2020’s Best & Worst States for Nurses – Oregon Ranked #1 for Best States for Nurses

The U.S. has gained a profound appreciation for nurses during the coronavirus pandemic, as they risk their lives every day to minimize the spread of the disease. That situation is made even more difficult by critical shortages of respirators, surgical masks, gloves, gowns and other necessary protective treatment. It’s more important now than ever for states to step up and make sure that nurses are properly equipped to do their jobs and have the best work environment possible.

Despite the stresses of the occupation, nurses are generally well-rewarded for their life-saving work. Nursing occupations are some of the most lucrative careers, with a mean annual wage of over $75,000 and some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. In fact, the industry is expected to grow at more than double the rate of the average occupation through 2028.

In light of the current crisis and the industry’s projections for the future, WalletHub took stock of the nursing industry to help registered nurses, particularly new graduates, pick a place to live that will bring success. We did so by comparing the 50 states across 22 key metrics that collectively speak to the nursing-job opportunities in each market. Below, you can check out our findings, commentary from a panel of experts and a complete description of our methodology.

1MAIN FINDINGS

2ASK THE EXPERTS

3METHODOLOGY

Best Places to Work as a Nurse

Overall Rank (1=Best)	State	Total Score	‘Opportunity & Competition’ Rank	‘Work Environment’ Rank
1	Oregon	58.15	13	3
2	Washington	57.98	6	5
3	New Mexico	57.88	3	22
4	Minnesota	56.86	32	1
5	Nevada	56.76	1	34
6	Wyoming	55.71	2	36
7	Montana	55.48	4	29
8	Maine	55.18	25	4
9	Arizona	53.97	9	21
10	Texas	53.53	8	25
11	Idaho	53.39	17	12
12	Iowa	52.50	11	30
13	New Hampshire	52.05	44	2
14	Wisconsin	52.03	14	24
15	Alaska	51.90	29	9
16	Connecticut	51.73	33	8
17	North Dakota	51.15	26	17
18	Rhode Island	51.06	39	6
19	Missouri	50.93	21	23
20	Colorado	50.88	38	7
21	California	50.74	28	18
22	Florida	50.01	5	47
23	Kansas	49.56	24	28
24	Indiana	49.36	15	35
25	West Virginia	49.36	18	32
26	Michigan	49.28	7	44
27	Pennsylvania	49.21	35	16
28	South Dakota	49.15	40	13
29	Illinois	48.80	41	11
30	Arkansas	48.48	12	41
31	Nebraska	48.27	42	14
32	Utah	48.23	30	27
33	Georgia	47.46	10	48
34	Virginia	47.31	16	43
35	South Carolina	47.23	22	38
36	North Carolina	46.85	19	42
37	Kentucky	46.39	27	37
38	Delaware	46.19	49	10
39	Massachusetts	46.17	45	20
40	Maryland	46.16	46	15
41	Mississippi	45.77	23	45
42	Tennessee	45.71	34	33
43	New Jersey	45.38	48	19
44	Ohio	44.94	20	49
45	Vermont	44.21	47	26
46	Oklahoma	43.83	36	40
47	Alabama	42.78	37	46
48	Hawaii	42.19	43	39
49	Louisiana	41.86	31	50
50	New York	39.55	50	31

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, HRSA Data Warehouse, Center on Education and the Workforce, Indeed.com, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. News & World Report, Projections Central – State Occupational Projections, Nurse.org, Wage//Advocates, American Association of Nurse Practitioners and WalletHub research.

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