Best & Worst States for Nurses (2026)

Nurses are some of the unsung heroes of our society, working long hours in hazardous conditions in order to make sure the public stays healthy. Despite the difficulties of the occupation, nurses are generally well-rewarded for their life-saving work. Nursing is one of the most lucrative careers, with a mean annual wage of more than $98,000 and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

WalletHub took stock of the nursing industry to help nurses, particularly new graduates, pick the best place to live. We did so by comparing the 50 states across 20 key metrics ranging from job openings for nurses per capita and average salaries to mandatory overtime restrictions and the quality of nursing homes.

Main Findings

Best States to Work as a Nurse

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that category.

In-Depth Look at the Best States for Nurses

Maine

Maine is the best state for nurses, boasting one of the largest number of nursing and residential care facilities per capita. This naturally has led to a large number of job opportunities for nurses.

There is also a large need for nurses for the elderly population in Maine. In fact, by 2050, the state is projected to have the highest percentage of the population that will be aged 65+.

Finally, Maine has the fifth-lowest average tuition costs per credit for a Bachelor of Nursing Science online program, which can help people get their degrees without going into too much debt.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is the second-best state for nurses, with plenty of career opportunities, as the state has the most nursing-job openings per capita and a large number of hospitals per capita. In addition, New Hampshire has some of the best nursing schools in the country.

The Granite State also restricts mandatory overtime for nurses, which helps stop nurses from being taken advantage of and overworked.

Washington

Washington is the third-best state for nurses, in part because it has very high median earnings for registered nurses, nurses in care facilities, and licensed practical and vocational nurses. It also has some of the highest-ranked nursing schools in the country.

In addition, around 53% of Washington residents live in a primary care HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area), which means that new nurses are needed and it’s easier to find a nursing job. Nurses also enjoy good working conditions. They can avoid burnout because the state restricts mandatory overtime, and nurses who work in nursing homes benefit from the fact that the state has a very high percentage of nursing homes rated five stars.

The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.