list- best states for pay?

Awhile ago there was a list revolving on these boards that ranked all fifty states according to best pay rate per hour for RN's, taking into account cost of living. If I remember correctly, texas was number one but I can't seem to find the post anymore (darn, I knew I should have hit kudos! lol).

Does anyone have that list/know where to find it?
Which ever one you can find a job in is the highest paying...

You know, I happened to read this post on a bad day for me...so i'm just going to put this bluntly. If you're going into nursing for the money and to quickly zoom to the state that will pay you the most for the least amount of work, then please do us all a favor and just become a lawyer or politician or something BESIDES a nurse. I've worked with enough nurses that were just there for the paycheck and not b/c they cared at all. Long story short, they were CRAPPY nurses. Don't join those ranks. Either be a nurse for the right reason or simply stay out of the field.

I think looking at pay whether as a curiousity or a necessity is completely valid. I had to move a couple of years ago for my husband's work. I made almost $30,000 more when I moved to Texas from Mississippi. I didn't love nursing any more or less because of my salary. It did makes things easier at home though. If someone is flexible and can move wherever they choose then why not look at the pay.

I worked in a town with three hospitals. Mine paid the least. However it had something I didn't really pay attention to, a great retirement system. The competition did not. I am now retired (work per diem), get a great retirement income. It doesn't always come down to the week to week paycheck! (Who wants to live in Texas, ha ha, just joking!!!!!)

How come whenever someone mentions $ another person has to jump in and call them a crappy nurse? I don't see how there's anything wrong with wanting to be paid as much as you can for whatever it is you choose to do.

@Brownbook: I'm just counting the days until we can move Which will probably be another couple of years! ha

Quote from nurse_mo1986You know, I happened to read this post on a bad day for me...so i'm just going to put this bluntly. If you're going into nursing for the money and to quickly zoom to the state that will pay you the most for the least amount of work, then please do us all a favor and just become a lawyer or politician or something BESIDES a nurse. I've worked with enough nurses that were just there for the paycheck and not b/c they cared at all. Long story short, they were CRAPPY nurses. Don't join those ranks. Either be a nurse for the right reason or simply stay out of the field.

I just happened to read this on a good day, so I'm going to put this bluntly. Good pay is a good thing. If you're in it for the money, good for you! I'm going into nursing to help others, because that is my nature. I'll be d***ned if I'll do it for free, though. I happen to know that I am worth a LOT.I know the post you're talking about. I hope someone finds the link, 'cause I need to know where to move, too. PS - There are still nuns around if you WANT to work for free. I'm sure they'll let you join them.

Quote from nurse_mo1986You know, I happened to read this post on a bad day for me...so i'm just going to put this bluntly. If you're going into nursing for the money and to quickly zoom to the state that will pay you the most for the least amount of work, then please do us all a favor and just become a lawyer or politician or something BESIDES a nurse. I've worked with enough nurses that were just there for the paycheck and not b/c they cared at all. Long story short, they were CRAPPY nurses. Don't join those ranks. Either be a nurse for the right reason or simply stay out of the field.

Quote from nurse_mo1986You know, I happened to read this post on a bad day for me...so i'm just going to put this bluntly. If you're going into nursing for the money and to quickly zoom to the state that will pay you the most for the least amount of work, then please do us all a favor and just become a lawyer or politician or something BESIDES a nurse. I've worked with enough nurses that were just there for the paycheck and not b/c they cared at all. Long story short, they were CRAPPY nurses. Don't join those ranks. Either be a nurse for the right reason or simply stay out of the field.

Just went to the department of labor's website and found this:Alabama 42880 27.82 57860 Alaska 5010 36.04 74970 Arizona 38570 32.27 67130 Arkansas 23050 27.42 57040 California 233030 40.90 85080 Colorado 41750 32.12 66800 Connecticut 35790 34.58 71930 Delaware10220 34.02 70770 District of Columbia8890 35.60 74040 Florida150940 29.94 62270 Georgia65370 29.30 60940 Guam500 23.86 49630 Hawaii8930 38.47 80020 Idaho10540 29.48 61320 Illinois116340 31.46 65440 Indiana57880 27.84 57910 Iowa30750 24.97 51930 Kansas26320 26.79 55730 Kentucky43250 27.94 58110 Louisiana39560 28.99 60290 Maine14410 31.37 65240 Maryland51620 36.70 76330 Massachusetts83060 39.32 81780 Michigan84620 30.82 64100 Minnesota57560 34.98 72760 Mississippi28030 27.70 57630 Missouri62130 27.62 57460 Montana8340 27.10 56380 Nebraska18930 26.46 55040 Nevada16100 35.07 72940 New Hampshire13330 29.84 62060 New Jersey74730 36.05 74990 New Mexico12340 30.55 63550 New York165730 34.99 72790 North Carolina88190 28.31 58880 North Dakota6260 26.98 56110 Ohio117870 28.72 59740 Oklahoma27340 25.58 53210 Oregon30730 35.24 73300 Pennsylvania129810 30.58 63600 Puerto Rico17720 14.40 29950 Rhode Island11630 33.09 68830 South Carolina38020 28.69 59680 South Dakota10530 25.73 53520 Tennessee61980 28.62 59520 Texas168020 31.09 64670 Utah17670 28.54 59370 Vermont5680 30.40 63230 Virgin Islands440 23.98 49890 Virginia60230 30.42 63270 Washington54260 34.83 72450 West Virginia17340 25.50 53030 Wisconsin53510 30.39 63200 Wyoming4700 27.91 58060The first number is the # of people employed as registered nurses. The second is the hourly mean wage and the third is the annual mean wage.The only problem is that this isn't adjusted for cost of living.Hawaii looks good, though... Mmmm, pi�a coladas and men on the beach...

Thanks for posting the answer Samantha... beware of Hawaii though (although I only have one nurses' story on working there because her husband moved there for work) she stated as being a 'white american' (actually she's puerto rican lol) working on the big Island, she was treated terribly by the natives. Obviously this is just her story, and it's not necessarily the general population as a whole, but the nurse I work with stated there isn't a lot of love for the main-landers, but who knows.Also... shame on those with the mean comments just because you are having a bad day. I'm embarrassed for nurses all around who eat their young, or treat others badly because they aren't having a good day. This is supposed to be a SUPPORTIVE website and we should try to be HELPFUL and not make people feel bad for asking questions.