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Best states for a behavioral assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Thomas Uhle
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for behavioral assistants? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for behavioral assistant jobs.In fact, our research shows that Washington is the best state for behavioral assistants in America. The best city in America for behavioral assistants with the highest pay is Santa Maria, CA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for behavioral assistants.If you are currently seeking employment as a behavioral assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for behavioral assistants in 2026
1. Washington
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 839 Average annual salary: $50,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. New Mexico
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $47,193 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. Illinois
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 1,275 Average annual salary: $45,389 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. North Dakota
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 90 Average annual salary: $43,790 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Minnesota
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 1,208 Average annual salary: $40,224 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
6. Pennsylvania
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 1,537 Average annual salary: $39,613 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
7. New York
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 1,865 Average annual salary: $43,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
8. Oregon
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 401 Average annual salary: $44,297 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
9. Michigan
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 908 Average annual salary: $39,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Hawaii
Total behavioral assistant jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $45,088 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
Behavioral assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $50,355 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 839 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $47,193 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 227 |
| 3 | Illinois | $45,389 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,275 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $43,790 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 90 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $40,224 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,208 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $39,613 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,537 |
| 7 | New York | $43,228 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,865 |
| 8 | Oregon | $44,297 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 401 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,013 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 908 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $45,088 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 105 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $49,287 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 130 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $40,485 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 188 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $41,213 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 226 |
| 14 | Florida | $40,202 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,571 |
| 15 | Alaska | $39,696 | $30,000 | 739,795 | 140 |
| 16 | California | $45,087 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,776 |
| 17 | Idaho | $39,801 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 150 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,935 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 167 |
| 19 | Nevada | $38,382 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 197 |
| 20 | Maine | $37,168 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 239 |
| 21 | Kansas | $40,417 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 212 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $39,388 | $31,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,656 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $39,823 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 898 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $38,757 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 466 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,579 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 691 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $37,701 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 393 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $37,140 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 123 |
| 28 | Indiana | $35,838 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 638 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,869 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,765 |
| 30 | Colorado | $37,068 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 619 |
| 31 | Maryland | $36,593 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 777 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $36,499 | $24,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $39,290 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 285 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $35,380 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 224 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,982 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 602 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $36,202 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 276 |
| 37 | Delaware | $38,439 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 78 |
| 38 | Missouri | $37,164 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 436 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $33,707 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 158 |
| 40 | Virginia | $37,611 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 723 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $34,487 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 495 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $35,065 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 285 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,544 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 292 |
| 44 | Alabama | $34,736 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 258 |
| 45 | Montana | $34,063 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 107 |
| 46 | Iowa | $33,322 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 330 |
| 47 | Georgia | $35,046 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 880 |
| 48 | Ohio | $33,060 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 889 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,839 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 94 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,880 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 66 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $33,521 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 256 |
Highest paying states for behavioral assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Behavioral Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $50,355 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $47,193 |
| 3 | Illinois | $45,389 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $43,790 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $40,224 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $39,613 |
| 7 | New York | $43,228 |
| 8 | Oregon | $44,297 |
| 9 | Michigan | $39,013 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $45,088 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $49,287 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $40,485 |
| 13 | Arkansas | $41,213 |
| 14 | Florida | $40,202 |
| 15 | Alaska | $39,696 |
| 16 | California | $45,087 |
| 17 | Idaho | $39,801 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,935 |
| 19 | Nevada | $38,382 |
| 20 | Maine | $37,168 |
| 21 | Kansas | $40,417 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $39,388 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $39,823 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $38,757 |
| 25 | Arizona | $36,579 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $37,701 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $37,140 |
| 28 | Indiana | $35,838 |
| 29 | Texas | $36,869 |
| 30 | Colorado | $37,068 |
| 31 | Maryland | $36,593 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $36,499 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $39,290 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $35,380 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $36,982 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $36,202 |
| 37 | Delaware | $38,439 |
| 38 | Missouri | $37,164 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $33,707 |
| 40 | Virginia | $37,611 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $34,487 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $35,065 |
| 43 | Utah | $34,544 |
| 44 | Alabama | $34,736 |
| 45 | Montana | $34,063 |
| 46 | Iowa | $33,322 |
| 47 | Georgia | $35,046 |
| 48 | Ohio | $33,060 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,839 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,880 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $33,521 |
Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas Uhle
Teacher Education Program, Miami Dade College
Especially due to the pandemic, there is a teacher shortage in many areas of the country. Work opportunities are available for qualified graduates. At Miami Dade College, we work very closely with Miami Dade County Public Schools to ensure that our graduates are able to secure a position upon graduation. Larger cities tend to have larger school districts and therefore a wider range of positions available. Having a background in Exceptional Student Education should increase the likelihood of finding a job no matter where the graduate wants to go.
Behavioral assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025