R
RN USA Journey

193,000+ USA nursing jobs open every year. Find where you fit.

State-by-state vacancy intelligence for international nurses. Updated with BLS 2025 OEWS data + HRSA 2026 shortage projections.

Explore State Demand Map Get Weekly Vacancy Alerts
Clinical authority: Abirami Arumugam, Senior RN · 26 years experience · Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + HRSA 2026
193,000+
Annual RN Openings
BLS 2032 projection
10%
National RN Shortage in 2026
HRSA NCHWA
$93,600
Median RN Salary (2025)
BLS OEWS SOC 29-1141
40,000
EB-3 Visas Issued Annually
USCIS

USA nursing demand map

Hover a state on desktop for shortage & salary detail. Tap on mobile to open the full state profile.

AK
ME
VTNH
WAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYMA
ORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDE
AZNMKSARTNNCSCDC
OKLAMSALGA
HI
TX
FL
Critical (>12%)
High (8–12%)
Moderate (4–8%)
Low (<4%)
Surplus

Top 10 nursing shortage states

#StateShortage%Median Salary
1California45,5008%$150,280View →
2Texas35,49612.6%$95,380View →
3North Carolina22,60015%$90,470View →
4Georgia18,40011.5%$95,080View →
5Florida12,5006%$90,650View →
6South Carolina11,80012.4%$87,670View →
7Washington11,2009.5%$121,540View →
8Arizona9,8009.8%$99,730View →
9Tennessee9,20010.2%$85,390View →
10Virginia8,6007%$93,850View →

Nurse surplus states — fewer EB-3 opportunities

These states have more RN supply than demand. Great once you're already in the USA — harder for EB-3 sponsorship.

Wyoming
+5,450
surplus
Utah
+6,010
surplus
Massachusetts
+7,790
surplus
Illinois
+9,370
surplus
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Specialty vacancy grid

EB-3 demand tiers by specialty — the specialties most sponsors are actively hiring.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU/CVICU/MICU/SICU)

CRITICAL
14.2% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, GA, NC, AK
Explore specialty →

Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg)

HIGH
12.5% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, NC, SC, MS
Explore specialty →

Emergency Room (ER/ED)

CRITICAL
13.8% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, FL, GA, AK
Explore specialty →

Operating Room (OR/Perioperative)

CRITICAL
15.1% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, WA, NC, CO
Explore specialty →

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

HIGH
13.5% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, GA, FL, NC
Explore specialty →

Labor and Delivery (L&D / OB)

HIGH
11.8% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, GA, SC, AL
Explore specialty →

Telemetry / Step-Down

MEDIUM
11.2% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, FL, NC, VA
Explore specialty →

Home Health / Home Care

HIGH
16.8% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, FL, NY, PA
Explore specialty →

Long-Term Care (LTC / Skilled Nursing Facility)

CRITICAL
18.2% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, FL, GA, NC
Explore specialty →

Dialysis / Renal

HIGH
12.4% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, GA, NC, FL
Explore specialty →

Oncology

MEDIUM
11.9% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, WA, CO, NC
Explore specialty →

Psychiatric / Mental Health (Psych)

HIGH
14.5% national vacancy rate
Top shortage states: CA, TX, NY, FL, WA
Explore specialty →

Federal nursing jobs (live)

VA, DoD, IHS, Public Health. No visa sponsorship — targeted at Green Card holders and US citizens.

See all federal jobs →
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Wichita, Kansas, Kansas
$72284 - $133845 PA
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Kansas City, Missouri, Missouri
$74594 - $134618 PA
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Kansas City, Missouri, Missouri
$74594 - $134618 PA
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Battle Creek, Michigan, Michigan
$83846 - $143956 PA
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Detroit, Michigan, Michigan
$81479 - $139574 PA

All vacancy, salary, and immigration data on this platform is reviewed monthly by Abirami Arumugam, Senior Registered Nurse (26 years, Central Government Hospital, India). Data sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS May 2025), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA NCHWA 2026), U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, USCIS.