Best States for Nurses

Hello! One state I can advise against coming to is Florida...I'm originally from the midwest, and, despite the cold and snowy winters, I would move back there in a heartbeat if I wasn't so planted here in Florida...The pay up there is nearly double per hour (RN) than it is down here. Perhaps other nurses here in FL will chime in saying that isn't true, but where I live, compared to my former longtime homestate, it is true...Do you have a Compact Nursing License? If not, then you would need to investigate the additional licensing fees/classes required within another state, to practice. (Just a friendly FYI). Best of luck to you! I hope you find a home in a more temperate state, with a new job to boot! Nurses are needed EVERYWHERE as you know. Having two years in will likely be just fine in order to be hired at any hospital. 

This is a hard decision to make. What matters most to you? Do you value good pay and acceptable working conditions, or is a reasonable cost of living more important to you? The RN pay in Arizona and Nevada is good, but both of these states are in the desert. The pay and working conditions in California, Oregon, and Washington are all excellent, but the cost of living in all three of these states is really high. Do you prefer to live close to your family?

In general, Southern states pay the worst and hospitals with union contracts pay the best. Texas may actually be a good compromise. The pay is relatively good, and the weather seems to be tolerable. The cost of living seems to be average (depending on the city you move to, of course). The traffic in Dallas and Houston is quite bad. Atlanta may also be a good city to investigate, although the traffic in Atlanta is horrendous. Many medical professionals move to Denver and love it there. It snows, but the snow seems to melt away pretty quickly. Texas, Georgia, and Colorado are all compact states.

I agree with Janet; finding a job with two years of experience should be relatively easy.

Best of luck to you!

I'm in Florida and I have been here 30 years so I can't say that the pay is half of what it is up north unless starting salaries there are $50 to $60 an hour.  Most people do have to take a pay cut though when moving here however. There is competition for nurses so salaries have risen but as is the case in the south wages are lower.

There is no state income tax, so that helps. There is top notch NICU in St. Petersburg, FL  connected to a high risk OB center that I've heard good things about.

The downside is the cost of housing here has skylighted the past few years.

NYC salaries will be in the $50 range for a BSN with experience, but of course cost of living is much higher too.

First decide what kind of change of scenery you are looking for. Do you like Winter and the change of seasons or are you looking to get more sunshine and warm weather? Do you want a big city or something more rural? 

My son is a traveller and he's found things to enjoy in most areas he's worked but his favorites seem to have been California, Arizona and Montana.  The cost of living in California is of course outrageous but the northern part of the state doesn't seem quite as awful for housing costs. 

I also hear good things about the mid Atlantic states for a good pay/cost of living balance though I have no personal experience nor do I know any nurses personally from there. Though I have relatives not in health care from Rhode Island and Connecticut that love it there.

I have to agree that the southern states pay the worst. California is a non compact state and to transfer by endorsement, it may take months and good luck with talking to a live person at the BON. It's also 10x more expensive to live there, $3000/month for a decently place to rent (south Cali), car registration/insurance hassles (almost all counties are emission counties), DMV wait times are 2 hours or more (not sure how it works with appts), gas cost up the roof, hidden expenses, food more expensive, etc. 

Just wanted to add though, Cali pays the best from what I heard.