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Top 10 Best and Worst States to Be a Nurse
AllHealthcare.com and CareerVoyages.gov
There is a projected need for 1,001,000 nurses needed in the United States by 2016. Nurses are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? AllHealthcare is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a Nurse based on salary and job openings.
Top 10 Highest Nurse Paying States
| State | Salary (hourly) |
| 1. California | $25.45 |
| 2. Hawaii | $24.76 |
| 3. Massachusetts | $23.38 |
| 4. New Jersey | $23.33 |
| 5. Alaska | $23.09 |
| 6. Delaware | $22.98 |
| 7. Oregon | $22.91 |
| 8. Nevada | $22.83 |
| 9. Maryland | $22.79 |
| 10. Connecticut | $22.62 |
DeeR
about 1 month ago
2 comments
"LPNs/LVNs are not 'prepared' in the same encompassing manner as RNs. An LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse - is just that, a caregiver who has been trained in practice - not theory."
I'm kind of new here! Can I ask what theory you mean when you say LVN's and LPN's are not trained in theory? I'm going through VN school now in California and I get 15 months of nursing "Theory" 4 days a week. Is there another "Theory" I should mention to the school director they are not teaching us in VN school?
Oh, and by the way I have an Aunt that is an LPN in New York's Metropolitan Hospital for 20 years, where do you work in New York?
healthcare_educator
2 months ago
2 comments
I agree with 63Spitfire and DDavis. One does not know what the wages posted represent - all inclusive (any category with the word nurse in it) average for the state, base pay for someone fresh out of school with no experience, etc. I have been in healthcare for over 20 years and know for a fact that new grads in my region of NY, start at rates equal to or higher than what you have posted for California.
I however, disagree with the comments stating that LPNs/LVNs should be grandfathered in as RNs with all the same rights after so many years. The nursing profession has changed drastically over the past few decades and LPNs/LVNs are not 'prepared' in the same encompassing manner as RNs. An LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse - is just that, a caregiver who has been trained in practice - not theory. Again, I know for a fact in my region of NY, LPNs are not utilized in the hospital settings anymore as they are not licensed to perform all that an RN, or even GN for that matter, are to do.
63Spitfire
3 months ago
2 comments
A simple listing of pay rates is not very useful for a number of reasons:
1. There is no allowance for the cost of living in different areas of the country. I know for a fact that $23.33 goes a whole lot further in Mississippi than it does in New Jersey - I've lived in both places., California and Hawaii are two of the most expensive places to live in the country, so I would expect them to pay more. I would be willing to bet that much of the difference between the pay rates would even out if you factored in the cost of living.
2. With no information about how these numbers were derived it is hard to know hoe representative they really are. I am a RN at Blair Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi and am paid considerably more than $16.42 shown for Mississippi. Is it the mean acorss the entire state? Does it include LPN's?
Frankly this "article" makes a great headline, but is pretty much useless otherwise.
missy43
3 months ago
2 comments
I agree with the comments made about LPNs not being recognized as nurses when a magazine or article refers to a "Nurse." I make $19.75/hr. as a MDS Coordinator in Jackson MS. & have always been highly complimented on my assessment & hands-on nursing skills. I feel that after 12 years of nursing $19.75/hr. is rather pathetic. I agree that after a certain number of years, a LPN should be grand-fathered into RN status & pay. I have seen RNs practice that I would be terrified to have as my nurse in a hospital setting.
leaf
6 months ago
2 comments
I completely agree with the LPNS. I'm an LVN in California. I'm a occupational nurse. I only make 21/HR. LVNS are not represented at all. We are always below the rest. 22 years of excellent nursing I have givin to my patients. My pay gets less and less. All LVNS need to be grand- fathered into an RN after so many years.
AnitaK
6 months ago
2 comments
I agree with your comment D Davis. I am an L.P.N. in Ohio and make $23.89/hr. I would think more of this publication if they would include L.P.N.'s when they refer to nurses.
caringnurse
6 months ago
2 comments
I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT D DAVIS AS IAM A LPN IN NJ AND EARN $23.00/HR
ddavis
6 months ago
2 comments
When you are quoting this information, you should differentiate between registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, because there is a pay difference between an LPN and RN and this does not indicate which type of nurse you are referring to.