Florida among the best states for nurses amid a national shortage
Amid growing alarms over healthcare staffing, Florida is emerging as one of the better states to practice nursing, according to a new analysis by Research.com based on official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The study compared median annual wages and the number of employed registered nurses across all 50 states, revealing stark disparities and a map of opportunities favoring regions with high demand.
Florida ranks 28th nationwide, with a median annual wage of $82,850. With 218,100 registered nurses and a density of 22.21 nurses per 1,000 jobs, the Sunshine State stands out as an attractive destination for recent graduates and experienced professionals seeking stability, growth, and quality of life. While salaries trail the West Coast leaders, Florida’s large labor market, diverse clinical settings, and demographic momentum make it a strategic place to build a career.
Nationally, California tops the list as the best state for nurses in 2025, offering a median salary of $140,330 and employing 326,720 nurses. Paradoxically, the state is also projected to face an 18% shortage by 2035, opening the door to increased hiring. Hawaii takes second place ($136,320; 13,100 nurses), followed by Oregon in third ($123,990; 39,900), where a 16% shortage is also expected by 2035. Washington ranks fourth, with $112,180 and 64,690 employed nurses, but faces the steepest projected gap: a 26% shortage. Alaska rounds out the top five at $110,690 with 7,040 nurses.
On the East Coast, New York leads with $105,600 and 204,120 nurses, followed by New Jersey ($102,730; 95,150), which is projected to face a 12% shortage by 2035. Nevada ($101,990), Massachusetts ($101,970; 90,190), and Connecticut ($101,590; 39,020) complete the top ten. At the other end of the spectrum, South Dakota ranks as the worst state for nurses in 2025, with annual pay of $69,510 despite having the highest concentration of nurses nationwide at 32.02 per 1,000 jobs.
“These figures arrive as officials sound the alarm on staffing,” notes Imed Bouchrika, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Research.com, citing a federal projection of a 78,610 shortfall in full-time registered nurses by 2025. Bouchrika emphasizes that wage gaps reflect cost of living, union presence, and regional healthcare demand: the greater the need, the higher the pay. For nurses planning their careers, the advice is clear: beyond salary, weigh job availability and growth potential. On that scorecard, Florida stands out as a balanced bet with a strong outlook.
