How Many Nurses are There in the U.S. – 2022 State Wise Data (2024)

Written By: Kasee Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Nursing is a prevalent and prominent career choice for many people, and they are known for being honest, trustworthy, and caring. Plus, almost everyone knows a nurse—whether this is a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend, etc. So, you may be wondering, how many nurses are there in the U.S.? Well, read below, and you will learn more about the current nursing statistics, including the total number of nurses in the U.S. and each state in 2022.

How Many Nurses Are There In The United States?

The total number of nurses in the U.S.A is 5,355,450. This number does not just include registered nurses, although they make up a significant portion of nurses at almost 56%. It also has many other types of nurses; CNAs, LPN/LVNs, NE, CNM, NP, and CRNAs. The two specialties with the smallest number of nurses in the U.S. are nurse-midwives and CRNAs—and this is not surprising since they are both highly specialized; therefore, fewer are needed to ensure their patient’s needs are met.

How Many Nurses Are Estimated To Be There In The United States After 10 Years?

Between 2020 and 2030, the total number of nurses in U.S.A. is expected to grow by almost 11%-- with the new employment growth estimated at 593,500 nurses. Strong growth is expected for all types of nurses, with nurse educators and nurse practitioners being the ones with the highest expected new employment growth. This is excellent for nurses—indicating the demand for the career is still present and is expected to only increase over the next decade.

In What Workplace Settings Do Majority Of The Nurses In The United States Work?

One of the benefits of becoming a nurse is that there are typically options regarding the setting you want to work in--this includes the clinic, hospital (inpatient), hospital (outpatient), long-term care facilities, surgical centers, school systems, home health, etc.

The majority of CNAs and LPNs/LVNs work in nursing care facilities or long-term care facilities. However, more hospitals are starting to utilize LPNs in the inpatient setting, which may change over the next ten years. Certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and CRNAs primarily work in the clinic/offices of physicians. Most Nurse educators work in colleges, universities, and professional schools, and the majority of RNs work in the hospital setting.

In What States Do Majority Of The Nurses In The United States Work?

Just like you will see below, the majority of the nurses work in California. This includes CNAs, LPNs/LVNs, RNs, CNMs, and NPs. New York has the highest number of nurse educators at 5,100, and Florida has the highest number of CRNAs at 3,660.

In What Metros Do Majority Of The Nurses In The United States Work?

Ironically, none of the metros with the highest number of nurses are located in California—since California is the state with the highest number of nurses. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro has the highest number of CNAs, LPNs/LVNs, RNs, nurse educators, nurse midwives, and NPs. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro has the highest number of CRNAs.

What Is The Distribution Of Nurses In The United States By Gender?

The majority of the nurses in the United States are female—and there is no information on the distribution of nurses by gender for nurse educators. We have seen an increase in the number of male nurses over the past ten years—and I believe this trend will continue.

What Is The Distribution Of Nurses In The United States By Race And Ethnicity?

When looking at the distribution of nurses in the United States by race and ethnicity, most nurses are white, followed by Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and then Asian. This distribution is true for CNAs, LPNs/LVNs, RNs, and NPs. There is no information available regarding the distribution of nurses by race and ethnicity for nurse educators, CRNAs, and nurse-midwives.

What Is The Distribution Of Nurses In The United States By Age?

The median age for nurses in the United States ranges from the late 30s to 40s—based on the type of nurse. For example, the median age of a registered nurse in the United States is 42.6 compared to the median age of a CNA which is 39.5. Unfortunately, no information is available regarding the age range/median age for nurse educators, nurse midwives, or CRNAs.

How Many Nurses Are There Compared To Other Healthcare Workers In The United States?

There is a significant number of nurses in the U.S. making nursing the healthcare profession with the greatest employment. Out of the healthcare workers in the United States, registered nurses are ranked #1 on the list for the highest employed healthcare profession—there are 2,986,500 registered nurses in the United States. Following RNs are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) coming in at #2. When you look at the top five on the list of healthcare workers in the United States, a nursing-related profession takes three of the five spots. Nurse Practitioners are ranked #11 on the list, nurse educators are # 29, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are #35, and nurse-midwife come in at #42.

HOW MANY NURSES ARE THERE IN YOUR STATE?

Now that you know how many nurses are in the U.S, below you will find the latest data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on the total number of nurses currently working in each state.

1.Alabama

There are currently 88,950 nurses working in Alabama. Certified nursing assistants make up the most nurses, with 21,470, while certified registered nurse anesthetists make up the lowest number of nurses with 1,410. The BLS did not provide specific data for the number of nurse-midwives in Alabama. This data may not be available since midwives just became a recognized specialty of nursing in 2019--the last license given to a midwife in Alabama was in 1976.

2.Alaska

How many nurses work in Alaska? In Alaska, there are 9,330 nurses—which includes all professions. Registered nurses make up the largest portion of nurses totaling 6,240 or almost 67% of all nurses throughout the state. There are only 50 nurse midwives, and the BLS provides no information regarding the number of CRNAs.

3.Arizona

There are 85,450 nurses in Arizona—with almost 65% of those being RNs, followed by CNAs making up 18%. The number of midwives and CRNAs in the state are comparable and make up the smallest amount of nurses in Arizona. I will be honest; I am surprised there are not more nurses working in Arizona—with the warm weather and growing population placing Arizona as number 14 for the most populous state in the United States.

4.Arkansas

In Arkansas, there are 58,670 nurses. And what is shocking about this is that three types of nurses make up 94%--certified nurse assistants, licensed practical/licensed vocational nurses, and registered nurses. There is no data available for the number of nurse-midwives or CRNAs in Arkansas.

5.California

There are 497,680 nurses in California—making California the state with the highest number of nurses. California is also the most populous state in the United States and is expected to grow, clearly supporting the need for so many nurses. RNs make up the majority of nurses in California, followed by CNAs and LPNs/LVNs.

6.Colorado

There are 83,400 nurses in Colorado. The majority of these nurses are RNs, who make up just under 63% of the nurses in Colorado—RNs are followed by CNAs, who make up 25% of the nurses in Colorado. The specialty with the fewest number of nurses is nurse-midwives. This is almost to be expected—being a nurse-midwife is very specialized, and there are not as many needed to meet the needs of their patients.

7.Connecticut

Out of 66,140 nurses in Connecticut, 33,400 or 50% are registered, nurses. Nurse-midwives and nurse educators make up the smallest portion of nurses, and there is no data on the number of CRNAs throughout the state.

8.Delaware

Delaware is in the top five states with the fewest total number of nurses, 19,800—which correlates with their population since it is one of the least populated states in the United States. Just like in many other states, RNs, CNAs, and LPN/LVNs make up the majority of the nurses—and in Delaware, nurse midwives and CRNAs make up the specialties with the fewest nurses.

9.Florida

There are 330,200 nurses in Florida—which should not come as a surprise since Florida is one of the most populous states. These nurses are needed to care for Florida's aging and growing population. CRNAs, nurse-midwives, and nurse educators make up 2% of the nurses—with the majority being RNs at 55%.

10.Georgia

Georgia has 138,980 nurses. The majority are RNs and CNAs, which total almost 77% of the nurses. Like many other states, nurse midwives, CRNAs, and nurse educators make up the fewest number totaling just over 1% of all the nurses.

11.Hawaii

How many nurses work in Hawaii? In Hawaii, there are 16,910 total nurses employed. 66% are registered nurses, and 24% are CNAs. There is no data available regarding the number of nurse-midwives or CRNAs in Hawaii.

12.Idaho

There are currently 23,220 total nurses employed in Idaho. Just like the other states, RNs make up the largest portion of nurses—which makes sense based on their needs across many settings in healthcare. There are very few nurse-midwives in Idaho, which total throughout the state to only 30.

13.Illinois

There are 214,430 nurses employed in Illinois. With Illinois ranked #6 most populated state—this number is not unexpected. The majority of the nurses are registered nurses and certified nursing assistants—the nursing type with the fewest is midwifery —which is comparable to other states.

14.Indiana

In Indiana, there are 119,320 total nurses. Like in other states, most nurses are RNs and the type with the fewest nurses is midwifery. Nurse practitioners make up almost 5% of the nurses, more than several states on this list.

15.Iowa

There are 64,330 total nurses working in Iowa. This number is on the lower side—but Iowa is not one of the more populated states. Registered nurses make up almost 51% of the nurses, and certified nursing assistants make up 35%. There are only 40 nurse-midwives in Iowa, making them the lowest employed type of nurse.

16.Kansas

The total number of nurses in Kansas is 62,170. The types of nurses with the lowest current employment are CRNAs and nurse educators—there is no data on nurse-midwives. Nurse practitioners make up 4% of the nurses, and like always, RNs have the highest employment rate.

17.Kentucky

There are 77,889 nurses working in Kentucky. The majority of the nurses are registered nurses—which is typical due to their role in healthcare and their ability to work in multiple environments to deliver care. There are the fewest nurse educators in Kentucky but no data on the number of nurse-midwives.

18.Louisiana

You may be wondering, how many nurses work in Louisiana? In Louisiana, there are 85,720 total nurses. Nurse educators and CRNAs make up the lowest number of nurses. This has been a trend noted in other states—and is most likely due to the specialty of these nurses. As always, registered nurses have the most employed. There is no data on nurse-midwives in Louisiana.

19.Maine

The total number of nurses in Maine is 26,360—making it one of the states with the fewest nurses employed. This is not unexpected since Maine is listed as one of the least populated states in the United States. Registered nurses make up almost 54% of the nurses, followed by CNAs and LPNs/LVNs. Nurse-midwives have the fewest nurses, with only 60.

20.Maryland

So, how many nurses are there in Maryland? The total number of nurses in Maryland is 93,210. Just over 55% of the nurses in Maryland are RNs. Nurse educators, nurse midwives, and CRNAs make up 2% of the nurses.

21.Massachusetts

There are 148,790 nurses in Massachusetts. Of those 148,790, RNs and CNAs make up almost 84% of the nurses. The nurse with the fewest number is nurse midwives, followed by CRNAs.

22.Michigan

So, how many nurses work in Michigan? In Michigan, there are 168,910 nurses. As we have seen in the previous states, RNs make up the majority of the nurses—but again, their role in healthcare and the care they deliver is greatly needed. Nurse-midwives make up the specialty with the fewest nurses.

23.Minnesota

There are 120,180 total nurses in Minnesota. The majority of nurses are registered nurses, and the specialty with the fewest nurses is nurse-midwifery. Nurse educators and CRNAs make up 2% of the nurses, and NPs make up 3%.

24.Mississippi

In Mississippi, there are 55,890 nurses. The majority of nurses are registered, nurses. There are very few nurse educators, and CRNAs make up just over 1% of the nurses. There is no data on the number of midwives.

25.Missouri

How many nurses work in Missouri? Missouri currently employs 129,460 nurses. There are 71,560 RNs compared to only 60 nurse-midwives. This is not astonishing since RNs can work in a wide variety of settings, whereas nurse-midwives are very specialized.

26.Montana

The number of nurses in Montana totals 17,930. While this number may seem low, the population of Montana is relatively low compared to the other states—therefore, this number is not surprising. The majority of these nurses are RNs. Nurse educators and CRNAs make up the lowest number of nurses, and there is no data on the number of nurse-midwives.

27.Nebraska

You may be wondering, how many nurses are in Nebraska? There are 45,590 nurses in Nebraska—with 24,060 of those being RNs. Nurse educators and CRNAs make up the lowest employment rate by only totaling 2% of the total nurses. There is no data on the number of nurse-midwives.

28.Nevada

The total number of nurses in Nevada is 34,990. This, again, is one of the states with a lower overall current employment of nurses. RNs make up 67% of nurses, followed by CNAs at 20%. CRNAs make up the least amount at only 70 total nurses, and there is no data on nurse-midwives.

29.New Hampshire

The number of nurses in New Hampshire is 25,050—and yes, this is on the lower side but based on the population of New Hampshire, it is not unexpected. There are 13,840 RNs throughout the state and only 60 nurse midwives and 190 CRNAs.

30.New Jersey

So, what is the total number of nurses in New Jersey? There are currently 147,550 nurses of almost all types, including RNs, CRNAs, and nurse educators. RNs make up the largest proportion of these nurses, and nurse midwives, followed by CRNAs, make up the fewest—which is the pattern we have seen develop throughout the list.

31.New Mexico

The total number of nurses in New Mexico is 25,520—making New Mexico one of the states with the lowest employment of nurses. Out of the 25,520, 17,100 of those nurses are registered nurses. Nurse-midwives and nurse educators make up the smallest employment of nurses in New Mexico.

32.New York

How many nurses are there in New York? New York is one of the states with the highest employment of nurses—which is not surprising because New York City is one of the most populated cities in the United States. In New York, there are 326,760 nurses—with the majority of those nurses being RNs. Nurse-midwives and CRNAs make up the fewest number of nurses, but again, it is not surprising due to the highly specialized care they deliver.

33.North Carolina

The number of nurses in North Carolina is 180,290. As we have seen throughout this list, most of these nurses are RNs—which makes sense due to their skillset and role in health care in delivering care to patients. Nurse-midwives are the type of nurse with the fewest number—and this is unsurprising due to the highly specialized care they provide.

34.North Dakota

Are you wondering how many nurses work in North Dakota? There are 21,570 nurses employed in North Dakota. While this number may seem low, keep in mind that North Dakota is one of the least populated states in the United States. The majority of these nurses are RNs and CNAs, and there is no data regarding the number of nurse-midwives.

35.Ohio

The number of nurses in Ohio totals 248,930, making Ohio one of the states with the highest employment of nurses. As we have seen throughout this list, RNs make up the majority of this number at almost 52%, and CNAs and then LPNs/LVNs follow closely behind. Nurse-midwives make up the nursing specialty with the fewest employed.

36.Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the number of nurses totals 68,600. As we have seen throughout this list, 48% of these nurses are RNs, followed by CNAs and then LPNs/LVNs. Nurse educators and CRNAs make up the fewest amount of nurses, and there is no data on nurse-midwives.

37.Oregon

How many nurses are there in Oregon? There are currently 55,960 nurses employed in Oregon. Almost 66% of the nurses are RNS, followed by CNAs with an employment rate of 22%. Nurse-midwives and CRNAs make up the types of nurses with the fewest number of nurses.

38.Pennsylvania

There are 267,300 nurses currently employed throughout Pennsylvania, making Pennsylvania one of the states with higher rates of nurse employment. Nurse midwives, CRNAs, and nurse educators make up the three specialties with the lowest rate of nurse employment—and as we have seen in all the previous states, RNs make up the majority.

39.Rhode Island

The number of nurses in Rhode Island is 23,430. This is relatively low, but the overall population of Rhode Island is in the bottom 10—making this not so unexpected. Just under 50% of the nurses are RNs, followed closely by CNAs. Nurse-midwives and nurse educators make up the specialties with the fewest number of nurses employed. There is no data on the number of CRNAs.

40.South Carolina

There are 78,420 nurses currently employed throughout the state of South Carolina. Of those 78,420 nurses, 58% are RNs. Nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and CRNAs make up 6% of the total nurses employed. There is no data on the number of midwives.

41.South Dakota

South Dakota has 22,520 nurses. The types with the highest employment are RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and CNAs—which total 94% of the state's nurses. There is no information on the number of midwives employed.

42.Tennessee

Tennessee currently employs 125,820 nurses throughout the state. Of these nurses, there are only 70 nurse-midwives. RNs, CNAs, and LPNs/LVNs are the three with the highest rate of employment—which is very comparable to the other states. This is most likely because CNAs and LPNs/LVNs require the least amount of education. The demand for these three types of nurses is also greater than the other subspecialties—although nurse educators are needed now more than ever.

43.Texas

There are 387,630 nurses employed throughout Texas—making it one of the states that employ the most nurses. This is not surprising since Texas is also one of the most populous states in the United States. Like many other states, registered nurses make up the majority of nurses, and the type of nurse with the fewest employed are nurse-midwives.

44.Utah

Utah currently employs 39,830 nurses. Unlike many other states, where nurse midwives are the fewest employed, CRNAs are the fewest number employed in Utah. However, Utah is comparable to other states in that RNs and CNAs make up the majority of nurses throughout the state.

45.Vermont

There are 10,950 nurses in Vermont—making Vermont one of the states with the fewest number of nurses employed. However, it is important to note that Vermont is also ranked #2 among the least populated states. The majority of their nurses are RNs, and the type of nurse with the fewest number employed is nurse-midwife, followed by CRNAs.

46.Virginia

Virginia has 137,460 total nurses employed throughout the state. Just like in the other states, RNs make up the majority of these nurses—they make up 48%. Nurse-midwives make up the smallest type of nurses, with only 290 throughout the state, and nurse practitioners make up 4%--which may increase over the next several years due to demand and physician shortage.

47.Washington

The total number of nurses employed in Washington State is 107,400 total nurses. Of those 107,400 nurses, 55% are registered, nurses. Nurse midwives, CRNAs, and nurse educators together make up only 2% of the total nurses.

48.West Virginia

West Virginia has 35,550 nurses employed throughout the state, and the majority of those nurses are RNs. The type with the fewest nurses is nurse-midwives—with total employment of only 40.

49.Wisconsin

Wisconsin has 109,010 nurses employed throughout the state. Nurse-midwives, CRNAs, and nurse educators make up the three lowest employed types of nurses in Wisconsin—and just like in the other states, RNs make up the majority.

50.Wyoming

In Wyoming, there are 8,790 total nurses. Wyoming has one of the lowest numbers of total nurses, which directly correlates to the population of Wyoming, which is ranked #1 for the lowest population in the United States. The majority of these nurses are either registered nurses or certified nursing assistants. There is no information available regarding the number of nursing midwives.

The Conclusion

After reading the article above, I hope I answered the question how many nurses are there in the U.S.—and how many are located in each state. Nurses are an essential aspect of the healthcare system in the United States and worldwide. The total number of nurses in the U.S. is 5,355,450—and based on the information we have, this number will only continue to increase over the next decade. Based on these numbers, I bet you know a nurse—so reach out to them, thank them for what they do, and if you consider this career path, I am sure they will be more than happy to mentor you!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT

1.How Many Nursing Schools Are There In The U.S.?

There are 2,662 nursing schools in the United States. This number includes traditional and online programs, and it also includes nursing schools that offer advanced degrees such as master's in nursing degrees or doctorate in nursing degrees.

2,662

2.What Percentage Of The U.S. Population Are Nurses?

There are 5,355,450 nurses in the United States. But, due to the total population in the United States being 331,893,745, only 1.6% of the population is nurses.

3.Is Nursing The Largest Healthcare Profession In The U.S.?

Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the United States—which may be due to the many different types of nurses. Out of all the healthcare professions, RNs have the highest employment rate. This is followed by CNAs coming in at #2 for the most employed healthcare profession.

4.How Old Is The Average Nurse?

The average age of a nurse is 42. This number includes all types of nursing, including CNAs, LPNs/LVNs, RNs, nurse educators, etc.

42.2

5.What State Has The Highest Number Of Nurses In the U.S.?

California has the highest number of nurses in the United States. This is not shocking since California is also one of the most populous states in the United States. Plus—nurses want to work in California for the climate and activities outside of work.

6.How Many Male Nurses Are There In The U.S.?

There are 693,210 male nurses in the United States. I expect this number to increase over the next ten years, especially since we have already seen this increase over the last several years.

693,210

7.What Race Has The Most Nurses In The U.S.?

In the United States, the race that has the most nurses is white—there are a total of 3,672,436. This number includes CNAs, LPN/LVNs, RNs, and NPs. There is no information for the number of nurse educators, nurse midwives, or CRNAs.

8.How Many Nurses In The U.S. Are Black?

More than 1,075,196 nurses in the United States are Black or African American. This is not an exact number due to a lack of information regarding the number of Black or African American nurse educators, nurse midwives, and CRNAs.

9.How Many Hispanic Nurses Are There In The U.S.?

There are more than 540,574 Hispanic or Latino nurses in the United States. This number is not exact as there is no data available for the number of Hispanic or Latino nurse educators, nurse midwives, or CRNAs.

10.How Many Asian Nurses Are There In The U.S.?

There are more than 350,643 Asian nurses in the United States. Over 74% of these nurses are registered, nurses. There is no information about Asian nurses working as nurse educators, midwives, or CRNAs.

11.How Many Nurses Are There In The U.S. Army?

There are 9,598 nurses in the U.S. Army. This number includes all nurses and does not provide specifics for the types of nurses.

12.How Many Nurses Are There In The U.S. Navy?

There are 4,540 nurses in the navy. This number includes all nurses and does specify the types of nurses that make up this number.

13.How Many Nurses Are There In The U.S. Air Force?

There are 4,036 nurses in the air force. This number includes all nurses and does not provide the specifics for the types of nurses.

14.How Many Nurses Work In Hospitals?

Of the 5,355,430 nurses in the United States, 2,253,290 work in hospitals. Another way to look at this is that 42% of nurses work in hospitals. The majority of these nurses are registered nurses. There is no information regarding the nurse-midwife—as many of these nurses go to their patient’s homes to assist with delivery.

15.Are There More Nurses Than Physicians In The U.S.?

Yes, there are more nurses than doctors. In fact, there are significantly more nurses than doctors—there are 375,390 physicians and 5,355,450 nurses, indicating 4,980,060 more nurses than doctors in the United States.

16.How Many Nurses Are There In The World?

Nurses make up almost 50% of the workforce in the world. There are approximately 27 million nurses in the world—which is an astonishing number when you think about it!

Kasee Wiesen DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Kasee Wiesen is a practicing family nurse practitioner. Her nursing background includes emergency medicine, pediatrics and peri-op. Education is a passion of Kasee’s, and she has taught BSN, RN-BSN and DNP students, and has enjoyed every moment of it!