Now You Know | Highest Paying States for USRNs

September 03, 2020 | Unistaff

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Welcome back nurse heroes! If you’re new to the page, great to meet you! To support your quest of landing your dream job abroad, we regularly share fresh, informative pieces to make sure you’re right on track.

There’s just so much you need to know, right? We have links to reliable sources and verified partners, so you’ll have everything you need to make the right decisions. And you can feel confident to take action. Stick with us and make sure you read until the end of this installment of: Now You Know!

via GIPHY

If you’re a nurse looking for opportunities in the USA, then one of the biggest decisions you would have to make is choosing which state to work in. The location of your chosen facility will determine the average salary you can expect to receive. To give you an overview of the average pay scale in every state, we prepared this handy salary guide to aid your decision-making process.

An international career in healthcare often comes with stability, great pay, self-fulfilment and opportunities for development. Many consider it to be a calling, rather than just a job. People who enter this field are passionate and caring individuals who strive to do their best every single day. They persevere through extreme hardships to improve the health of others in the communities they serve. More often than not, they put the well-being of those they care for ahead of their own.

Those of us who don’t work in the healthcare industry should take a moment to imagine putting ourselves in their shoes. Their life is rough, to say the least. They truly deserve to be called, “heroes!”

The current global situation has made it even clearer that healthcare professionals are more valuable than ever. The nursing profession is experiencing a surge in demand. And it is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. In the USA alone, a vast number of foreign nurses are in great demand to fill their nursing shortage.

Many nursing specialty areas also suffer from severe shortages. The US employers that we at Universal Staffing (UNISTAFF) work with closely, are currently in need of foreign nurses with the following specializations:

○ ICU

○ ER

○ OR

○ CCU

○ Medical Surgical

○ PACU

These needs stem from a rapidly aging population and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

The ongoing global uncertainty should not prevent you from making career plans. You can start doing research to find out more about the benefits and average pay of registered nurses across the United States.

Searching for a job opportunity in another country requires more careful thought and effort, than just finding the job itself. You’re probably considering several other things, such as:

✔ which city or state to move to

✔ potential earnings in your chosen state

✔ level of job market competitiveness

✔ your future employer’s work environment

✔ accommodation options

✔ quality of life

✔ cost of living

✔ cultural diversity

✔ community vibe

You probably have more to add to this list! For now, let’s take a closer look at the highest paying cities in the USA, by evaluating the average nursing salaries as compared to the cost of living.

Nurses’ Salary

How much do nurses make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses earn an average salary of $71,730, and an average hourly wage of $34.48.

These rates can vary greatly depending on employer, experience, and nurse’s specialization. For instance, nurses working in government positions make an average salary of $78,390, while those working in education services earn an average salary of $61,850.

Here’s a 2017 reference for employment and wages for registered nurses in the USA:

US Nursing Average Salary per Sector Infographic

Here are the 10 US States with the highest average salary for USRNs

State of California

Average Salary: $107,725
Lowest 10% Earn: $64,000
Population: 39,536,653
Job Count: 20,395

Nevada

Average Salary: $87,689
Lowest 10% Earn: $51,000
Population: 2,998,039
Job Count: 1,393

District of Columbia

Average Salary: $87,026
Lowest 10% Earn: $49,000
Population: 693,972
Job Count: 502

Oregon

Average Salary: $85,617
Lowest 10% Earn: $47,000
Population: 4,142,776
Job Count: 3,110

New York

Average Salary: $85,043
Lowest 10% Earn: $49,000
Population: 19,849,399
Job Count: 14,690

Massachusetts

Average Salary: $83,179
Lowest 10% Earn: $49,000
Population: 6,859,819
Job Count: 6,559

New Jersey

Average Salary: $82,520
Lowest 10% Earn: $48,000
Population: 9,005,644
Job Count: 7,669

Connecticut

Average Salary: $82,184
Lowest 10% Earn: $48,000
Population: 3,588,184
Job Count: 3,291

Rhode Island

Average Salary: $81,098
Lowest 10% Earn: $48,000
Population: 1,059,639
Job Count: 836

Delaware

Average Salary: $78,711
Lowest 10% Earn: $45,000
Population: 961,939
Job Count: 753

For your information, here is the complete list of the 51 states’ average salary for nurses in 2020, starting with the 10 states above. (Source: https://www.zippia.com/registered-nurse-jobs/best-states/)

Rank	State	Average Salary	Population
1	California	$107,725	39M
2	Nevada	$87,689	2M
3	District of Columbia	$87,026	693K
4	Oregon	$85,617	4M
5	New York	$85,043	19M
6	Massachusetts	$83,179	6M
7	New Jersey	$82,520	9M
8	Connecticut	$82,184	3M
9	Rhode Island	$81,098	1M
10	Delaware	$78,711	961K
11	Arizona	$78,495	7M
12	Maryland	$78,395	6M
13	New Mexico	$75,193	2M
14	Minnesota	$74,930	5M
15	Hawaii	$74,284	1M
16	Washington	$73,129	7M
17	Pennsylvania	$72,644	12M
18	Texas	$71,866	28M
19	Colorado	$71,533	5M
20	Michigan	$71,026	9M
21	New Hampshire	$70,997	1M
22	Virginia	$69,438	8M
23	Alaska	$69,045	739K
24	Illinois	$68,966	12M
25	Wisconsin	$68,269	5M
26	Maine	$67,249	1M
27	Louisiana	$67,125	4M
28	Georgia	$67,077	10M
29	Utah	$66,410	3M
30	West Virginia	$65,461	1M
31	Idaho	$64,773	1M
32	Oklahoma	$64,566	3M
33	Wyoming	$64,216	579K
34	Arkansas	$64,148	3M
35	Ohio	$63,533	11M
36	Florida	$63,249	20M
37	Vermont	$63,245	623K
38	Tennessee	$62,709	6M
39	North Carolina	$62,368	10M
40	Indiana	$62,345	6M
41	Kentucky	$61,730	4M
42	South Carolina	$60,518	5M
43	North Dakota	$60,394	755K
44	Montana	$59,752	1M
45	Missouri	$59,402	6M
46	Alabama	$58,792	4M
47	Mississippi	$58,443	2M
48	Nebraska	$57,555	1M
49	Kansas	$57,370	2M
50	Iowa	$55,462	3M
51	South Dakota	$53,977	869K

Now you know!

Now that you have information on the average salary in each state, we hope that it helps to manage your expectations. While there are many other factors to consider, this gives you a good starting point towards understanding the salary you could potentially earn.

IMPORTANT: Before choosing the state you want to work in, make sure to check each state’s requirements before taking your NCLEX exam. We’ve created a guide with tips and strategies when choosing states for those of you who are ready to process your NCLEX - check it out!

There’s no denying that securing a job with a reputable employer in the USA is filled with complex procedures. But don’t worry! We’re here to make things go as smoothly as possible for you.

Check out the United States Candidate Development Program (USCDP). When you sign up to become a member, you gain access to the latest information, job openings and expert advice to help you navigate the process of becoming a US Registered Nurse and achieving your dreams of working abroad.

Best of all, you can become a member for free!