Where Nurses Earn the Most in 2024—Top 10 Cities Revealed!

If you're trying to make the most money as a nurse—whether you're renting or looking to buy a home—I've put together a detailed spreadsheet of over 590 cities for nurses. It’s based on wages, taxes, and the cost of living.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking: "California is expensive, there’s no way it’s in the top 10!"

Yes, it is—but here's the thing. The nursing wages here are so high that they more than make up for the higher cost of living. Let’s break it down:

Top 10 Cities for Renting Nurses

• Oakland, CA – With a salary of $173,510 and rent averaging $2,295/month, Oakland nurses still take home a hefty $94,286 after rent and taxes.

• Hayward, CA – Similar to Oakland, Hayward’s rent is a bit higher at $2,500/month, but nurses still keep $91,826 after all expenses.

• Vallejo, CA – Rent is lower here at $2,100/month, leaving nurses with $90,658 to work with after taxes and rent.

Top 10 Cities for Owning Nurses

• Vallejo, CA – One of the more affordable places to own a home with a monthly mortgage of $4,303, leaving nurses with $64,222 after all costs.

• Redding, CA – With an even lower mortgage of $3,125/month, Redding offers nurses $59,148 in take-home pay annually after mortgage and taxes.

First City Outside California: Kahului, Hawaii

The first city outside of California in the rankings is Kahului, Hawaii, which sits at rank #23. While Hawaii's lifestyle is incredibly appealing, it also comes with some challenges:

• Annual Salary: Nurses in Kahului earn around $122,740 per year.

• Net Annual Salary: After taxes, this drops to $93,817.

• Housing Costs: Homes in Kahului are expensive, with the average home price being $1,031,367, leading to a mortgage payment of $7,182/month.

• Leftover Income: After paying the mortgage, nurses only have $7,633 left annually. However, renting in Kahului is a better option, with a rent of $2,550/month, leaving nurses with $63,217 annually.

The numbers show that California's high nursing salaries make up for its high cost of living, making it the best option for nurses seeking financial stability and success. If you’re thinking about moving or just curious about where your money can go further, our detailed spreadsheet breaks down all the numbers for you—whether you’re looking to rent or own.

Check out how the spreadsheet works

Why You Should Get This Spreadsheet

This isn’t just a list of cities—it’s a tool made for nurses like you. It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking of staying in your home state or moving out of state, this spreadsheet will help you find different cities and make better financial decisions for you, or your family, based on real data.

What You Can Filter By:

• Median Salaries: See how much you can make as a nurse in different cities and states.

• Home Prices: Compare median home prices to find out where you can afford to buy.

• Monthly Mortgage Payments: Understand what your monthly mortgage would look like.

• Money Left Over (If Owning): See how much you’ll have left each month after taxes and mortgage payments.

• Money Left Over (Annually, If Owning): Get a clear picture of your true annual take-home pay after owning a home.

• Rent Prices: Compare average rent prices across different cities.

• Money Left Over (If Renting): Find out how much you’ll have left each month after rent and taxes.

• Money Left Over (Annually, If Renting): Estimate your yearly savings while renting.

• Compare Professions: See how nursing salaries stack up against other healthcare jobs.

• State Comparisons: Look at the same data across different states to help make the best financial and lifestyle decisions.

Here's the best part: Monica and I used this same type of data when we made our move to Sacramento, and it’s one of the reasons we now work fewer than 20 hours a week and still earn around $300k a year.

If you’re serious about seeing how much you could take home and are planning your move because you just aren’t making enough to survive where you currently live, this spreadsheet will change your life.

Get Your Spreadsheet Now

👉 Click here to access the full spreadsheet and start planning.

P.S. Whether you’re thinking of renting or buying, this spreadsheet will give you the full picture of the best cities for nurses like you!

Special Offer for Course Buyers

If you decide to purchase our Nurses to Riches Accelerator course, this spreadsheet, along with all of our other spreadsheets and thousands of dollars worth of materials and bonuses, will be included at no additional cost. Plus, as a thank you for being a loyal newsletter subscriber, use coupon code “LOYAL5” to get an extra 5% off your course purchase!