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    Nursing salaries and job outlook by state

    Registered nurses are highly sought after across the U.S. Find out which states offer the most job opportunities and highest salaries.


    How much do nurses in each U.S. state?

    Registered nurses remain one of the most in-demand healthcare professions in the United States, but nurse salaries and job opportunities can vary significantly by state. In some regions, high wages and strong demand are driven by projected workforce shortages, while other states may see a more balanced job market or even a surplus of nurses in the coming years.

    Based on analysis of nursing workforce projections tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, the long-term outlook for registered nurses varies widely across the country. These projections look toward 2038 and estimate how the supply of nurses compares with expected demand in each state.

    Across the United States:
    • Average RN salaries range from about $72K to nearly $150K per year, depending on the state.
    • Some states—including California, Washington, Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina—are projected to face significant nursing shortfalls, which may create strong demand for nurses entering the workforce.
    • Other states could see balanced labor markets, where the number of nurses available closely matches projected demand.
    • A number of states may experience projected surpluses of nurses, meaning job competition could be somewhat stronger even though healthcare employers continue hiring.

    Higher-paying states are often located on the West Coast and in the Northeast, where healthcare systems tend to offer stronger wages but may also face large workforce gaps as populations age and demand for healthcare services grows.

    For nurses evaluating where to work, understanding both salary levels and workforce demand can be important. States with projected nurse shortages may offer more job openings, signing incentives, or career mobility, while states with a surplus may offer strong training programs and stable employment environments but slightly more competition for roles.

    The state-by-state breakdown below explores how much nurses earn in each state and whether workforce projections suggest a future shortage, balanced market, or surplus of nurses based on OEWS-linked projections for 2038.
    Registered nurses in Alabama earn about $75K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 19% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Alaska earn about $112K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 30% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand. For nurses focused on income, Alaska stands out as one of the 10 highest-paying places for registered nurses based on BLS salary data.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Arizona earn about $95K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest a relatively balanced supply of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a relatively balanced labor market, with nurse supply and demand expected to remain close.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Arkansas earn about $78K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 8% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in California earn about $148K per year on average, making it the top-paying state throughout the U.S. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 22% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. For nurses entering the profession, markets with shortages often translate into stronger hiring conditions and more job flexibility. As you’d expect the largest concentration of healthcare services (and thus, jobs) are in the San Francisco area and southwards in Los Angeles as well as San Diego.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The average registered nurse salary in Colorado is about $95K per year. Looking ahead, the state could face about a 7% shortfall of nurses by 2038. If that projection holds, employers may continue to compete for qualified nurses. These long-range projections are derived from 2038 workforce estimates tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Connecticut earn about $104K per year on average. The workforce outlook points to about a 14% surplus of nurses by 2038. If that pattern holds, nurses may see a more crowded hiring landscape in the coming years. Connecticut is in the top 10 for the highest-paying markets for registered nurses here, giving it added appeal for nurses weighing salary alongside long-term job prospects.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Delaware earn about $95K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
    suggest a relatively balanced supply of nurses in the state over the next decade, with nurse supply and demand expected to remain close.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in District of Columbia earn about $109K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 54% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For registered nurses in Florida, average annual pay is about $88K. Over the next decade, nursing supply and demand are projected to stay relatively close. That should keep the labor market closer to equilibrium than in states with larger projected imbalances. The projection figures cited here come from 2038 workforce estimates associated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Georgia earn about $92K per year on average. Long-term projections suggest roughly a 20% shortfall of nurses by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Hawaii earn about $124K per year on average. This makes it one of the top-paying states for qualified nurses. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 27% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses in Hawaii, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Idaho earn about $90K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 6% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field and looking to practice a nurses in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The average registered nurse salary in Illinois is about $91K per year. Long-term projections suggest roughly a 14% surplus of nurses by 2038. If that pattern holds, nurses may see a more crowded hiring landscape in the coming years.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Indiana earn about $86K per year on average. Long‑term workforce projections from BLS suggest a relatively balanced labor market, with nurse supply and demand expected to remain close.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Iowa earn about $78K per year on average, making it one of the lower-paying states for RNs. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest a relatively balanced supply of nurses in the state by 2038, with an expected 4% surplus of nurses compared with demand in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Kentucky earn about $84K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections for 2038 suggest a relatively balanced supply of nurses in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Nurses in Kansas earn around $79K annually on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 15% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    In Louisiana, registered nurses earn roughly $84K annually on average. The workforce outlook points to about a 11% shortfall of nurses by 2038. If that projection holds, employers may continue to compete for qualified nurses. These long-range projections are derived from 2038 workforce estimates tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The average registered nurse salary in Maine is about $87K per year. Long-term projections tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program predict a 6% shortfall of nurses by 2038. That outlook points to continued demand and potentially more openings for nurses entering the profession.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The average registered nurse salary in Maryland is about $97K per year. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 16% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Nurses in Massachusetts earn around $113K annually on average. The workforce outlook points to about a 7% surplus of nurses by 2038. That may translate into a more competitive hiring environment if workforce supply grows faster than employer demand. For nurses focused on earning potential, Massachusetts stands out as one of the 10 highest-paying states (#5 nationwide) in the country based on BLS salary data for registered nurses.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Michigan earn about $91K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 18% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field as qualified nurses practicing in Michigan.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For registered nurses in Minnesota, average annual pay is about $99K. By 2038, projections indicate nurse supply may outpace demand by about 14%. That kind of surplus could make the job market somewhat more competitive over time.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Mississippi earn about $79K per year on average, making it one of the lowest paying states nationwide. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest a relatively balanced labor outlook for nursing opportunities in the state in terms of nursing supply and demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Missouri earn about $82K per year on average. Looking out over the next decade 2038, supply and demand are projected to stay relatively close. This suggests a relatively balanced labor market for nursing job opportunities in Missouri.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    In Montana, registered nurses earn roughly $88K annually on average. By 2038, projections indicate nurse supply may outpace demand by about 15%. If that pattern holds, nurses may see a more crowded hiring landscape in the coming years. These estimates are based on 2038 projection data connected to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The typical registered nurse in Nebraska earns roughly $83K annually. But workforce dynamics also matter. According to projections for 2038 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS program, the state could experience a larger projected surplus of nurses (10%).

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Nevada earn about $102K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 19% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Nurses in New Hampshire earn about $95K per year on average. Looking ahead to 2038, projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program suggest the nursing workforce in the state could face a moderate projected shortage of nurses. In percentage terms, the projected gap between supply and demand is roughly 7%. For nurses entering the profession, markets with shortages often translate into stronger hiring conditions and more job flexibility.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in New Jersey make about $107K annually on average, placing it among the top 10 states in terms of nationwide RN salary averages. But salary is only part of the picture. Based on projections from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, New Jersey is projected to experience a 5% nursing shortfall by 2038. This suggests ongoing demand for qualified nurses in this highly urbanized state, which is among the bigger, more concentrated healthcare hubs within the United States.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Nurses in New Mexico earn around $94K annually on average. Looking ahead, the nursing workforce is expected to stay close to equilibrium by 2038. That balance suggests a steadier labor market, with neither a pronounced shortage nor a large surplus projected.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For nurses comparing career opportunities across states, New York offers an average RN salary of roughly $110K. Labor market projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS program suggest the nursing workforce could see a relatively balanced nursing workforce by 2038. Measured as a share of total demand, the projected gap is about 3%, highlighting how workforce pressure may shape hiring in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in North Carolina earn about $86K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 20% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field. Some of the bigger healthcare hubs in North Carolina are centered around the state capital Raleigh (and neighboring Durham), Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in North Dakota earn about $82K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a large surplus (49%) of nurses in the state by 2038, although the overall numbers are small (less than 10K estimated nursing jobs statewide) in relative terms compared to other states with larger, more concentrated urban areas and concentration of healthcare services.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    The average registered nurse salary in Ohio is about $86K per year. Looking ahead, the state could see about a 17% surplus of nurses by 2038. That may translate into a more competitive hiring environment if workforce supply grows faster than employer demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Oklahoma earn about $86K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest about a 13% shortfall of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests strong demand for qualified nurses and could create more job opportunities for those entering the field. Oklahoma biggest healthcare hubs are centered around Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    In Oregon, registered nurses earn roughly $120K annually on average. This puts Oregon among the top 3 states salary-wise in the country, a notable advantage for nurses prioritizing earning potential. Looking ahead, the state could face about a 6% shortfall of nurses by 2038 according to BLS predicitons. That kind of shortfall can support strong demand for qualified nurses entering the field.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Nurses in Pennsylvania earn about $91K per year on average. Looking ahead to 2038, projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program suggest the nursing workforce in the state could face a moderate projected shortage of nurses. In percentage terms, the projected gap between supply and demand is roughly 8%. For nurses entering the profession, markets with shortages often translate into stronger hiring conditions and more job flexibility.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For nurses researching salary and job prospects, Rhode Island offers an average RN salary of about $100K. Workforce projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS program estimate demand for roughly 12K nurses in 2038 compared with an estimated supply of about 14K. The outlook points to a small projected surplus of nurses, a factor that can shape job availability for early‑career nurses.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    RN salaries in South Carolina average roughly $85K each year. Beyond compensation, projections from the BLS suggest point to a 12% shortfall of qualified nurses compared to demand by 2038. For people entering the profession, these dynamics can help signal where job opportunities may be strongest in the coming years.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Average pay for registered nurses in South Dakota is about $72K per year, making it one of the lowest-paying states (of course, this balances against lower average costs of living). Unfortunately, BLS data also points to a significant gap (42%) between predicated nursing demand in the state compared to the expected supply of qualified nurses.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For nurses comparing career opportunities across states, Tennessee offers an average RN salary of roughly $82K. Labor market projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS program suggest the nursing workforce could see a relatively steady job landscape over the next decade.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Average pay for nurses in Texas is about $92K per year. Beyond salary, projections from the BLS point to a moderate projected shortage of nurses by 2038. In relative terms, the difference between projected supply and demand works out to about 7%. That percentage helps illustrate whether hospitals and healthcare systems may struggle to recruit enough nurses. Conversely, a shortfall indicates demand for qualified nurses to fill job openings for those entering the profession and looking to practice nursing in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Utah earn about $88K per year on average. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 40% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    In Vermont, the average RN salary is around $93K. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 37% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand. That kind of workforce balance can influence how competitive the job market is for new graduates.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    In Virginia, the average RN salary is around $91K. Workforce projections from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program indicate that by 2038 the state’s nursing labor market face a 9% shortfall of qualified nurses. This suggests there may be future job opportunities for those entering the field in the coming years.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Registered nurses in Washington earn about $116K per year on average. Looking ahead, the state could face about a 17% shortfall of nurses by 2038. That kind of shortfall can support strong demand for qualified nurses entering the field, with opportunities centered around the big healthcare hubs in Seattle as well as Spokane to a lesser extent on the eastern edge of the state. With the big metro areas in and around Seattle, Washington is also one of the top 10 highest-paying markets for registered nurses here, giving it added appeal for nurses weighing salary alongside long-term job prospects.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For nurses comparing career opportunities across states, West Virginia offers an average RN salary of roughly $81K. Labor market projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS program suggest the nursing workforce could see a larger projected surplus of nurses by 2038. Measured as a share of total demand, the projected gap is about 186%, highlighting how workforce pressure may shape hiring in the state.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    Average pay for registered nurses in Wisconsin is about $90K per year. Looking ahead, long‑term workforce projections suggest roughly a 19% surplus of nurses in the state by 2038. This suggests a more competitive job market for nurses, with the supply of nurses expected to exceed demand.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)
    For registered nurses in Wyoming, average annual pay is about $88K. By 2038, projections indicate nurse supply may outpace demand significantly. That may translate into a more competitive hiring environment if workforce supply grows faster than employer demand, although it should be noted that the overall predicated number of nursing opportunities in the state (≈5,000) is one of the smallest in the country in absolute terms.

    Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026)