If your 2020 job search has you thinking of a change of scenery, you may want to consider taking a job in California. While the cost of living in some areas of the state can be above the national average, all of the top ten highest paying metro areas happen to be located within the state lines, as well. In fact, out of more than 500 metro locations, nineteen of the top twenty are located there—the only non-California area to rank that high was Honolulu, Hawaii in 16^th place.

Take a look at the top ten metro areas offering the highest average annual salaries for nurses as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics—as well as some high-ranking cities not in California, all offering above the national average annual RN salary of $71,730.

Highest Paying Metro Areas for Nurses

1. Salinas, CA – $131,710
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA – $128,990
3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – $128,610
4. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA – $127,440
5. Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA – $120,530
6. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA – $115,900
7. Stockton-Lodi, CA – $111,140
8. Napa, CA – $106,060
9. Modesto, CA – $106,040
10. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA – $104,680

Honorable Mentions (Not In California)

16. Urban Honolulu, HI – $99,600
22. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH – $95,270
24. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA – $93,570
29. Danbury, CT – $91,680
30. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA – $91,160
31. Eugene, OR – $90,850
32. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI – $89,290
35. Salem, OR – $88,460
36. Anchorage, AK – $88,170
37. Bend-Redmond, OR – $88,100

Thinking of relocating? Start your job search now by clicking here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.