With National Nurses Week kicking off May 6, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2026’s Best & Worst States for Nurses, to help nurses, especially new graduates, find the best markets for their profession.
WalletHub compared the relative attractiveness of the 50 states across 20 key metrics. The data set ranges from job openings for nurses per capita and average salaries to mandatory overtime restrictions and the quality of nursing homes.
The Nursing Market in Arizona (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 5th
- 12th – Monthly Avg. Starting Salary for Nurses (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 6th – Nurses per Capita
- 4th – Projected Share of Elderly Population by 2050
- 2nd – Average Annual Salary for Nurses (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 1st – Share of Best Nursing Homes
- 2nd – Projected Competition by 2032
- 18th – Avg. Number of Work Hours
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-nurses/4041
