Healthcare · Best cities

Best cities for registered nurses

RN with 2+ years, hospital or specialty setting. Scores combine cost-of-living-adjusted take-home pay (45%), hiring velocity from live postings (40%), and salary growth (15%).

Top pick: Phoenix, AZ — Phoenix: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.

01
AZ
Phoenix
Phoenix: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
86/100
Median pay
$101k
Real take-home
$72k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
77/100
COL 107·Rent $1,741·2.2% state+local·Full Phoenix profile →
02
TN
Nashville
Nashville: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline, and above-average salary growth.
Score
68/100
Median pay
$84k
Real take-home
$62k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
77/100
COL 108·Rent $1,784·No state tax·Full Nashville profile →
03
PA
Philadelphia
Philadelphia: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
66/100
Median pay
$88k
Real take-home
$69k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 102·Rent $1,901·No state tax·Full Philadelphia profile →
04
MN
Minneapolis
Minneapolis: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
66/100
Median pay
$95k
Real take-home
$71k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 106·Rent $1,698·No state tax·Full Minneapolis profile →
05
GA
Atlanta
Atlanta: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
65/100
Median pay
$100k
Real take-home
$68k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
43/100
COL 109·Rent $1,825·4.9% state+local·Full Atlanta profile →
06
VA
Richmond
Richmond: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market, and above-average salary growth.
Score
60/100
Median pay
$78k
Real take-home
$66k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 96·Rent $1,736·No state tax·Full Richmond profile →
07
WA
Seattle
Seattle: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
57/100
Median pay
$112k
Real take-home
$57k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
83/100
COL 152·Rent $2,208·No state tax·Full Seattle profile →
08
NC
Charlotte
Charlotte: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
54/100
Median pay
$91k
Real take-home
$66k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
43/100
COL 104·Rent $1,733·4.3% state+local·Full Charlotte profile →
09
CA
San Francisco
San Francisco: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
53/100
Median pay
$187k
Real take-home
$64k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
53/100
COL 195·Rent $3,206·7.2% state+local·Full San Francisco profile →
10
TX
Houston
Houston: top-tier real take-home for registered nurses after rent and tax, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from, and above-average salary growth.
Score
53/100
Median pay
$85k
Real take-home
$67k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 102·Rent $1,619·No state tax·Full Houston profile →
11
IL
Chicago
Chicago: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
52/100
Median pay
$100k
Real take-home
$61k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
66/100
COL 121·Rent $2,219·4.9% state+local·Full Chicago profile →
12
CO
Denver
Denver: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
51/100
Median pay
$101k
Real take-home
$59k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
76/100
COL 128·Rent $1,887·3.9% state+local·Full Denver profile →
13
FL
Miami
Miami: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a deep hiring market with strong senior pipeline.
Score
50/100
Median pay
$88k
Real take-home
$51k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
90/100
COL 138·Rent $2,683·No state tax·Full Miami profile →
14
NC
Raleigh
Raleigh: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
49/100
Median pay
$85k
Real take-home
$63k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
46/100
COL 103·Rent $1,674·4.3% state+local·Full Raleigh profile →
15
TX
Austin
Austin: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
45/100
Median pay
$98k
Real take-home
$65k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
43/100
COL 119·Rent $1,604·No state tax·Full Austin profile →
16
NY
New York
New York: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a steady but unspectacular hiring market.
Score
30/100
Median pay
$120k
Real take-home
$44k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
73/100
COL 187·Rent $3,406·9.0% state+local·Full New York profile →
17
MA
Boston
Boston: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from, and above-average salary growth.
Score
27/100
Median pay
$108k
Real take-home
$52k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 162·Rent $3,184·No state tax·Full Boston profile →
18
TX
Dallas
Dallas: middle-of-the-pack on after-tax, COL-adjusted income, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
26/100
Median pay
$82k
Real take-home
$59k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 112·Rent $1,660·No state tax·Full Dallas profile →
19
DC
Washington
Washington: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
26/100
Median pay
$102k
Real take-home
$53k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 152·Rent $2,375·No state tax·Full Washington profile →
20
CA
Los Angeles
Los Angeles: pay doesn't stretch far once cost of living lands, a thinner hiring market — fewer employers to choose from.
Score
16/100
Median pay
$128k
Real take-home
$52k
after tax, COL-adj.
Velocity
29/100
COL 173·Rent $2,892·6.9% state+local·Full Los Angeles profile →

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