National Nurses Week, which runs from May 6 through May 12, honors nurses in New York and across the country. But how well does New York State treat its nurses?
A new WalletHub study may have the answer.
WalletHub stated that nursing is one of the most lucrative careers, with a mean annual salary of over $98,000 and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States. However, nursing salaries and job opportunities can vary from state to state.
“Since they work in such a demanding profession, nurses deserve to work in places that will compensate them appropriately and offer them reasonable working conditions,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “The best states for nurses have high salaries, mandatory overtime limits, high-quality health care facilities and plenty of job opportunities.”
To determine which states are the best and worst for nurses, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 20 metrics ranging from job openings for nurses per capita and average salaries to mandatory overtime restrictions and the quality of nursing homes.
Here is what to know about New York’s ranking.
Is New York a good state for nurses?
Yes, New York is among the best states for nurses, according to WalletHub.
The Empire State ranked as the No. 11 best state for nurses, with an overall score of 55.80. It scored the No. 9 spot for the work environment rank, but the No. 31 spot for the opportunity and competition rank.
Though New York seems to be a good state for nurses overall, the WalletHub study shows that it doesn’t offer as many job opportunities as other states. NY ranked among the states with the fewest job openings per capita, and among the states with the highest competition by 2032.
WalletHub’s 15 best states for nurses
WalletHub’s 15 worst states for nurses
How WalletHub assessed best and worst states for nurses
To determine the best and worst states for nurses, WalletHub compared all 50 states across two dimensions: opportunity & competition and work environment.
The opportunity & competition category analyzed these factors:
The work environment category analyzed these factors:
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of March 31, 2026, and was sourced from multiple entities, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Council for Community and Economic Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
— Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New York ranks high for nurses, but there’s a catch
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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