2026 Hospice Nurse Salary by State

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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What is the hospice nurse salary by state?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary of RNs is $98,430. It does not specifically list hospice nurses, but other sources show wages slightly less than the national average for the profession.

For instance, ZipRecruiter identifies that the average yearly wage of a hospice nurse is $87,186. Meanwhile, the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey (Smiley et al., 2025) shows that RNs in hospice and palliative care earn around $89,000.

Location greatly influences income differences mainly due to the cost of living. To give you a better sense of this variation, here is a list of hospice nurse salaries by state, with a side-by-side comparison of the average RN wage. 

What are the top-paying states for a hospice nurse?

A hospice nurse can earn top dollar in some states due to the presence of large healthcare systems, higher reimbursement rates, and funding sources, in addition to the area’s cost of living. However, this also means that daily expenses are significantly more expensive. 

In effect, a nurse’s purchasing power, which is the ability of their income to cover housing, transportation, healthcare, and other daily expenses, may not stretch as far as it would in states with lower wages but also lower living costs.

ZipRecruiter lists the following as the highest-paying states for hospice nurses:

1. Washington: $98,746
2. District of Columbia: $98,522
3. New York: $95,384
4. Massachusetts: $95,218
5. Alaska: $93,894

Salary alone does not provide the full picture for professionals deciding where to live and work. In fact, broader workforce trends add important context. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) reports that since 2020, 90% of nursing homes nationwide have raised salaries for their workers, yet 94% still struggle with recruitment.

To counter staffing challenges, many employers have increased wages while also expanding benefits, offering flexible schedules, introducing mentorship programs, and recognizing staff contributions. Technological investment is also a key retention factor, designed to streamline administrative and regulatory tasks that often limit hospice nurses’ ability to provide direct patient care (Vossel, 2025). 

Therefore, evaluating salary, workplace culture, and support systems are vital elements that aspiring nurses must consider to make informed career choices and ensure both professional satisfaction and long-term financial stability.

This chart shows the best states for hospice nurses according to annual average salary.

What are the lowest-paying states for a hospice nurse?

Not all states compensate equally, and salary gaps often reflect broader economic and healthcare trends. According to ZipRecruiter, the lowest-paying states for a hospice nurse are the following:

1. Florida: $65,153
2. West Virginia: $67,496
3. Arkansas: $72,094
4. Georgia: $73,618
5. Louisiana: $74,555
6. Kentucky: $75,723
7. Michigan: $75,991
8. Kansas: $77,757
9. Alabama: $79,024
10. Tennessee: $79,131

These figures align with the lower cost of living in these states, where wages across many healthcare roles tend to be more modest. Regional demand also plays a role, where areas with slower population growth or fewer specialized facilities may not compete as aggressively for qualified nurses.

Despite this, the reduced cost of housing, transportation, and daily living expenses can balance out earnings. Moreover, nurses practicing in these regions often report strong community ties and rewarding patient relationships, which can be valuable considerations when choosing where to live and work.

For LPNs exploring options, this broader context can also be useful when evaluating the highest paying LPN specialties, since certain roles—such as hospice, rehabilitation, or infusion support—may offer significantly stronger earning potential regardless of geographic location.

Which cities pay a hospice nurse the most?

Apart from state differences, certain cities and metropolitan areas stand out for offering some of the highest salaries for hospice nurses. According to ZipRecruiter, the top-paying cities for a hospice nurse include the following:

1. San Mateo County, CA: $128,335
2. Nome, AK: $108,154
3. Berkeley, CA: $106,754
4. Sitka, AK: $105,031
5. Kilauea, HI: $104,499
6. Holdrege, NE: $104,437
7. San Francisco, CA: $102,720
8. Santa Clara, CA: $102,394
9. Novato, CA: $102,362
10. Sunnyvale, CA: $102,326

In comparison, BLS data consistently identify California’s metropolitan areas as the highest-paying locations for RNs overall. In particular, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Vallejo, and Santa Rosa-Petaluma report annual RN salaries ranging from $170,000 to $190,000. 

These locations reflect a combination of high healthcare demand, limited workforce availability, and elevated costs of living, which together push wages upward. High-paying cities are usually major healthcare hubs. They also have strong academic medical centers and face persistent shortages of qualified nurses.

Remote or geographically isolated cities, such as Nome and Sitka in Alaska, also tend to offer elevated pay as an incentive to attract and retain staff.

This same pattern appears in home health nurse salary data, where remote regions and major metro areas consistently offer the strongest earning potential due to staffing shortages and higher care demand.

How does the experience level of a hospice nurse affect wages?

The income of a hospice nurse can also be heavily affected by the level of working experience. Based on BLS data, the following is the income range of RNs in the U.S.:

• 10th percentile: $66,030
• 25th percentile: $78,610
• 50th percentile (median): $93,600
• Average (mean): $98,430
• 75th percentile: $107,960
• 90th percentile: $135,320

Hospice nurses who are just beginning their careers typically earn closer to the 10th or 25th percentile of this scale. As their skills grow and they accumulate more years in the field, their wages tend to approach the median or average range. 

Then, with advanced clinical expertise or specialized palliative care training, salaries can progress to the 75th percentile. At the highest levels, nurses with decades of experience, or those who have explored the nursing administrator career path, may reach or surpass the 90th percentile.

These findings are consistent with the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey, which shows RNs with zero to five years of experience earning between $63,000 and $75,000. Nurses with six to ten years of practice have a median wage of around $87,000, while those with more than 11 years in the profession report incomes of $93,000 or higher.

Therefore, experience is not only a marker of clinical competence but also a critical driver of financial growth. This trajectory highlights the long-term value of building expertise and remaining in the field to maximize both job fulfillment and income growth.

Which type of employer offers the highest hospice nurse salaries?

Hospice nurses typically work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and patients’ homes. Generally, they offer stable employment, consistent demand, and meaningful patient interactions, though compensation is often tied to budget limitations and reimbursement rates.

In comparison, these are the industries with the highest annual mean wages, according to BLS data on RNs:

• Federal Executive Branch: $124,460
• Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing: $116,040
• Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing: $115,210
• Computer Systems Design and Related Services: $111,790
• Facilities Support Services: $109,120

These may not be the most common employers for a hospice nurse, but they highlight the industries with strong financial resources and the ability to support competitive pay structures. Nurses working in such industries often benefit from greater investments in innovation, streamlined administrative systems, and expanded career development opportunities.

Nurses considering long-term career growth can pursue advanced practice roles to expand their options. For instance, researching the easiest nurse practitioner program could be a first step toward higher-paying opportunities in palliative care or hospice leadership. 

What are the factors that influence the salary of a hospice nurse?

The salary of a hospice nurse depends on several personal, professional, and geographic factors. Some common factors include the following:

• Geographic Location: States with higher costs of living generally offer higher wages, while rural states may pay less due to limited healthcare funding and smaller patient populations. 
• Experience: Nurses with a few years of experience often earn salaries on the lower end of the income scale, and their compensation typically moves closer to the median or above-average range as they gain experience.
• Education and Certifications: Holding a BSN or an MSN, like those offered in 12 month nurse practitioner programs, usually results in higher pay compared with an associate degree or a diploma in nursing. Nurses with the certifications also appear more competitive in the job market.
• Employer Type: Large hospitals and federal agencies generally pay more than nonprofit hospices or small community agencies. Private employers may also offer specialized incentives or bonuses that can appeal to nurses seeking work-life balance.
• Reimbursement: Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers’ reimbursement rates also impact salaries. For example, Medicare directs 93.78% of payments to routine home care. This can enable employers to allocate more resources and stabilize wages in this setting but can limit pay for nurses working in inpatient and respite care.
• Shift Differentials and Overtime: Hospice nurses are typically on-call, so evening, night, weekend, and overtime shifts may come with higher hourly rates. 
• Gender Pay Gaps: Male RNs working in hospice earn $8,000 more than female RNs in the same field, even when accounting for education and experience. Awareness of this issue is important for advocating fair pay.

Understanding these influences helps students and current practitioners make well-informed decisions about where and how to build their careers.

What credentials boost earning potential for a hospice nurse?

A hospice nurse with professional certifications strengthens their credibility and demonstrates their expertise in the field. In addition, it can introduce them to leadership or advanced clinical opportunities, which can then lead to increased incomes. 

Below are several key certifications from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) that can enhance both earning potential and career development:

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant: CHPNAs typically assist with daily activities, such as bathing, feeding, mobility, and emotional comfort, while also supporting families during difficult transitions. 
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse: The CHPLN certification is designed for LPNs and LVNs and validates their skills in symptom management and patient support. 
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse: The CHPN credential is the most common certification for RNs in this specialty, with 990 out of 1,386 takers passing the 2024 CHPN certification exam. It demonstrates advanced knowledge in end-of-life care, including pain management, ethics, and communication. 
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse: A CHPPN certification focuses on pediatric end-of-life care and indicates specialized skills in supporting children and their families during advanced illness. 
• Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse: Targeted at advanced practice nurses, the ACHPN highlights leadership in clinical care and interdisciplinary collaboration. For nurses considering options like how to become a home health nurse, this credential reflects the highest tier of expertise in hospice practice.

Employers consistently value the additional training and dedication that these credentials represent, making them a worthwhile investment for nurses who want to advance their careers in hospice and palliative care.

This chart displays the number of certified hospice nurses who passed the certification exam in 2024.

How does a hospice nurse salary compare to other nurses?

The earnings of a hospice nurse fall within the middle range of nursing salaries, offering stability while reflecting the specialized nature of end-of-life care. However, the profession is just one of many nursing paths, each with its own compensation scale based on responsibilities, education, and work environment. Below is a comparison of salaries for different nursing roles.

• Charge Nurses ($85,509): They oversee the daily operations of a nursing unit while also providing direct patient care. This charge nurse salary also varies and the profession requires strong leadership, clinical expertise, and organizational skills.
• ICU Nurses ($90,000): Intensive care nurses care for critically ill or unstable patients, often in life-threatening situations. The role demands strong clinical judgment and resilience under pressure.
• Oncology RNs ($90,000): These nurses specialize in caring for patients undergoing cancer treatment. They help manage side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. 
• Travel Nurses ($92,366): They accept short-term contracts across different hospitals or states to fill staffing shortages. Flexibility and readiness to relocate are key features of this career path.
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners ($96,063): AGACNPs specialize in caring for adults and older adults with complex, acute, or critical health conditions. Their role focuses on stabilizing patients and supporting recovery from serious illnesses or injuries.
• Nurse Managers ($99,901): These professionals supervise staff and ensure that policies and procedures are followed. They are responsible for budgets, scheduling, and overall care quality within their teams. 
• Family Nurse Practitioners ($108,133): FNPs provide comprehensive primary care services to individuals across all ages. Their broad scope of practice makes them highly versatile, often serving as a patient’s primary healthcare provider.

While salary differences are clear, compensation is only one aspect of career choice. Some roles provide higher wages but demand longer hours or more stressful work environments, while others offer balance and emotional rewards despite lower pay. 

For those drawn to hospice care, the value often lies in both financial stability and the unique fulfillment that comes with supporting patients and families during life’s final stages.

Nurses who wish to strengthen their expertise in this area—or move into specialized roles—may also explore RNC certification requirements, which outline the education, clinical hours, and exam preparation needed to earn recognized specialty credentials that can support professional growth and elevate earning potential.

This chart displays the annual wages of hospice nurses and other types of nurses.

What are the continuing education opportunities for hospice nurses?

Continuing education plays a vital role in advancing hospice nursing skills by keeping practitioners updated with the latest clinical protocols, care techniques, and regulatory changes. Many healthcare institutions offer specialized workshops, certificate courses, and online modules that are specifically designed for palliative and end-of-life care. Pursuing advanced academic qualifications can further enhance clinical expertise and leadership potential. For instance, nurses looking to update their credentials may explore options such as the easy RN to BSN online program to seamlessly integrate academic learning with their professional practice.

What is the job outlook for a hospice nurse?

The overall job outlook for nursing and related professions remains positive, with demand expected to grow steadily through 2033. According to the BLS, CNAs are projected to see a 2.3% growth rate with about 204,100 annual job openings, while LVN/LPNs are expected to grow by 2.6%, generating 54,400 annual openings. 

RNs, which include those specializing in hospice care, are forecasted to grow at 4.9% with 189,100 annual openings, while NPs stand out with a significant 40.1% growth, adding 29,500 positions each year. At the same time, nursing homes alone need more than 120,400 workers to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels, further fueling demand (AHCA, 2024).

The demand for a hospice nurse in particular is largely driven by an aging population, longer life expectancies, and the rising preference for palliative and end-of-life care. Families and patients increasingly seek compassionate, home- or facility-based hospice services that improve quality of life rather than extend treatment. 

Despite these positive drivers, certain challenges may affect growth. Budget constraints within healthcare systems, uneven insurance coverage for hospice care, and the emotional demands of the profession may deter some nurses from pursuing or staying in this specialty. 

As the healthcare sector adjusts to demographic changes and roles evolve to better attract and retain hospice nurses, the outlook for this field is expected to stay strong, with employers focusing on building supportive environments that enable hospice professionals to succeed both personally and professionally.

Students preparing for hospice nursing early in their education may also benefit from selecting top minors for nursing that align with communication, counseling, gerontology, psychology, or palliative care, helping build a strong foundation for this emotionally and clinically complex field.

How do advanced academic degrees impact hospice nursing careers?

Advanced academic degrees equip hospice nurses with enhanced clinical decision-making skills and leadership capabilities, which can translate into improved patient outcomes and broader career opportunities. Pursuing advanced degrees facilitates engagement with evidence-based practices and research methodologies that drive innovation in palliative care delivery. For example, obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree can position hospice nurses for roles in executive leadership, policy development, or advanced clinical practice. Candidates interested in streamlining their educational pathway may explore what is the easiest DNP program to balance rigorous academics with practical experience.

Other Things You Should Know About Hospice Nurse Salaries