The 30 Best Cities for Nurses for Salary

4. Boston, MA

One of the United States’ oldest and most prominent cities, Boston is a historic treasure and a modern marvel, remaining one of the New World’s most influential cities for nearly four centuries. Boston is also a center of learning and research, with more than 60 colleges and universities in the metropolitan area, including Harvard University, Boston University, and MIT – some of the foremost names in higher education. Additionally, this historic city has a list of medical centers and world-renowned hospitals.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Massachusetts General, Tufts Medical Center, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 84.6

5. Cincinnati, OH

The fastest-growing economy in the Midwest, Cincinnati, OH, hit a rough patch in the last part of the 20th century, as the creep of the Rust Belt hit the industrial town, but the ‘Nati has bounced back in a big way in the last decade. With a lot of vacant real estate left from the economic downturn 20 years ago, young professionals and families are returning to Cincinnati, where a relatively low cost of living and a growing job market has created a strong attraction.

Major Employers and Hospitals: University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Christ Hospital Health Network, The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 64.4

8. Atlanta, GA

With well over 5 million people in the sprawling suburbs and exurbs around the city there are ample opportunities for good food, sports events, and also theatre. Additionally, the city boasts numerous parks with walking paths, dog parks, swimming pools, farmer’s markets, and a variety of annual festivals. Additionally, just outside of Atlanta outdoor enthusiest can hike the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Marked by industry, business, culture, and modern development, Atlanta, GA is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. As the home of Emory Healthcare, Georgia’s largest, most prestigious academic health complex, Atlanta is also a worldwide center of medicine and health sciences.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Emory Healthcare including Emory University Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Northside Hospital Atlanta

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 73.8

9. Louisville, KY

Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville is also one of the oldest and most historical cities west of the Appalachians, and its status helped make it one of the Midwest’s leading cities early on. First, a hub for river traffic, then a crucial railroad crossing, Louisville built its name and economy on shipping, still one of the city’s main industries.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Baptist Health Louisville, the Louisville Jewish Hospital, which partners with Catholic Health Initiatives as Kentucky One Health, is another significant employer. The University of Louisville Hospital is an academic healthcare center in the city and offers generous salaries and signing bonuses for nurses. All these make Louisville the best city for nurses in Kentucky.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 66.5

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11. Austin, TX

The city of Austin, TX, is known for many things. Austin is the capital of Texas, and the home of the University of Texas’ main campus, a center of learning and research in the state. The city is regarded as one of the coolest in the US with its legendary music, art, and film industry. It’s a city where self-proclaimed weirdos and yuppies cross paths, and where cultures merge rather than clash. Austin is also one of America’s healthiest cities, thanks to a highly active outdoor life and an exceptional network of healthcare facilities and professionals. The fastest-growing major city in the US, Austin attracts everyone – great nurses included.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, St. David’s Medical Center, and the Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 73.2

12. Phoenix, AZ

In the center of the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, AZ, is the capital and biggest city in Arizona. Metropolitan Phoenix’s more than four and a half million people make up more than half the state’s population. Phoenix has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the US for nearly two decades, with an increasingly diverse population drawn to a growing tech and financial sector.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Banner Gateway Medical Center, Arizona State Hospital, Abrazo Healthcare – Arrowhead Hospital, Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, Banner Estrella Medical Center, Banner Children’s Hospital

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 74.0

13. Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is an incredibly beautiful city, surrounded by stunning natural beauty which can be enjoyed year-round. This Alaska city has a rich cultural history, offering plenty of exciting activities and attractions that will keep you constantly entertained and inspired.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Alaska Regional Hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center, St. Elias Specialty Hospital

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 88

14. Baltimore, MD

From exciting nightlife to delicious foods, Baltimore’s diverse cultural and entertainment offerings make living in the city an exciting and enjoyable experience. Baltimore is a vibrant city with many attractions and amenities to enjoy.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Washington Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 76.4

15. Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico, located in the high desert pinon-juniper woodland on the banks of the Rio Grande. It is known for its lively music, food, and art scene, as well as its world-renowned International Balloon Fiesta. Old Town Albuquerque is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history and diverse culture. It features a variety of restaurants, shops, museums, galleries and other attractions.

Major Employers and Hospitals: VA Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Medical Services, Heart Hospital of New Mexico, and Lovelace Women’s Hospital. The University of New Mexico Hospital provides a children’s hospital, burn center, and level I pediatric and adult trauma centers.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 68.1

16. Boise Idaho

The Idaho city of Boise is in the western part of the United States and is known for its vibrant growing economy. Residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including biking, hiking, rafting and kayaking along the Boise River.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, St. Luke’s Boise is the flagship hospital of St. Luke’s Health System and Idaho’s largest health care provider, Vibra Hospital of Boise, Treasure Valley Hospital

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 70.2

17. Dallas, TX

In the first half of the 2010s, Dallas was the fastest-growing city in America, with more than 800,000 people moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. It’s also one of Texas’ top cities for registered nurses and cities for healthcare. The prominent hospitals including the The Texas nursing shortage has made an impact on the healthcare system of Dallas as well. Dallas-Fort Worth hospitals have seen an alarming number of nurses retiring, without a sufficient number of prepared, licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) to replace them. It’s especially important for managerial and leadership roles, which require a BSN degree or higher.

Major Employers and Hospitals: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the Baylor University Medical Center, and numerous Texas Health hospitals.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 77.1

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18. Seattle, WA

The largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle, WA, has also been one of the fastest-growing cities in the US for the last decade. As one of the highest paying cities for nursing salaries, its job opportunities attract thousands of nurses every year.

Major Employers and Hospitals: University of Washington Medical Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center, and Overlake Medical Center.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 92.9

19. St. Louis, MO

The center of economic and cultural life in Missouri is St. Louis. It is on the Mississippi River and is the region’s largest metropolitan region with more than 3 million residents. In addition, St. Louis is now a center for healthcare and research in the Midwest and one of the highest-paying cities for nurses in the US.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, SSM Health that includes SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. This Catholic healthcare system based in St. Louis and operates 20 hospitals in the Midwest.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 67.8

20. Orlando, FL

The Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando, FL, is one of the foremost tourist destinations in the US. It is home to Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and, of course, the legendary Gatorland. Florida’s third-largest city, Orlando is home to more than 2 million people in the metropolitan area and has developed a massive service economy, as well as a world-class film, entertainment, and technology industry. With so many people and a steady stream of millions of tourists every year, Orlando also has a significant healthcare system, with world-class healthcare facilities. The University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine and College of Nursing, which has both grown extensively in the last decade, also provide a place for nurses and nurse educators.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Orlando Health, Florida Hospital, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, The University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine and College of Nursing

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 74.1

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21. Detroit Michigan

Detroit has a long history in the auto industry and is the birthplace of the modern car. Its population boomed during and after World War II, and the city has seen a resurgence in recent years. Detroit is an area with lots of great things to offer. From a year-round variety of cultural attractions to its vibrant city life, there is something in Detroit for everyone to enjoy.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Henry Ford Health System, St. John Health System, and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Harper University Hospital, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 74

22. Philadelphia, PA

One of the most historic cities in the US, Philadelphia, PA, was the central city of America’s early years, from the colonial days through the American Revolution and the beginning of the Republic. Philadelphia remains one of the largest and most prominent cities in the US. Philadelphia is also a model for nursing education. From the UPenn School of Nursing to many online RN to BSN programs from nationally-ranked institutions, like the Drexel University online BSN. Like other cities, the nursing shortage in the City of Brotherly Love is severe, with hospitals offering everything from signing bonuses to housing allowances and tuition reimbursement for nurses to work, continue their education, and move into the supervisory positions being vacated by retiring nurses.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Temple University Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hospital, Jefferson Health-Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Main Line Health Lankenau Medical Center, Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian – the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) is a major multi-hospital health system aka Penn Medicine.

Cost of Living Index (COLI): 79.3

23. Oklahoma City, OK

If there’s one major American city that never gets its due, it’s Oklahoma City. While it lacks the cool factor of a city like Austin, Oklahoma City has something that is attracting more and more professionals, entrepreneurs, and families. OKC has been called “recession-proof,” one of the best places to live, and one of the best places to start a business in the US, and a strong, secure job market is much of the reason. The economic stability of Oklahoma City applies to healthcare, too. Steady, deliberate growth in the population has given Oklahoma City the means and time to build a solid healthcare system, with numerous hospitals and other facilities providing nurses with opportunities.

Major Employers and Top Hospitals: OU Medical Center, Cedar Ridge Hospital

COLI: 70.7

24. Denver, CO

The Mile-High City, Denver, CO is the largest city in the Rocky Mountain region, with nearly 3 million people in the Denver metro region. Denver is home to the University of Colorado’s medical center, the Anschutz Medical Center, widely ranked one of the world’s top academic medical complexes. The University of Colorado Hospital is just one of many potential employers for Colorado’s nurses – many of whom are educated at the CU College of Nursing.

Major Employers and Hospitals: University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Hospital, Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Centre, Saint Joseph Hospital, Porter Adventist Hospital, Kindred Hospital Denver

COLI: 81.7

25. Indianapolis, IN

The capital of Indiana, and one of the largest cities in the Midwest and a center of government, business, sports, and transportation. Indy made its name on trade, originally, being a major railroad and highway hub, but in modern-day, the city is especially known for finance and insurance companies with several Fortune 500 companies in the metropolitan area. It’s also a sports capital, with nationally-renowned professional basketball and football teams, and the legendary Indy 500, one of the world’s top auto races. Indianapolis is also central to healthcare in the state, including some of the top nursing schools in Indiana, and some of the best online RN to BSN programs in the nation, such as Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis. With the Indiana University Health Academic Health Center, and many excellent hospitals, Indianapolis offers an exceptional job market for nursing professionals.

Major Employers and Hospitals: IU Health University Hospital, Kindred Hospital Indianapolis, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Riley Hospital for Children, St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital

COLI: 76.5

26. New York City, NY

This vibrant city never sleeps, so you’re always guaranteed to find something exciting happening around every corner. New York City has endless opportunities for cultural experiences, from delicious cuisine to award-winning Broadway shows.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Presbyterian Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the NYU Langone Medical Center a world-class university research hospital.

COLI: 100

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27. Tampa, FL

The city of Tampa, FL, has come a long way since it was the cigar capital of the USA. With a large population, millions of tourists, and the senior population characteristic of Florida, Tampa also has a strong healthcare system made up of more than 20 hospitals, many nationally ranked. With healthcare so critical to Florida’s economy, nursing education is also one of the state’s greatest strengths; some of the nation’s top nursing schools are in Florida, including the College of Nursing at Tampa’s University of South Florida. USF Health is just one of the two dozen-strong hospitals helping to make Tampa one of the best cities for nurses.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Tampa General Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital-Tampa, James A. Haley VA Hospital, Florida Hospital Tampa, Memorial Hospital of Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center 

COLI: 76.3

28. Miami, FL

One of the largest global cities in the South, Miami, FL, is a peculiar and spectacular place, known the world over for beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and wild nightlife. It’s also a highly diverse city, with the largest population of Cuban-Americans, and is one of the largest majority-Hispanic cities in the US. A vibrant culture with a booming economy, Miami made its wealth from tourism, real estate, and communications, and with that wealth – and an enormous population – Miami has invested heavily in its healthcare infrastructure.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Baptist Health South Florida is one of the single largest employers in the Miami major metropolitan area, while the University of Miami Hospital is a top-notch academic teaching and research institution. Many other hospitals, clinics, and private practices keep Miami’s nursing salaries up and keep nurses happy.

COLI: 81.9

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29. Nashville, TN

Nashville is one of the South’s biggest boomtowns, with one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation, in areas ranging from manufacturing and banking to religion as the headquarters of several Christian denominations. While the music industry is worth more than $6 billion in economic impact, though, Nashville is actually dominated by the healthcare industry, with hundreds of healthcare corporations.

Major Employers and Hospitals: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, one of the foremost teaching and research hospitals in the world. In addition to educating some of the South’s most expert nurses at the School of Nursing, VUMC employs more than 20,000 people, including thousands of nurses, and has been named one of the best hospitals to work in America.

COLI: 81.9

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30. Birmingham, AL

Alabama’s largest city, with more than one million residents in the metropolitan area, Birmingham, AL, has truly come into its own in the 21st century. The city first grew in stature as the main manufacturing center of the Deep South. For good reason, Birmingham is one of the best-paying cities for nurses in the South. Much of Birmingham’s growth and development has been due to the University of Alabama Birmingham, which has blossomed into one of the South’s premier public research universities.

Major Employers and Hospitals: University of Alabama Birmingham Health System, Baptist Medical Center, and the nationally-ranked Children’s Hospital.

COLI: 75.0