There are currently an estimated 2,955,200 registered nurses in the United States. The registered nurse job market is expected to grow by 14.8% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are registered nurses?

CareerExplorer rates registered nurses with an A employability rating, meaning this career should provide great employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 440,200 registered nurses. That number is based on 438,000 additional registered nurses, and the retirement of 2,200 existing registered nurses.

What’s the supply of registered nurses?

The registered nurse industry is concentrated in California, Texas, New York

Registered Nurse job market by state

State Name Employed Registered Nurses
California 282,290
Texas 212,230
New York 180,170
Florida 178,330
Pennsylvania 143,130
Ohio 124,620
Illinois 123,100
North Carolina 99,210
Michigan 94,090
Massachusetts 82,870
New Jersey 80,560
Georgia 75,000
Missouri 72,090
Indiana 68,530
Minnesota 64,540
Virginia 64,260
Tennessee 59,350
Washington 56,880
Wisconsin 55,940
Arizona 54,630
Maryland 53,700
Colorado 49,340
Alabama 49,290
Louisiana 45,970
Kentucky 44,410
South Carolina 43,200
Oregon 35,140
Connecticut 34,310
Iowa 33,280
Kansas 28,900
Mississippi 28,760
Oklahoma 28,000
Arkansas 24,380
Nebraska 22,870
Utah 21,340
Nevada 21,060
West Virginia 20,410
Puerto Rico 19,090
New Mexico 16,290
Maine 14,200
Idaho 13,320
New Hampshire 13,190
South Dakota 12,530
Rhode Island 11,820
Delaware 11,620
District of Columbia 11,000
Hawaii 10,800
Montana 10,110
North Dakota 9,020
Vermont 6,270
Alaska 5,570
Wyoming 4,910
Guam 550