STATE INDEX
Best states for Registered Nurses.
Every state ranked on the WageBench Score for registered nurses — median wage, take-home after state tax, cost of living, and license compacts. Sort any column, then select states to compare side by side.
NLC COMPACT
40 / 51
states
NO STATE INCOME TAX
9 / 51
states
COVERAGE
51
states ranked
| Rank | State | WageBench Score ↓ | Median | Take-Home | State Tax | COL | Compact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | 72 | $124,200 | $124,200 | 0.0% | 107 | NLCPT | |
| #2 | Colorado | 69 | $100,260 | $95,849 | 4.4% | 103 | NLCPT | |
| #3 | Texas | 69 | $95,970 | $95,970 | 0.0% | 97 | NLCPT | |
| #4 | New Mexico | 69 | $94,340 | $89,717 | 4.9% | 92 | NLC | |
| #5 | Wisconsin | 68 | $95,530 | $90,467 | 5.3% | 94 | NLCPT | |
| #6 | Wyoming | 68 | $83,760 | $83,760 | 0.0% | 93 | NLCPT | |
| #7 | Pennsylvania | 68 | $96,430 | $93,470 | 3.1% | 98 | NLCPT | |
| #8 | Georgia | 68 | $93,550 | $88,498 | 5.4% | 96 | NLCPT | |
| #9 | California | 68 | $140,270 | $131,854 | 6.0% | 111 | — | |
| #10 | North Dakota | 68 | $80,730 | $79,115 | 2.0% | 89 | NLCPT | |
| #11 | Maryland | 68 | $99,790 | $94,801 | 5.0% | 105 | NLCPT | |
| #12 | Missouri | 67 | $81,780 | $78,100 | 4.5% | 91 | NLCPT | |
| #13 | Arizona | 67 | $99,500 | $97,013 | 2.5% | 101 | NLCPT | |
| #14 | Arkansas | 67 | $78,940 | $76,177 | 3.5% | 87 | NLCPT | |
| #15 | Delaware | 67 | $99,520 | $94,345 | 5.2% | 100 | NLCPT | |
| #16 | Idaho | 67 | $92,460 | $87,097 | 5.8% | 95 | NLCPT | |
| #17 | Indiana | 67 | $83,500 | $80,953 | 3.0% | 93 | NLCPT | |
| #18 | North Carolina | 67 | $84,350 | $80,765 | 4.3% | 94 | NLCPT | |
| #19 | Ohio | 67 | $82,510 | $80,035 | 3.0% | 93 | NLCPT | |
| #20 | South Dakota | 67 | $78,060 | $78,060 | 0.0% | 89 | NLCPT | |
| #21 | Tennessee | 67 | $81,500 | $81,500 | 0.0% | 92 | NLCPT | |
| #22 | Kansas | 66 | $79,320 | $75,156 | 5.3% | 90 | NLCPT | |
| #23 | Mississippi | 66 | $77,090 | $73,698 | 4.4% | 87 | NLCPT | |
| #24 | Alabama | 66 | $77,080 | $73,997 | 4.0% | 89 | NLCPT | |
| #25 | Montana | 66 | $85,280 | $80,845 | 5.2% | 95 | NLCPT | |
| #26 | Nebraska | 66 | $84,730 | $80,663 | 4.8% | 90 | NLCPT | |
| #27 | New Hampshire | 66 | $99,700 | $99,700 | 0.0% | 104 | NLCPT | |
| #28 | Iowa | 66 | $78,630 | $75,642 | 3.8% | 88 | NLCPT | |
| #29 | West Virginia | 66 | $80,130 | $76,284 | 4.8% | 89 | NLCPT | |
| #30 | Oklahoma | 66 | $82,920 | $79,189 | 4.5% | 88 | NLCPT | |
| #31 | Oregon | 66 | $129,010 | $118,689 | 8.0% | 103 | PT | |
| #32 | South Carolina | 66 | $82,360 | $77,830 | 5.5% | 94 | NLCPT | |
| #33 | Connecticut | 66 | $102,740 | $97,603 | 5.0% | 104 | NLC | |
| #34 | Virginia | 66 | $93,600 | $88,733 | 5.2% | 101 | NLCPT | |
| #35 | Kentucky | 66 | $81,040 | $77,798 | 4.0% | 90 | NLCPT | |
| #36 | Louisiana | 66 | $80,230 | $77,823 | 3.0% | 88 | NLCPT | |
| #37 | Utah | 65 | $84,600 | $80,751 | 4.5% | 99 | NLCPT | |
| #38 | Hawaii | 65 | $136,320 | $126,778 | 7.0% | 110 | — | |
| #39 | Rhode Island | 65 | $100,640 | $95,860 | 4.8% | 102 | NLC | |
| #40 | Florida | 65 | $84,190 | $84,190 | 0.0% | 103 | NLCPT | |
| #41 | Maine | 64 | $86,990 | $81,945 | 5.8% | 97 | NLCPT | |
| #42 | Vermont | 64 | $97,460 | $91,028 | 6.6% | 98 | NLC | |
| #43 | New Jersey | 63 | $106,500 | $100,643 | 5.5% | 109 | NLCPT | |
| #44 | Illinois | 62 | $95,990 | $91,238 | 5.0% | 100 | — | |
| #45 | New York | 62 | $109,440 | $102,655 | 6.2% | 108 | PT | |
| #46 | Michigan | 62 | $94,300 | $90,292 | 4.3% | 96 | PT | |
| #47 | Nevada | 62 | $103,670 | $103,670 | 0.0% | 100 | PT | |
| #48 | Alaska | 62 | $109,480 | $109,480 | 0.0% | 102 | — | |
| #49 | Massachusetts | 61 | $104,550 | $99,323 | 5.0% | 106 | — | |
| #50 | District of Columbia | 61 | $102,540 | $95,875 | 6.5% | 110 | PT | |
| #51 | Minnesota | 61 | $101,510 | $94,607 | 6.8% | 99 | PT |