Low pay, 12-hour shifts, and barely enough rest are a fast track to burnout. A 2025 survey from Cross Country Healthcare revealed that 86% of nurses are dissatisfied with their pay rates. Still, there are others who enjoy a healthy work-life balance with decent salaries that reflect the high cost of living.
If you’re among the 86% of nurses burning out without a decent pay rate, it’s time to pack your scrubs. Let’s look at the highest-paying cities for nurses looking to relocate.
City Breakdown
We parsed through our registered nurse salaries to find the U.S. cities that are paying Registered Nurses the most money. We ranked these cities by highest median hourly base pay. These cities topped our rankings.
1. San Francisco, CA
- Median Hourly Rate: $94.64
- 25th Percentile: $80.79
- 75th Percentile: $100
- 90th Percentile: $102
- Hourly Range: $40-$106.68
The Bay Area currently ranks as the fourth most expensive city in the U.S. With a cost of living that’s 67% higher than the national average, monthly expenses for a single person hover around $1,566, excluding rent.
On the plus side, you’ll get a fat paycheck to balance things out. Nurses in San Francisco can earn up to $106.68 at the top end of the range, with a median wage sitting around $94.64.
2. Portland, OR
- Median Hourly Rate: $61
- 25th Percentile: $58.50
- 75th Percentile: $62.75
- 90th Percentile: $64.10
- Hourly Range: $54-$65
While prices in the housing market have crept up due to high inflation since 2020, you’ll still find some cozy neighborhoods that won’t empty your wallet.
Portland boasts a strong healthcare scene, with major players like Adventist Health and Providence Portland Medical Center leading with thousands of employees each. So, you can quickly land a new role and start earning an hourly rate of $61 on average.
3. San Diego, CA
- Median Hourly Rate: $56
- 25th Percentile: $54
- 75th Percentile: $57.43
- 90th Percentile: $61.40
- Hourly Range: $48-$64.04
A 2024 study by Chapman University dubs San Diego as an impossibly unaffordable city. Considering that America’s Finest City has been crowned the country’s most expensive for two years in a row, you’d expect to find it at the top of this list. By coming in third place, it doesn’t disappoint.
If you run a quick job search on LinkedIn, you’ll find over 1,000 new openings for registered nurses in San Diego, with the possibility of earning as high as $64.04 per hour.
4. Los Angeles Area, CA
- Median Hourly Rate: $55.50
- 25th Percentile: $50
- 75th Percentile: $61
- 90th Percentile: $64.90
- Hourly Range: $39-$70
Boasting 3.8 million residents in 2025, Los Angeles ranks as California’s most populous city. Still, it surpasses expectations as one of the highest-paying cities for nurses in the country. While the surging cost of living will take a huge bite out of your paycheck, you’ll get to work at some of the best hospitals in the country, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Keck Medicine of USC.
5. New York City, NY
- Median Hourly Rate: $53
- 25th Percentile: $45.26
- 75th Percentile: $60
- 90th Percentile: $66.60
- Hourly Range: $27-$95
While New York City comes in fifth place for median hourly rates, it has the second-highest top-of-range rate. You’ll find more than 20,000 nursing job openings posted on LinkedIn, offering opportunities to put your skills to work at high-paying hospitals, including New York-Presbyterian. With a minimum compensation of just $27, New York City has the lowest bottom of the range rate, but hourly rates can soar to $95 for experienced nurses.
6. Seattle, WA
- Median Hourly Rate: $48.25
- 25th Percentile: $39.76
- 75th Percentile: $53.04
- 90th Percentile: $59.28
- Hourly Range: $36.14-$65
While this tech-driven city has approximately 37,000 registered nurses, it expects a 15% surge in demand for healthcare professionals in the next five years. With high earners pulling in up to $65 at the top end of the range, Seattle is a solid choice for a relocation.
7. Philadelphia, PA
- Median Hourly Rate: $46.83
- 25th Percentile: $45
- 75th Percentile: $49.65
- 90th Percentile: $53.62
- Hourly Range: $37.85-$58
The cost of living in Philadelphia sits at 3% above the national average, improving its affordability score compared to other major cities. You can expect to spend an average of $1,491 on a one-bedroom apartment, which sounds like a good deal, considering the healthy median of $46.83.
8. Washington, DC
- Median Hourly Rate: $46.28
- 25th Percentile: $40.12
- 75th Percentile: $58.69
- 90th Percentile: $65.20
- Hourly Range: $38.44-$85
Washington clocks in as one of the most expensive cities to live in. However, it offers nursing pay rates of $85 at the high end, so you can balance out the expenses as you work. According to its population density, Washington is expected to see a 22% nursing shortage by 2037, making it one of the best destinations to pitch your tent.
9. Baltimore, MD
- Median Hourly Rate: $45
- 25th Percentile: $39.12
- 75th Percentile: $52.40
- 90th Percentile: $57.85
- Hourly Range: $34-$60
With an average population of 557,503 and a cost of living that’s only 1% above the national average, Baltimore is surprisingly affordable for a city of its size.
According to a 2024 study by NurseJournal, Maryland has a low nurse-to-population ratio. For every 1,000 residents, you’ll only find a little over eight nurses. This points to a growing demand for nurses in the coming years.
10. Houston, TX
- Median Hourly Rate: $44.50
- 25th Percentile: $38.97
- 75th Percentile: $51.16
- 90th Percentile: $57.90
- Hourly Range: $31.50-$68.30
You’ve heard that everything’s bigger in Texas. And, Houston isn’t doing too badly for itself when it comes to nursing compensation. While it’s not topping the charts, nurses here can still make above the national average with a bottom-of-range rate of $31.50.
Depending on your experience and the pay rate at the hospital or clinic where you’re hired, you just might be among the top earners who make up to $68.30 per hour. Houston Methodist and MD Anderson Cancer Center are some of the best employers in the Houston area.
11. Phoenix, AZ
- Median Hourly Rate: $43
- 25th Percentile: $40.01
- 75th Percentile: $45
- 90th Percentile: $59.59
- Hourly Range: $35-$68
In Phoenix, AZ, you can work for big names like the Mayo Clinic. However, with the cost of living on the rise, you might want to double-check if a low-end rate of $35 per hour is enough compensation for you, especially if you’re working full-time.
Rural Arizona is projected to have the largest nursing shortage in 2025, though. So, depending on how much work you can handle, this could either be a rewarding opportunity or a breeding ground for burnout.
12. Atlanta, GA
- Median Hourly Rate: $42
- 25th Percentile: $37.73
- 75th Percentile: $50
- 90th Percentile: $55.50
- Hourly Range: $32-$75
Georgia is home to more than 195,000 healthcare professionals, with roughly 43% above the age of 50. This means plenty of opportunities for both entry-level and experienced nurses to fill in the gaps, making Georgia a top destination for job seekers. As a registered nurse, you could work at any of the 69 major hospitals in the Atlanta area, taking home an average hourly rate of $42.
13. Boston, MA
- Median Hourly Rate: $40.80
- 25th Percentile: $39.49
- 75th Percentile: $47.44
- 90th Percentile: $51.59
- Hourly Range: $37.88-$55.20
Boston is one of the best locations for nurses prioritizing prestige, with a high-end hourly rate of $55.20. You get to work at some of the best hospitals in the country, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Medical Center. Considering the high cost of living, daily expenses can quickly pile up. So, it’s worth factoring these expenses into your decision.
14. Chicago, IL
- Median Hourly Rate: $40
- 25th Percentile: $38.75
- 75th Percentile: $42.08
- 90th Percentile: $48.10
- Hourly Range: $36.50-$49.95
Working at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and other top health facilities in Chicago, IL, will fetch you just a few cents shy of $50 as a top earner. When compared with San Francisco’s high pay, this might not seem attractive enough. But you’ll find that living in Chicago is much more affordable than in other big cities. So, although you may earn an average of $40 per hour, you’ll have some financial wiggle room to save more money.
15. Miami, FL
- Median Hourly Rate: $39.36
- 25th Percentile: $35.60
- 75th Percentile: $42.31
- 90th Percentile: $43.77
- Hourly Range: $31.50-$44.08
Miami is one of the world’s largest business hubs. For a city so popular, a low-end rate of $31.50 might be a little disappointing. Miami also has the second-lowest bottom-of-range rate on this list. However, with over 2,000 new openings for registered nurses on LinkedIn alone, you’re likely to land a new role quickly.
Pick Your Nursing Home Base Wisely
Nursing is a rewarding career, but where you work can speed up or slow down your professional growth. Some cities will burn you out and barely pay the bills, while others offer solid paychecks that reflect the high cost of living.
Whether you’re chasing bigger pay, a healthy work-life balance, or a fresh start, this list should give you a solid idea of the best cities where you’ll receive the highest compensation as a nurse.