Michigan Named One of the Best States for Nurses Amid National Shortage
Photo by RDNE Stock project
Article courtesy of Research.com.
- Michigan nurses take home $85,670 a year on average, making it the 25th best state to be a nurse
- California nurses rake in a whopping $140,330 median yearly wage, more than double what South Dakota nurses earn at just $69,510
- South Dakota is the worst state to be a nurse in 2025
California nurses hit the jackpot. A new study reveals the Golden State is the best place for nurses in a looming healthcare crisis, as officials warn of a shortage of nurses in the U.S.
University ranking site Research.com analyzed official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find where nurses earn the most money. They compared median annual wages across all 50 states, as well as the number of employed registered nurses in each state.
Michigan’s findings
Michigan came in 25th place for the best states for nurses. Nurses in Michigan take home an annual median wage of $85,670, making it a brilliant place for new nurses to start their careers or for experienced nurses to relocate to for the best opportunities and pay. There are 104,210 registered nurses employed, with 23.74 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs in the state.
Michigan is one of the ten states with the largest projected shortage of nurses in 2035, at 15%, compared to the largest projected shortage, which is in Washington, at 26%.
Top 10 Best States for Nurses
| Rank | State | Employed RNs | RNs per 1,000 Jobs | Median Annual Wage |
| 1 | California | 326,720 | 18.09 | $140,330 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 13,100 | 21.10 | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | 39,900 | 20.30 | $123,990 |
| 4 | Washington | 64,690 | 18.27 | $112,180 |
| 5 | Alaska | 7,040 | 21.92 | $110,690 |
| 6 | New York | 204,120 | 21.39 | $105,600 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 95,150 | 22.39 | $102,730 |
| 8 | Nevada | 27,570 | 18.02 | $101,990 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 90,190 | 24.76 | $101,970 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 39,020 | 23.20 | $101,590 |
| 11 | Minnesota | 64,740 | 22.17 | $100,870 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 10,760 | 21.80 | $99,960 |
| 13 | Arizona | 64,430 | 20.16 | $96,890 |
| 14 | Maryland | 48,980 | 17.83 | $96,830 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 16,580 | 24.27 | $96,830 |
| 16 | Delaware | 13,260 | 27.82 | $92,610 |
| 17 | Texas | 261,050 | 18.85 | $90,010 |
| 18 | Virginia | 77,420 | 19.05 | $88,820 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 17,510 | 20.34 | $88,260 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 146,840 | 24.42 | $87,610 |
| 21 | Georgia | 97,410 | 20.06 | $86,560 |
| 22 | Illinois | 139,900 | 23.07 | $86,410 |
| 23 | Idaho | 14,540 | 17.21 | $86,100 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 64,960 | 22.22 | $86,070 |
| 25 | Michigan | 104,210 | 23.74 | $85,670 |
California is crowned the best state for nurses in 2025, with the highest median annual salary in the U.S. Nurses in the Golden State earn $140,330 on average, with 326,720 nurses employed. California is also one of the states projected to have a nursing shortage by 2035, at 18%, presenting opportunities for new nurses.
Hawaiian nurses claimed second place on the pay scale with yearly earnings of $136,320. There are approximately 13,100 registered nurses currently employed in the state.
Nurses in Oregon secured third spot with annual salaries reaching $123,990 and 39,900 employed registered nurses. Research suggests Oregon is predicted to have a shortage of 16% by 2035, making it another great spot for nurses to find employment.
Washington is the fourth-best state for nurses this year, with a median annual wage of $112,180 and 64,690 employed nurses. The Evergreen State is predicted to experience the worst nurse shortage by 2035, at 26%.
Alaska completed the top five highest-paying states with a median annual salary of $110,690 and 7,040 registered nurses in employment.
New York led the East Coast charge, securing sixth place with nurses earning $105,600 yearly. There are 204,120 employed registered nurses in the state.
New Jersey followed in seventh with median wages of $102,730 and 95,150 employed registered nurses. By 2035, New Jersey is expected to have a 12% shortage.
Nevada came in eighth spot, paying nurses $101,990 a year on average, with 27,570 currently employed.
Massachusetts is the ninth-best state for nurses, with a median salary of $101,970 yearly and 90,190 registered nurses employed.
Connecticut completes the top ten, offering $101,590 per year to registered nurses, just under Massachusetts. The Constitution State employs 39,020 nurses.
South Dakota ranked last on the pay scale. Nurses there earn $69,510 annually despite the state having the highest concentration of nurses at 32.02 per 1,000 jobs nationwide.
Imed Bouchrika, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Research.com, commented: “These salary findings come as health officials raise alarm bells about staffing. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration projected a nursing shortage of 78,610 full-time registered nurses by 2025.
“Geographic distribution continues to challenge the nursing profession, with significant variation in workforce supply across states. By 2035, Washington is projected to face a 26% shortage of nurses, while North Dakota may experience a 48% oversupply.
“The substantial wage differences between states reflect varying costs of living, union presence and regional healthcare demands. Nurses should consider these salary variations when making career decisions, especially given the projected national nursing shortage. It seems the more nurses are needed in a state, the more they are paid.
“Beyond salary considerations, new nurses should look at job availability and growth potential, too. States with high wages but approaching saturation may offer fewer opportunities than states with moderate wages but growing demand.”
Methodology:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides employment and wage data from their semiannual OEWS survey. The most recent period available (May 2024) was analyzed to compare the median annual wage figures for registered nurses to determine the highest paying states.
The states have been ranked with the highest median annual wage at the top, descending.
Full State Rankings
| Rank | State | Employed RNs | RNs per 1,000 Jobs | Median Annual Wage |
| 1 | California | 326,720 | 18.09 | $140,330 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 13,100 | 21.10 | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | 39,900 | 20.30 | $123,990 |
| 4 | Washington | 64,690 | 18.27 | $112,180 |
| 5 | Alaska | 7,040 | 21.92 | $110,690 |
| 6 | New York | 204,120 | 21.39 | $105,600 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 95,150 | 22.39 | $102,730 |
| 8 | Nevada | 27,570 | 18.02 | $101,990 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 90,190 | 24.76 | $101,970 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 39,020 | 23.20 | $101,590 |
| 11 | Minnesota | 64,740 | 22.17 | $100,870 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 10,760 | 21.80 | $99,960 |
| 13 | Arizona | 64,430 | 20.16 | $96,890 |
| 14 | Maryland | 48,980 | 17.83 | $96,830 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 16,580 | 24.27 | $96,830 |
| 16 | Delaware | 13,260 | 27.82 | $92,610 |
| 17 | Texas | 261,050 | 18.85 | $90,010 |
| 18 | Virginia | 77,420 | 19.05 | $88,820 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 17,510 | 20.34 | $88,260 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 146,840 | 24.42 | $87,610 |
| 21 | Georgia | 97,410 | 20.06 | $86,560 |
| 22 | Illinois | 139,900 | 23.07 | $86,410 |
| 23 | Idaho | 14,540 |
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