California, New York Lead State Healthcare Staffing Markets

A new SIA Geographic Opportunities Atlas ranks California and New York as the largest healthcare staffing markets in the United States.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Nursing Jobs

California, New York Lead State Healthcare Staffing Markets

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The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) US Geographic Opportunities Atlas ranks California and New York as the largest state healthcare staffing markets. California's market totaled nearly $4.78 billion in 2025, while New York's totaled $3.88 billion.

Why it matters

The rankings show where healthcare staffing demand is concentrated across the country, which is relevant to nurses and clinicians seeking work and to organizations competing for them. SIA also projects total US healthcare staffing revenue to grow about 1% this year to $39 billion.

California's $4.78 billion and New York's $3.88 billion healthcare staffing markets in 2025 account for 12.4% and 10.1% of US healthcare staffing spend, out of total US revenue of $38.5 billion. Texas ($2.28 billion), Florida ($2.13 billion) and Pennsylvania ($1.92 billion) follow in the state rankings.

The players

Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA)

SIA is a research and advisory firm that tracks and forecasts the staffing industry and publishes market data on healthcare staffing.

The details

Among cities, New York ranks first with $3.62 billion in healthcare staffing spend, followed by Los Angeles at $1.56 billion and Chicago at $956 million. The Atlas findings will be presented at SIA's Healthcare Staffing Summit, held November 9-11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.

2025: State and city healthcare staffing revenue totals were measured.
November 9-11, 2026: SIA Healthcare Staffing Summit in Arlington, Texas.

Market Landscape

The Atlas ranking places California and New York at the top of state healthcare staffing spend, consistent with where US healthcare revenue is concentrated. SIA's projected growth of about 1% to $39 billion this year signals a slower-expanding market than the geographic spread of spending might suggest.

Nurses and clinicians looking for staffing work may find the largest concentrations of opportunity in California, New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania. The projected 1% growth suggests overall demand is expanding only modestly this year.

The takeaway

Regional staffing demand is highly concentrated, so job seekers in healthcare staffing may find the strongest market activity in the largest state and city markets. Tracking annual market rankings can help clinicians and staffing professionals plan where to look for work.