For the third year in a row, Washington State was named the number one place in the nation for nurses by WalletHub. The study by personal finance website WalletHub analyzed 20 metrics, focusing on compensation, job growth, and working conditions.
The survey noted that the average annual salary of a nurse in Washington state is up to 15% higher than the U.S. average of $94,000. The study found that the quality of the state’s accredited nursing schools is among the best, while regulatory requirements for those employing nurses are the toughest. Nurses in Washington work fewer overtime hours than their counterparts in any other state.
It seems appropriate that this news came at the start of National Nurses Week, the week we salute nurses for the many vital roles they play in the lives of people across the health care continuum and throughout our communities. We are grateful for the contributions nurses make every day and are proud to be in a state that recognizes the value they provide. Hospital leaders are working hard to ensure we remain employers of choice, providing nurses with purposeful work supported by excellent wages and benefits.
Sincerely,
Darcy Jaffe, ARNP
WSHA Senior Vice President, Safety and Quality
darcyj@wsha.org
