What are the highest-paid states, cities, and industries for nurses in the US?
How much you earn as a nurse depends on where you work, what degree you have (master’s-prepared nurses often earn far more than BSN-prepared nurses), and what industry you work in.
Here below are the states, cities, and industries that pay well for nursing jobs.
Highest Paying States for Nurses
| State | Hourly Pay | Annual Salary |
| California | $59.62 | $124,000 |
| Hawaii | $51.22 | $106,530 |
| Oregon | $47.42 | $98,630 |
| District of Columbia | $47.38 | $98,540 |
| Alaska | $46.74 | $97,230 |
Source: BLS
Highest Paying Cities for Nurses
| City | Hourly Pay | Annual Salary |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74.63 | $155,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $72.90 | $151,640 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $70.37 | $146,360 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $68.00 | $141,440 |
| Napa, CA | $67.15 | $139,680 |
Source: BLS
Highest Paying Industries for Nurses
| Industry | Hourly Pay | Annual Salary |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $54.15 | $112,630 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $50.61 | $105,270 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $48.67 | $101,240 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $46.93 | $97,600 |
| Office Administration Services | $46.46 | $96,630 |
Source: BLS
