Top 25 cities where US nurses make the most money
California dominates the list of the highest-paying cities in the US for registered nurses, according to a new analysis by researchers from the University of West Alabama.
Using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the US Department of Labor’s Projections Central, the study examined salary trends and employment outlooks across major metropolitan areas, revealing a clear concentration of top-tier wages along the West Coast.
Average salary for nurses
The profession itself has seen a significant financial boost in recent years. Nationwide, the average salary for nurses climbed from $77,460 in 2019 to $98,430 in 2024. The 27 percent increase reflects both rising demand and the critical role nurses continue to play in healthcare systems.
Topping the rankings is the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, where nurses earn an average of $189,880 annually, almost twice the national figure. Other California metros, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Vallejo, follow closely behind.
California dominates list
In total, California claims 22 out of the 25 highest-paying metropolitan areas for nurses in the country. Every city that made the list offers salaries that exceed the national average by at least 26 percent.
Still, for nurses mapping out their careers, the decision may factor in higher cost of living alongside higher immediate earnings in those areas and long-term growth potential in emerging markets.
Top 25 highest-paying cities for nurses in the US
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: $189,880
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont: $178,450
- Vallejo: $175,620
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma: $171,490
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom: $163,020
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $159,540
- Modesto: $154,140
- Yuba City: $146,470
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles: $144,320
- Salinas: $143,410
- Stockton-Lodi: $139,940
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad: $139,350
- Hanford-Corcoran: $138,180
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: $138,010
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario: $135,680
- Chico: $133,870
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura: $132,600
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara: $131,890
- Bakersfield-Delano: $131,030
- Redding: $130,320
- Fresno: $129,730
- Merced: $125,910
- Urban Honolulu, Hawaii: $125,160
- Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii: $124,500
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington: $123,580
