Nursing is like real estate: For the best places, it’s all about location

There are few fields growing in America like healthcare. Projections have it as one of the fastest growing sectors of job growth in the United States over the next 15 years. And of professions in healthcare, registered nurses are near the top in terms of potential and demand. Just how rosy is the outlook? Employment for RNs is expected to expand by 19 percent till 2022.

Higher demand will likely mean higher wages and better benefits. But where will the RN jobs be the most desirable? Let’s take a look around the nation and find the best spots for these lucrative jobs.

Wages: California, unsurprisingly, is in the lead here, as it tends to be in wages for healthcare workers overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the most populous state in the union, so it stands to reason that California has the highest number RNs overall. Other states in the top five are Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and Massachusetts.

One thing to remember: Alaska, Hawaii, and California are three of the six states in America with the highest cost of living. So that has to be factored into any judgment call on desirability: how much bang is the RN, especially one just out of school, getting for her/his buck?

On the flip side, here are the bottom five states for RN wages: South Dakota, Iowa, West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. (But just like above, these states are also among the lowest in cost-of-living figures, so the percentages come close to evening out.)

High wages don’t mean much, however, if there are no jobs to be had. As attractive as the Golden State might seem, it also has among the lowest open nursing jobs. That could be a boon in the future: more people means more healthcare means more need for nurses. But right now, better bets are Missouri, West Virginia, Mississippi, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

Also, more specifically even than a state breakdown, there is the rural/urban question. Here the tilt seems to go to urban areas, generally home to the larger hospitals and clinics. RNs grade out considerably higher as a percentage of the healthcare workforce here. And urban medical facilities tend to pay a higher wage. Again, the drawback is that urban living tends to be costlier.

All in all, a nursing career does not look to be a bad bet, wherever you may be looking. Like any other career though, you’ll want to do your research, then factor in all the elements to find the best opportunity for you. And once you’ve landed that dream nursing job, let us help you get properly outfitted!