In order to help new nursing graduates find the best markets for their profession, WalletHub compared the relative attractiveness of the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 21 key metrics. The data set ranges from monthly average starting salary for nurses to health-care facilities per capita to nursing-job openings per capita.
Like most segments of the economy, the nursing industry changes based on the country’s socioeconomics. Key issues include the aging U.S. population, the student-loan crisis and concerns about the future of key entitlement programs. But such concerns are shared by recent graduates in all industries.
Best Places to Work as a Nurse
| Overall Rank (1=Best) | State | Total Score | ‘Opportunity & Competition’ Rank | ‘Work Environment’ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 62.96 | 16 | 2 |
| 2 | Montana | 62.07 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Washington | 61.41 | 6 | 12 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 61.31 | 1 | 32 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 61.11 | 2 | 31 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 60.87 | 29 | 1 |
| 7 | Arizona | 59.89 | 7 | 16 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 59.39 | 37 | 3 |
| 9 | Oregon | 59.17 | 36 | 4 |
| 10 | Colorado | 58.67 | 20 | 6 |
The Nursing Market in Arizona (1=Best; 25=Avg.)
- 5th – Monthly Avg. Starting Salary for Nurses (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 7th – Nurses per Capita
- 14th – Projected Share of Elderly Population by 2030
- 1st – Average Annual Salary for Nurses (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 9th – Share of Best Nursing Homes
- 13th – Projected Competition by 2024
Regrettably the home of the nations capitol Washington DC is the worst by a major points gap.
For the full report, please visit WalletHub.