse practitioners to have a favorable location.

30. Nashville, Tennessee

• Average salary: $114,752 per year
• Location quotient: 0.99

Nashville is one of the country’s best nursing training institutions. Despite Nashville’s well-known reputation for music, health care is the city’s largest industry. Over 20,000 registered nurses are employed in Nashville.