State Rankings

Best States for Registered Nurse (RN)

Compare salary, training costs, reciprocity, and job growth across all 51 states to find the best place to start or advance your Registered Nurse (RN) career.

Highest Salary

California

$133,990 median

Lowest Cost

Alaska

From $800

Fastest Growth

California

6.5% growth

Rank by:

Reciprocity only (51)

#	State	Median Salary	Training Cost	Hours	Growth
1	California	$133,990	$800–$2,500	N/A	6.5%
2	Hawaii	$129,210	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
3	Oregon	$110,940	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.3%
4	Washington	$107,720	$10,000–$30,000	N/A	5.2%
5	Alaska	$106,410	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
6	District of Columbia	$105,220	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.5%
7	New York	$104,570	$800–$2,500	120	5.2%
8	Connecticut	$100,620	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
9	New Jersey	$100,160	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.2%
10	Massachusetts	$99,730	$800–$15,000	N/A	4.9%
11	Minnesota	$97,300	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.2%
12	Nevada	$96,210	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
13	Rhode Island	$94,840	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
14	Delaware	$93,200	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
15	Maryland	$89,340	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
16	Arizona	$88,310	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.5%
17	Colorado	$86,900	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
18	New Hampshire	$86,620	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
19	Texas	$85,110	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.5%
20	Virginia	$84,100	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.2%
21	New Mexico	$83,970	$5,000–$20,000	N/A	4.9%
22	Georgia	$83,620	$800–$2,500	N/A	6.2%
23	Wisconsin	$83,300	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
24	Pennsylvania	$82,780	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
25	Illinois	$82,470	$10,000–$40,000	N/A	4.9%
26	Vermont	$81,900	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.5%
27	Michigan	$81,710	$5,000–$40,000	N/A	4.9%
28	Maine	$81,610	$10,000–$30,000	N/A	4.9%
29	Florida	$80,960	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
30	Idaho	$80,130	$800–$2,500	N/A	6.5%
31	Wyoming	$79,970	$800–$2,500	N/A	3.5%
32	Ohio	$79,940	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.0%
33	Utah	$79,790	$800–$2,500	N/A	6.5%
34	North Carolina	$79,580	$5,000–$20,000	N/A	5.5%
35	Montana	$79,170	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.5%
36	Oklahoma	$78,760	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
37	West Virginia	$78,730	$800–$15,000	N/A	4.0%
38	Indiana	$78,530	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
39	South Carolina	$78,380	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.2%
40	Nebraska	$78,100	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.5%
41	Kentucky	$77,830	$10,000–$40,000	N/A	5.0%
42	Missouri	$77,190	$10,000–$30,000	N/A	4.9%
43	Louisiana	$76,650	$10,000–$30,000	N/A	4.0%
44	Tennessee	$76,200	$800–$2,500	N/A	5.2%
45	Kansas	$75,780	$10,000–$40,000	N/A	4.9%
46	North Dakota	$74,930	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
47	Arkansas	$72,920	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
48	Iowa	$71,570	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
49	Mississippi	$69,370	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.9%
50	South Dakota	$67,030	$800–$5,000	N/A	4.9%
51	Alabama	$65,900	$800–$2,500	N/A	4.5%