Report ranks states by nursing opportunity

Editor's Note

Washington, New Hampshire, and Oregon lead the nation as the best states for nurses in 2025, offering a compelling mix of high pay, strong job growth, and supportive work environments, according to an April 29 report from WalletHub. The rankings, based on 20 key metrics, highlight significant disparities across states in terms of compensation, job opportunities, and workplace conditions.

Washington tops the list with a total score of 64.16, ranking fifth in opportunity and competition and second in work environment. The state boasts high median earnings for registered nurses, robust job growth, and some of the nation's top-ranked nursing schools. New Hampshire follows closely, scoring 62.07 overall and securing the top spot for work environment. Oregon ranks third with a score of 60.06, placing fifteenth in opportunity and competition and third in work environment.

The report also identifies states with the highest annual nursing salaries adjusted for the cost of living, with Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Washington, and Georgia leading the way. Conversely, Rhode Island, Alaska, Vermont, Maryland, and Hawaii offer the lowest adjusted salaries. In terms of job openings per capita, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Connecticut, and New Jersey rank highest, while Rhode Island, Hawaii, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah rank lowest.

Health-care facilities per capita vary significantly, with Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Iowa offering the most, and Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Delaware, and Nevada offering the fewest. Projected competition by 2032 is expected to be lowest in Massachusetts, Arizona, Nevada, Alaska, and Maryland, and highest in New York, Nebraska, West Virginia, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

States with the highest projected percentage of population aged 65 and older by 2050 include Maine, Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, and Vermont, indicating potential increased demand for nursing services. In contrast, Colorado, Texas, Alaska, North Dakota, and Utah are projected to have the lowest percentages in this demographic.

The bottom five states in the overall rankings are Alabama, North Dakota, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, each facing challenges in various metrics assessed.  

Read the full report for additional details and context, including methodology and reflections on the data from a panel of nursing-industry experts.