Which states need nurses?

Many states need nurses, especially California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, due to population growth, aging demographics, and retirements, with significant projected shortages in California, Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland; however, some states like Wyoming and North Dakota might have a surplus, while others like South Carolina, New Jersey, and Alaska consistently show high demand relative to supply.

What state is most in need of nurses?

Which States Need Nurses the Most?

• California – 44,500 FTEs.
• Texas – 15,900 FTEs.
• New Jersey – 11,400 FTEs.
• South Carolina – 10,400 FTEs.
• Alaska – 5,400 FTEs.

Where is the biggest nursing shortage?

Nearly 60% of California counties, stretching between the borders with Mexico and Oregon, face a nursing shortage, according to state data.

What type of RN is most in demand?

Long-Term Care Nurse

There is a focus on palliative care. As the U.S. population ages, the number of people needing nursing home care is increasing. Because of this, long-term care nursing is one of the top nursing specialties in demand.

What city needs nurses the most?

Best Places for Nursing Jobs

• New York (173,570)
• Los Angeles (109,790)
• Chicago (95,730)
• Philadelphia (70,530)
• Boston (62,260)
• Dallas (60,140)
• Houston (56,520)
• Miama (53,900)

Top 5 Best States in USA for Nurses (2026)

What state has the happiest nurses?

Top Happiest 5 states for nurses in the US

• #5 Colorado. Quality of life ranking: #10. Average RN salary: $69,990.00. ...
• #4 Alaska. Quality of life ranking: #19. Average RN salary: $88,510.00. ...
• #3 Oregon. Quality of life ranking: #18. ...
• #2 Wisconsin. Quality of life ranking: #3. ...
• #1 Minnesota. Quality of life ranking: #2.

Why are nurses quitting in 2025?

Burnout and Emotional Fatigue Remain Pervasive

According to the 2025 report: 79.9% of nurses say stress has increased due to staffing issues. 72.5% report heavier responsibilities but fewer resources. 69.4% cite reduced time with patients as result of short staffing.

Can an RN make $200,000?

While the median registered nurse salary sits at $93,600 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid nurses are earning well over $200,000 annually, proving that nursing can be both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. The nursing salary landscape has evolved dramatically.

Where do the happiest nurses work?

Top 10 Happiest Nursing Jobs

• Labor and delivery nurse.
• Radiology nurse.
• Gastrointestinal nurse.
• Cardiac nurse.
• Gynecology nurse.
• Pulmonary/respiratory nurse.
• Critical care nurse.
• Psychiatric nurse.

What do I do if I don't want to be a nurse anymore?

You can do a lot with an RN degree besides nursing in a clinical role. Some of the top areas for non-bedside nursing jobs are business administration, management, education, research, public health, and consulting.

Why are hospitals not hiring nurses?

Nearly 60% of California counties face nursing shortages. Nurses blame management-driven staffing crises and poor working conditions, while hospital administrators cite skyrocketing costs and federal funding cuts.

Which US state is best to work as a nurse?

Top 10 Best States for Registered Nurses

1. Arizona. Arizona is the top state primarily for the projected employment growth and also for its higher than average annual salary. ...
2. Colorado. Colorado has the second-highest projection for employment growth, just behind Arizona. ...
3. Nevada. ...
4. Georgia. ...
5. Idaho. ...
6. Texas. ...
7. Tennessee. ...
8. Utah.

How much does a 2 year RN make in California?

Two Year Nursing Degree Salary in California. $72.3K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers. The median wage is $82.8K / yr.

Where are RNs needed most?

RN to BSN Graduates

California will add the newest positions by 2030 – more than 110,000 – but is still estimated to be more than 40,000 nurses short. Likewise, Texas, New Jersey, South Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, and South Dakota are all projected to experience shortages in registered nurses.

How to make $100,000 as an RN?

How to Make Six Figures as a Nurse?

1. Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) ...
2. Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) ...
3. Become a Nurse Midwife. ...
4. Advance in Nurse Leadership. ...
5. Begin travel nursing assignment. ...
6. Change Nursing specialties. ...
7. Relocate to a higher paying state. ...
8. Make sacrifices.

What is the best state to live in for healthcare jobs?

California is the state with the highest population in the country – and it also has the highest demand for healthcare workers, from nurses to physicians, pharmacists, and allied healthcare professionals, such as medical assistants, imaging specialists and more.

Who do most nurses marry?

According to Forbes it's other RNs, Miscellaneous Managers, Retail Supervisors and Truck Drivers.

What is the calmest nursing job?

One of the best-known low-stress roles is that of a school nurse. These nurses work in educational settings, typically following the school calendar with regular daytime hours.

What city pays RN the most?

The Top 10 Highest-Paying Cities for Nurses

• San Fransisco, CA. Annual Nursing Salary: $181,240. ...
• San Jose, CA. Annual Nursing Salary: $179,210. ...
• New York, NY. Annual Nursing Salary: $108,540. ...
• Baltimore, MD. Annual Nursing Salary: $89,310. ...
• Phoenix, AZ. Annual Nursing Salary: $89,390. ...
• Philadelphia, PA. ...
• Seattle, WA. ...
• Honolulu, HI.

What is the richest type of nurse?

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is a trained nursing specialist who assists with administering anesthesia to patients during surgery. Salary: Nurse anesthetists are the highest-paid nurses, with a median annual income of $195,610 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Can a nurse make $100 an hour?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median hourly wage for registered nurses is $37.31. However, many factors can affect how much a nurse makes per hour, such as location, experience, and type of facility. So, the claims of making $100 an hour are quite a game changer.

What is the easiest job that pays 100k a year?

🚀 The “Fast Track”: Jobs That Pay $100k with 2 Years or Less of Training

• Air Traffic Controller. ...
• Nuclear Power Reactor Operator. ...
• Commercial Pilot. ...
• Elevator Mechanic. ...
• Radiation Therapist. ...
• Web Developer / Software Engineer. ...
• Power Plant Operator / Distributor.

What is nurse syndrome?

The " nurse syndrome" is often invoked in the field of private relationships, to refer to women (mainly) who tend to invest in intimate relationships with people in pain whom they find themselves taking care of, at the risk of permanently establishing an imbalance in the couple, or even toxic relationships.

At what age do most nurses retire?

The average age of retirement for nurses is around 58, notably younger than the average retirement age of 65–67. That's not too surprising when you consider how physically and emotionally demanding the job can be. Long shifts, chronic stress, and burnout tend to take a bigger toll as nurses get older.

Where will nursing be in 10 years?

Current and Projected Shortage Indicators

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Projections 2022-2032, the Registered Nursing (RN) workforce is expected to expand by 6% over the next decade.