Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
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HRSA projects a shortage of 63,720 RNs by 2030. BLS projects 6% RN employment growth nationally, with Texas at +12.1%, Nevada at +11.2%, and Florida at +10.4%. Here is what the shortage means for salary, hiring, and opportunity by state.
The United States faces a projected shortage of 63,720 registered nurses by 2030, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This shortfall is not evenly distributed — certain states face dramatically more acute shortages than others, and those shortage states are also where nursing salaries and sign-on bonuses are highest.
Understanding the nursing shortage by state helps prospective nurses make better decisions about where to practice, which specialty to pursue, and why demand for their credentials will remain strong for the next two decades.
Several converging factors are driving the U.S. nursing shortage:
Aging workforce: The American Nurses Association (ANA) reports that more than 500,000 experienced RNs are expected to retire by 2030. Many of these nurses represent the post-Baby Boomer cohort that entered the profession in the 1970s–1990s.
Aging patient population: The U.S. Census Bureau projects that adults 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 by 2034. Older Americans require 2–3 times more healthcare resources than younger adults, directly increasing nursing demand.
Burnout and attrition: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated nursing attrition. A McKinsey & Company analysis found that 40% of frontline healthcare workers considered leaving clinical roles during the pandemic, and many followed through. New nurses entering the profession are not replacing departing experienced nurses at a sufficient rate.
Nursing faculty shortage: The AACN reports that nursing schools turned away more than 91,000 qualified applicants from BSN and graduate programs in 2021 alone — not because students lacked qualifications, but because of insufficient nursing faculty and clinical placement capacity. The faculty shortage is itself driven by PhD and DNP educators leaving academia for higher-paying clinical roles.
| Source | Projected RN Shortage | Year |
|---|---|---|
| HRSA Health Workforce Projections | 63,720 RNs | 2030 |
| American Nurses Association | 500,000+ retiring by 2030 | 2030 |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | 194,500 new RN jobs needed | 2022–2032 |
| McKinsey Global Institute | 200,000+ RN vacancy gap | 2025 |
Sources: HRSA, Nursing Workforce Projections, 2022–2036 (published 2022). BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for Registered Nurses, 2024.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall registered nurse employment growth of 6% nationally between 2022 and 2032. However, state-level projections vary dramatically based on population growth, retirement patterns, and healthcare infrastructure development.
| State | Projected Job Growth (%) | Avg RN Salary (BLS 2024) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | +12.1% | $79,120/year | Fastest-growing state; massive healthcare expansion |
| Nevada | +11.2% | $88,840/year | High tourism + growing retiree population |
| Utah | +10.8% | $73,890/year | Fastest-growing population by percentage |
| Florida | +10.4% | $73,210/year | Nation's fastest-growing older adult population |
| Arizona | +9.1% | $84,250/year | Retiree destination; expanding healthcare sector |
| Idaho | +9.6% | $76,610/year | Rural shortage state with rapid in-migration |
| Georgia | +8.3% | $76,530/year | Expanding Atlanta healthcare hub; rural shortages |
| Colorado | +8.7% | $85,670/year | Growing tech-adjacent healthcare sector |
| Washington | +8.5% | $99,710/year | High salaries + high growth |
| North Carolina | +8.1% | $73,950/year | Research Triangle healthcare expansion |
| South Carolina | +7.6% | $70,650/year | Growing coastal healthcare demand |
| Oregon | +7.3% | $98,630/year | High salaries; rural shortage areas |
| Virginia | +7.2% | $79,530/year | Projected shortage among highest nationally |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024; BLS 2022–2032 State Employment Projections.
Shortage states often overlap with high-salary states because competitive labor markets drive wages up. However, salary also reflects cost of living, unionization rates, and state healthcare funding levels.
| State | Avg RN Salary (BLS 2024) | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| California | $124,000/year | $59.62/hour |
| Hawaii | $106,530/year | $51.22/hour |
| Washington | $99,710/year | $47.94/hour |
| Massachusetts | $100,260/year | $48.20/hour |
| Oregon | $98,630/year | $47.42/hour |
| New York | $98,560/year | $47.38/hour |
| Alaska | $97,230/year | $46.75/hour |
| New Jersey | $93,950/year | $45.17/hour |
| Connecticut | $88,850/year | $42.71/hour |
| Nevada | $88,840/year | $42.71/hour |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.
The states facing the most acute nursing shortages are not always the highest-paying states. Rural states, Southern states, and rapidly growing Sun Belt states often face the largest per-capita nursing deficits.
HRSA Shortage States (2022 projections):
According to the HRSA Nursing Workforce Projections 2022–2036 report, the states projected to have the largest supply-demand gaps relative to population include:
The HRSA Health Workforce Supply and Demand Projections dataset is available at bhw.hrsa.gov/data-research/return-on-investment.
Acute shortage conditions have created measurable salary and benefit premiums in high-demand states and specialties:
Sign-on bonuses: In shortage markets (particularly rural hospitals and long-term care), sign-on bonuses of $5,000–$25,000 for RNs are common. Some critical care and CRNA positions carry $50,000+ sign-on incentives.
Loan repayment programs: HRSA's NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program offers up to 85% student loan repayment for nurses who work in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) — federally designated areas with insufficient healthcare providers. Apply at bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps.
Travel nursing premiums: Travel nurses in shortage areas earn $40–$90/hour in facility contracts, compared to staff nurse rates of $25–$60/hour. The travel nursing market contracted slightly from its 2021–2022 pandemic peak but remains well above pre-2020 contract rates.
Tuition reimbursement: Health systems competing for nurses in shortage markets routinely offer $5,000–$15,000/year in tuition reimbursement for ADN-to-BSN completion, MSN, or specialty certification programs.
The RN shortage is not evenly distributed across specialties. The most acute specialty shortages as of 2026:
| Specialty | Shortage Severity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Care / ICU | High | Pandemic burnout + high acuity |
| Emergency Department | High | Burnout + departure from acute care |
| Perioperative / OR | High | Aging specialist workforce |
| Labor and Delivery | Moderate-High | Specialized training required |
| Mental Health / Psychiatric | Very High | Demand exceeds supply nationally |
| Home Health | Very High | Aging population driving demand |
| Long-Term Care / Geriatrics | Very High | Lowest pay; highest turnover |
| School Nursing | High | Often unfilled positions in rural districts |
| Pediatrics | Moderate | Concentrated in metro areas |
Mental health and psychiatric nursing face the most severe shortage relative to patient demand. The SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has designated thousands of Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas nationwide.
The nursing shortage has driven significant investment in nursing program capacity, but the faculty shortage remains a bottleneck. The AACN 2021 report noted that nursing programs turned away 91,938 qualified applicants due to faculty shortages, inadequate clinical placement sites, and classroom space constraints — not lack of qualified students.
Implications for nursing school applicants:
Waitlists are real. Community college ADN programs in shortage states like Texas and Florida have waitlists of 12–24 months in many cases. Apply early, take prerequisites immediately, and have backup programs identified.
Program capacity is expanding. State legislatures in shortage states (Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona) have increased funding for nursing program expansion. New programs and expanded capacity will absorb some waitlist pressure over 2024–2027.
Online program growth is not a full solution. Online nursing programs can accommodate coursework but cannot replace in-person clinical hours. Clinical placement capacity — not classroom seats — is the real constraint on nursing education expansion.
Accelerated programs are expanding. ABSN programs, fast-track ADN programs, and employer-sponsored nursing school partnerships are growing in shortage areas as healthcare systems invest in growing their own workforce.
For prospective nurses, the shortage is an opportunity. You are choosing a career with:
The data is unambiguous: demand for nurses will continue to exceed supply for at least the next decade. Every qualified nursing graduate who completes licensure will enter a market that needs them.
Is there really a nursing shortage in the United States? Yes. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects a shortage of 63,720 registered nurses by 2030. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth in RN employment between 2022 and 2032, adding 194,500 new positions, faster than most other occupations. The shortage is driven by an aging workforce, an aging patient population, pandemic-related burnout and attrition, and insufficient nursing faculty to expand education capacity.
Which states have the worst nursing shortages? States with the most severe nursing shortages based on HRSA projections and BLS growth data include Texas, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Nevada, and Arizona. Rural states generally face more acute per-capita shortages than urban states. States with the fastest projected RN job growth include Texas (+12.1%), Nevada (+11.2%), Utah (+10.8%), Florida (+10.4%), and Arizona (+9.1%), per BLS 2022–2032 projections.
Do nursing shortages lead to higher salaries? Yes. Shortage conditions consistently drive compensation higher through sign-on bonuses ($5,000–$25,000 for staff RNs in many shortage markets), elevated base salaries, and loan repayment incentives. The highest-salary states — California ($124,000), Hawaii ($106,530), Washington ($99,710) — reflect both shortage conditions and unionization. Travel nursing in shortage areas commands $40–$90/hour.
How long will the nursing shortage last? HRSA and academic health workforce researchers project the nursing shortage will persist through at least 2035. The fundamental drivers — retiring Baby Boomer nurses, a rapidly aging patient population, and faculty shortages limiting nursing school capacity — are structural. Shortage conditions are unlikely to resolve within a single decade.
Are nurse practitioners also in shortage? Yes. The shortage extends to advanced practice providers. The HRSA projects that demand for nurse practitioners will grow faster than supply in most states through 2030. States with Medicaid expansion and strong NP full-practice authority (including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado) have higher NP employment but remain underserved in rural areas.
Reviewed and edited by Carol Lokare, RN, NP
Registered Nurse and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with 45+ years of clinical experience across acute care, community health, geriatric practice, and school nursing.
Helping nursing students find accredited programs across the US since 2026.