With National Nurses Week kicking off May 6, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best & Worst States for Nurses, as well as expert commentary, to help nurses, especially new graduates, find the best markets for their profession.
WalletHub compared the relative attractiveness of the 50 states across 20 key metrics. The data set ranges from job openings for nurses per capita and average salaries to mandatory overtime restrictions and the quality of nursing homes.
| Best States for Nurses | Worst States for Nurses | |
| 1. Washington | 41. Nebraska | |
| 2. Maine | 42. Louisiana | |
| 3. New Hampshire | 43. South Carolina | |
| 4. Montana | 44. Delaware | |
| 5. New Mexico | 45. Tennessee | |
| 6. Oregon | 46. Mississippi | |
| 7. Minnesota | 47. Oklahoma | |
| 8. Wyoming | 48. Alabama | |
| 9. Connecticut | 49. Arkansas | |
| 10. Arizona | 50. Hawaii |
Best vs. Worst
- California has the highest annual mean wage for registered nurses (adjusted for cost of living), which is 1.5 times higher than in South Dakota, the lowest.
- Utah has the lowest current competition (number of nurses per 1,000 residents), which is 2.4 times lower than in South Dakota, the highest.
- Nevada has the lowest future competition (projected number of nurses per 1,000 residents by 2030), which is three times lower than in North Dakota, the highest.
- Minnesota has the highest ratio of nurses to hospital beds, which is 1.9 times higher than in Oklahoma, the lowest.
