There is a projected need for more than a million nurses in the United States by 2016.
Nurses are one of the most in-demand professions in America, but with so many opportunities, it begs the question: Where should you work?

Below is a list compiled by NursingLink of the 10 best and worst places to be a nurse based on salary, and the 10 best and worst states based on job openings.
Top 10 Highest Nurse Paying States

| State |
Salary (hourly) |
| 1. California |
$25.45 |
| 2. Hawaii |
$24.76 |
| 3. Massachusetts |
$23.38 |
| 4. New Jersey |
$23.33 |
| 5. Alaska |
$23.09 |
| 6. Delaware |
$22.98 |
| 7. Oregon |
$22.91 |
| 8. Nevada |
$22.83 |
| 9. Maryland |
$22.79 |
| 10. Connecticut |
$22.62 |
Continue to Top 10 Lowest Paying States
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These wages seem more realistic than others I have seen including an article today with salary projections for 2011 for nurses.
I’m not sure that the increased salary in these States balance well with the cost of living there, something you must always consider.
Im a brand new lpn and I make 21 at a bad nursing home in a small town in southern illinois haha
Are these an average of LPN and RN or just one or the other?