Nurses on the front line of health care. They’re often the first people you see during a visit to a doctor’s office and the people you have the most contact with in a hospital. Their work is fairly well-compensated, and the industry is growing rapidly.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there 2.86 million registered nurses across the country, pulling down a mean annual salary of $72,180 per year. But the number varies greatly depending on where the nurse practices — and so does the cost of living in those places.
Here's what nurses earn in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, ranked from lowest to highest.
51. South Dakota
Average salary for a registered nurse: $55,920 per year
Although it ranks lowest in average pay for nurses, South Dakota — pretty much smack dab in the middle of the country — is also in the middle for cost of living among the U.S. states.
50. Iowa
Average salary for a registered nurse: $56,290 per year
49. Alabama
Average salary for a registered nurse: $56,900 per year
That doesn't sound like huge income, but it will stretch farther in Alabama than in many places. According to a report by MSN, Alabama is the second-cheapest state in which to buy a house, with the average listing price at $203,000 in 2016.
48. Mississippi
Average salary for a registered nurse: $57,010 per year
Not too bad if you consider that the "Magnolia State" has the lowest cost of living among the 50 U.S. states according to the MSN report's ranking, citing data from Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. The average house is listed for about $183,000.
47. Arkansas
Average salary for a registered nurse: $57,630 per year
46. Kansas
Average salary for a registered nurse: $58,260 per year
45. Tennessee
Average salary for a registered nurse: $58,410 per year
44. West Virginia
Average salary for a registered nurse: $59,380 per year
43. Kentucky
Average salary for a registered nurse: $59,810 per year
42. Indiana
Average salary for a registered nurse: $60,050 per year
41. Nebraska
Average salary for a registered nurse: $60,370 per year
40. Oklahoma
Average salary for a registered nurse: $60,370 per year
39. Missouri
Average salary for a registered nurse: $60,830 per year
38. North Dakota
Average salary for a registered nurse: $60,840 per year
North Dakota may seem a far-flung place to work, but it had the fastest-growing population among the 50 states in 2016, following the District of Columbia, with an increase of 12.69 percent.
37. North Carolina
Average salary for a registered nurse: $61,330 per year
North Carolina has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, in part because of rapid tech-sector expansion, but the cost of livingremains on the more reasonable end of the spectrum. The health care industry makes up 12 percent of the state's employment, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.
36. Utah
Average salary for a registered nurse: $62,360 per year
35. Idaho
Average salary for a registered nurse: $62,470 per year
34. Wyoming
Average salary for a registered nurse: $62,980 per year
33. Louisiana
Average salary for a registered nurse: $63,370 a year
The Pelican State has an average home listing price of $224,895, though buying a house in vibrant New Orleans would likely cost well above that average.
32. South Carolina
Average salary for a registered nurse: $63,470 per year
31. Maine
Average salary for a registered nurse: $63,800 per year
30. Ohio
Average salary for a registered nurse: $63,960 per year
29. Montana
Average salary for a registered nurse: $64,300 per year
28. Florida
Average salary for a registered nurse: $64,630 per year
27. Georgia
Average salary for a registered nurse: $64,750 per year
26. Virginia
Average salary for a registered nurse: $66,670 per year
25. Vermont
Average salary for a registered nurse: $67,780 per year
24. Wisconsin
Average salary for a registered nurse: $67,930 per year
Wisconsin nurses are ranked in the top half, nationally, in terms of pay with an average salary of $67,930 per year. Meanwhile, the Badger State ranks several rungs below the center in terms of cost of living.
23. New Mexico
Average salary for a registered nurse: $68,670 per year
22. New Hampshire
Average salary for a registered nurse: $68,680 per year
21. Pennsylvania
Average salary for a registered nurse: $68,770 per year
20. Michigan
Average salary for a registered nurse: $69,100 per year
19. Texas
Average salary for a registered nurse: $70,390 per year
18. Colorado
Average salary for a registered nurse: $70,550 per year
17. Delaware
Average salary for a registered nurse: $70,820 per year
16. Illinois
Average salary for a registered nurse: $70,890 per year
15. Arizona
Average salary for a registered nurse: $73,430 per year
14. Minnesota
Average salary for a registered nurse: $73,940 per year
13. Maryland
Average salary for a registered nurse: $74,710 per year
12. Rhode Island
Average salary for a registered nurse: $75,200 per year
11. Connecticut
Average salary for a registered nurse: $78,270 per year
10. Washington
Average salary for a registered nurse: $80,120 per year
9. Washington D.C.
Average salary for a registered nurse: $80,500 per year
8. New Jersey
Average salary for a registered nurse: $80,580 per year
7. New York
Average salary for a registered nurse: $80,830 per year
6. Nevada
Average salary for a registered nurse: $83,790 per year
5. Alaska
Average salary for a registered nurse: $86,450 per year
4. Oregon
Average salary for a registered nurse: $87,000 per year
3. Hawaii
Average salary for a registered nurse: $88,910 per year
2. Massachusetts
Average salary for a registered nurse: $89,060 per year
1. California
Average salary for a registered nurse: $101,750 per year
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