Washington State has once again been declared the best state in the United States for nurses to work in, according to the latest annual rankings by finance website WalletHub. The rankings were based on a detailed comparison of all 50 states across 20 key metrics that directly affect the nursing profession or workforce.

The methodology included looking at factors such as average annual salary, average starting salary, commute time, healthcare facilities per capita, quality of nursing schools, nurse job openings, nurses per 1,000 residents in an area, and the estimated percentage of elderly individuals by 2030. Each state was graded on a 100-point scale for each metric, and the scores were then averaged to determine the overall rankings.

According to WalletHub’s latest rankings, some notable changes have occurred since last year’s results. Texas has made it into the top 10 best states for nurses to work in, while Delaware, Nebraska, and Vermont are new additions to the list of 10 worst states.

The news of Washington’s top ranking will no doubt be welcomed by nurses in the state, who will no doubt appreciate the recognition of their hard work and dedication to their profession. The state has long been known for its high quality healthcare facilities and excellent nursing schools, and it appears that these factors have once again helped it to come out on top in WalletHub’s annual rankings.

It is hoped that these rankings will continue to raise awareness of the important role that nurses play in our healthcare system, and encourage states across the country to invest in their nursing workforce and provide better working conditions for these essential healthcare professionals.

The 10 best states to work in as a nurse in 2023 are: 

  1. Washington
  2. Maine
  3. New Mexico
  4. Oregon
  5. New Hampshire
  6. Minnesota
  7. Montana
  8. Arizona
  9. Texas
  10. Wyoming

The 10 worst states to work in as a nurse in 2023 are:

  1. Hawaii
  2. Oklahoma
  3. Arkansas
  4. Alabama
  5. Mississippi
  6. Louisiana
  7. Nebraska
  8. Tennessee
  9. Vermont
  10. Delaware