Wondering where nurses make the most money in 2023? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Report tells all! Not surprisingly, healthcare workers report some of the highest average salaries in the United States, and nursing was named the best college major by Universities.com. Read on to find out the highest paying states for nurses as well as the average RN salary in every state.
Here are all 50 states (plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico), ranked by average (mean) nurse salary:
The salaries by state listed above represent an average across all types of nurses. So, depending on your specialty, place of work, level of experience, degree, and many other factors, you'll see some variances in how much you can expect to earn. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind that can impact how much you make:
1. Types of Nurses
Salaries will vary widely depending on your specialty and the nursing job you work in.
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) like nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives can all expect to earn higher salaries than a nurse without a graduate degree.
How you work also plays a big role in the annual salary you can expect to earn. Travel nurses and per diem nurses, for example, tend to earn far more than their traditional nurse counterparts.
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2. Years of Experience
Registered nurses at the start of their careers will usually make less than nurses with more years of experience under their belts. As you improve your skills and progress in your career, you can expect to see your wages improve as well.
3. Degree Type
Nurses will typically see salary increases when they further their education. Nurses who have earned their Bachelor's degree (BSN) tend to earn more than nurses who have only earned their Associate's degree in Nursing (ADN). While a master's in nursing or a doctorate degree will usually earn nurses even higher salaries.
Other RN Salary Considerations
As a nurse, your salary shouldn't be the only thing you consider when deciding what field to go into or what job to take.
How far that salary will go will greatly depend on the cost of living in the area. Some of the highest paying states also cost a lot to live in, meaning that 6 figure salary isn't going to go nearly as far as it would in a less expensive area.
You'll also want to look at things like the job benefits, the hours, what the work-life balance will be like, and what their training and education policies are like. Don't overlook your quality of life!
FAQs
What are the highest paying jobs in the medical field?
Some of the highest paying jobs in healthcare, other than physicians, are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), which include Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
What is the happiest career in the medical field?
U.S. News ranked Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as the best job in healthcare in 2022.
What is the easiest medical field job?
It really depends on what you define as “easy.” If you’re looking for a job that doesn’t require hands-on care and pays well, informatics, technology, or biomedical engineering may all be good choices.
What is the least stressful job in the medical field?
Audiologists—who diagnose problems with the ears—have a reputation for having the lowest amount of stress in the medical field.
The Takeaway
There are a lot of things at play in the nursing salaries you can expect to earn. As you're planning out your career path, don't forget to keep them all in mind!
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