Career Atlas USA

Best States for Registered Nurses

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Delaware77.6 / 100
  2. 2Minnesota75.6 / 100
  3. 3Massachusetts74.7 / 100
  4. 4Pennsylvania73.9 / 100
  5. 5Michigan69.7 / 100
  6. 6Wisconsin69.5 / 100
  7. 7Connecticut67.3 / 100
  8. 8Vermont66.2 / 100
  9. 9Missouri64.5 / 100
  10. 10Alaska63.5 / 100
  11. 11Arizona62.3 / 100
  12. 12New York61.3 / 100
  13. 13Louisiana60.9 / 100
  14. 14Ohio60 / 100
  15. 15Illinois60 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).