Highest-paying Cities for Registered Nurses in the U.S.

Choosing where to begin or advance your nursing career can influence both earning potential and long-term job stability. As health care systems respond to staffing shortages and population growth, registered nurses are evaluating which regions offer the strongest financial and professional opportunities. To provide clarity, an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Projections Central was conducted on behalf of the University of West Alabama (UWA) to examine nursing salaries and employment trends across major metropolitan areas and states.

By reviewing wage data from 2019 and 2024, the report highlights where pay is highest and where job growth has accelerated or declined. There are notable differences between top-paying cities and fast-growing markets, as well as a wide variation in projected demand by state from 2022 to 2032. For current and aspiring nurses, these insights can support more informed decisions about education, relocation and career planning in health care.

Key Takeaways

• Overall, nursing wages have grown 27% from 2019-2024, from a national mean of $77,460 in 2019 to $98,430 in 2024.

• Nurses in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, metro area earn nearly double the national average ($189,880 vs. $98,430), making it the highest-paying metro in the U.S. for registered nurses.

• California owns 22 of the top 25 highest-paying metros for registered nurses.

• Every metro in the top 25 pays at least 26% above the national mean of $98,430.

• New York and Utah are projected to lead the nation in registered nurse growth, both above +25% by 2032.

Which Cities Pay Nurses the Most?

Nursing salaries can vary widely depending on location. From the West Coast to the Northeast, some metro areas consistently stand out for high-paying opportunities in health care.

The national mean wage for registered nurses (RNs) reached $98,430 per year in 2024, according to BLS. That figure reflects a 27% increase from $77,460 in 2019, indicating strong growth in registered nurse salary levels nationwide. This steady rise in average salary highlights the increasing value of nursing professionals across health care facilities and health systems.

San Jose ranked as the highest-paying city, with an annual salary of $189,880, nearly double the national average. Many of the highest-paying cities were in California, which accounted for 22 of the top 25 high-paying metro areas. Cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Modesto helped make California a leader in nursing salaries.

Every metro area in the top 25 paid at least 26% above the national mean of $98,430. While these figures reflect strong earning potential, prospective students should also weigh the cost of living, particularly in high-paying states like California and Hawaii. A high RN salary may stretch differently depending on housing, transportation and daily expenses.

These 25 metro areas reported the lowest nursing salaries, though they often also come with significantly lower costs of living:

• Dothan, Alabama: $67,520
• Florence-Muscle Shoals, Alabama: $68,850
• Decatur, Alabama: $69,030
• Gadsden, Alabama: $69,620
• Anniston-Oxford, Alabama: $70,740
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota-Minnesota: $71,060
• Springfield, Missouri: $72,290
• Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa: $72,440
• Jackson, Tennessee: $73,030
• Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama: $73,150
• Sioux City, Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota: $73,180
• Huntsville, Alabama: $73,270
• Knoxville, Tennessee: $73,480
• Rapid City, South Dakota: $73,640
• Hot Springs, Arkansas: $74,090
• Dubuque, Iowa: $74,110
• Kingsport-Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia: $74,140
• Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma: $74,180
• Valdosta, Georgia: $74,430
• Tuscaloosa, Alabama: $74,440
• Mobile, Alabama: $74,720
• Joplin, Missouri-Kansas: $74,860
• Wichita, Kansas: $74,990
• Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio: $75,340
• Parkersburg-Vienna, West Virginia: $75,810

Where Are Nursing Jobs Growing Fastest?

Pay is only one part of the picture. Employment growth also plays a key role in shaping job opportunities for health care professionals, including registered nurses.

College Station-Bryan, Texas, stands out as the fastest-growing market for registered nurses. BLS data showed that RN employment surged by 66.2% in this metro area from 2019 to 2024. Nurses in this area earn an average salary of $83,520, which is 15% below the national mean. Notably, none of the top 25 metro areas for RN employment growth appeared in the top 25 for pay. In other words, the places hiring the most registered nurses did not offer the highest annual salary levels.

Some metro areas experienced significant declines in registered nurse employment between 2019 and 2024. Salisbury, MD, reported a -56.7% change, followed by:

• Salisbury, Maryland: -56.7% | $89,520
• Elmira, New York: -40.7% | $84,090
• El Centro, California: -36.5% | $116,160
• Decatur, Illinois: -31.0% | $82,360
• Elizabethtown, Kentucky: -28.9% | $82,250
• Charlottesville, Virginia: -26.5% | $94,600
• Valdosta, Georgia: -24.3% | $74,430
• Asheville, North Carolina: -23.3% | $85,410
• Barnstable Town, Massachusetts: -23.3% | $106,110
• Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, Louisiana: -23.3% | $77,410
• Johnstown, Pennsylvania: -22.7% | $82,990
• Brunswick-St. Simons, Georgia: -21.4% | $80,430
• Springfield, Massachusetts: -21.3% | $94,080
• Battle Creek, Michigan: -21.0% | $94,830
• Decatur, Alabama: -20.8% | $69,030
• Pocatello, Idaho: -20.7% | $82,460
• Wheeling, West Virginia-Ohio: -19.3% | $77,460
• New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana: -18.8% | $89,700
• Casper, Wyoming: -18.7% | $82,830
• Sioux City, Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota: -18.3% | $73,180

These figures show that not all metro areas have experienced steady expansion in nursing jobs.

Projected RN Employment Growth by State

Looking ahead, state-level projections offer insight into long-term demand for nursing professionals. These trends can help nursing school students evaluate where future job opportunities may be strongest.

New York and Utah are projected to lead the nation in RN growth, both exceeding +25% by 2032. New York is expected to see a 25.5% in employed nurses, followed closely by Utah at +25.3%. Other fast-growing states include:

• Arizona: +21.9%
• Idaho: +20.0%
• Nevada: +18.6%
• Colorado: +17.8%
• North Carolina: +16.4%
• Delaware: +15.8%
• New Mexico: +15.4%
• Georgia: +15.3%

The states with the lowest projected RN growth are:

• Maine: +1.3%
• Michigan: +2.7%
• Illinois: +3.1%
• Ohio: +3.4%
• West Virginia: +4.2%
• Virginia: +4.3%
• Pennsylvania: +4.7%
• Oklahoma: +4.8%
• Kansas: +5.0%
• Minnesota: +5.3%

Although every state is projected to grow and none are declining, the difference is significant. New York’s projected growth is nearly 20 times faster than Maine’s. For those exploring a nursing career, these projections show that demand for registered nurses is expected to continue nationwide, even as growth rates vary by state.

Planning Your Nursing Career With Confidence

Location can influence both your registered nurse salary and your access to job opportunities. While high-paying metro areas offer impressive nursing salaries, employment growth trends may signal expanding opportunities in other states.

At the same time, understanding the cost of living, health care systems in each region and your preferred nursing specialties, such as pediatric care or travel nurse roles, can help you choose the right path. As you begin or advance your nursing education, reviewing salary data, projected demand and health care market trends can help you build a rewarding and sustainable career path in health care.

Methodology

This analysis uses data from the BLSOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program for May 2019 and May 2024. Employment projections (2022-2032) come from Projections Central, a U.S. Department of Labor site that aggregates state-level forecasts developed by individual state Labor Market Information offices. Employment growth was calculated by comparing total employment across 331 matched metropolitan statistical areas between 2019 and 2024.

Some metros could not be matched because BLS reclassified area codes between survey years. All wages are nominal and not adjusted for cost of living. U.S. territories were excluded from rankings.

About the University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama offers flexible online programs designed for working professionals who want to start or advance their nursing career. UWA’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is designed for registered nurses seeking to expand their clinical knowledge, leadership skills and specialization opportunities. The program supports career advancement in diverse health care facilities and prepares graduates for future study, including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), while maintaining the convenience of online learning.

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