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Best states for a behavioral health professional
Quoted expert
Dr. Andrew Wiley Ph.D.
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and community and social services careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to behavioral health professional jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for behavioral health professionals.In order to help you decide which state is the best for behavioral health professionals, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for behavioral health professional jobs.
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 health professionals.If you are currently seeking employment as a behavioral health professional, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for behavioral health professionals in 2025
1. Arizona
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 1,547 Average annual salary: $55,518 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Oklahoma
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $50,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. California
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 6,905 Average annual salary: $58,869 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. Colorado
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 1,407 Average annual salary: $51,566 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. Missouri
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 1,358 Average annual salary: $49,593 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
6. Washington
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 1,472 Average annual salary: $53,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
7. Texas
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 4,048 Average annual salary: $52,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
8. Indiana
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 2,035 Average annual salary: $41,522 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
9. Maryland
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 1,824 Average annual salary: $46,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
10. Kansas
Total behavioral health professional jobs: 595 Average annual salary: $47,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Behavioral health professional jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral health professional
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral health professional
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $55,518 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,547 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $50,167 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 760 |
| 3 | California | $58,869 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,905 |
| 4 | Colorado | $51,566 | $36,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,407 |
| 5 | Missouri | $49,593 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,358 |
| 6 | Washington | $53,014 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,472 |
| 7 | Texas | $52,009 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,048 |
| 8 | Indiana | $41,522 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,035 |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,385 | $30,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,824 |
| 10 | Kansas | $47,267 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 595 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $42,124 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 268 |
| 12 | Michigan | $41,866 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,199 |
| 13 | Oregon | $50,043 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 722 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $46,385 | $30,000 | 1,427,538 | 240 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $43,867 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 831 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,028 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 227 |
| 17 | Ohio | $40,322 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,594 |
| 18 | Alaska | $40,835 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 253 |
| 19 | Nevada | $44,209 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 430 |
| 20 | Alabama | $44,638 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 811 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $41,481 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 466 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $41,426 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 241 |
| 23 | Illinois | $43,774 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,976 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $38,306 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,485 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $38,176 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,258 |
| 26 | Utah | $40,624 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 662 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $37,769 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 159 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $45,785 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 303 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $39,483 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 466 |
| 30 | Iowa | $38,335 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 910 |
| 31 | Idaho | $39,425 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 410 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $39,112 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 747 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $34,221 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,127 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $37,359 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 627 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $40,579 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 321 |
| 36 | Vermont | $32,662 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 210 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $34,376 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 288 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $31,178 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,885 |
| 39 | Montana | $37,770 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 221 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $33,420 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,462 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,988 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,220 |
| 42 | Delaware | $34,222 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 325 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,620 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,354 |
| 44 | Maine | $27,171 | $23,000 | 1,335,907 | 397 |
| 45 | Georgia | $36,853 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,467 |
| 46 | Virginia | $36,285 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,792 |
| 47 | New York | $37,389 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,905 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $36,092 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 631 |
| 49 | Connecticut | $30,866 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 692 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $30,711 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 324 |
| 51 | New Jersey | $31,315 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,542 |
Highest paying states for behavioral health professionals
| Rank | State | Avg. Behavioral Health Professional Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $55,518 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $50,167 |
| 3 | California | $58,869 |
| 4 | Colorado | $51,566 |
| 5 | Missouri | $49,593 |
| 6 | Washington | $53,014 |
| 7 | Texas | $52,009 |
| 8 | Indiana | $41,522 |
| 9 | Maryland | $46,385 |
| 10 | Kansas | $47,267 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $42,124 |
| 12 | Michigan | $41,866 |
| 13 | Oregon | $50,043 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $46,385 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $43,867 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $44,028 |
| 17 | Ohio | $40,322 |
| 18 | Alaska | $40,835 |
| 19 | Nevada | $44,209 |
| 20 | Alabama | $44,638 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $41,481 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $41,426 |
| 23 | Illinois | $43,774 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $38,306 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $38,176 |
| 26 | Utah | $40,624 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $37,769 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $45,785 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $39,483 |
| 30 | Iowa | $38,335 |
| 31 | Idaho | $39,425 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $39,112 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $34,221 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $37,359 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $40,579 |
| 36 | Vermont | $32,662 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $34,376 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $31,178 |
| 39 | Montana | $37,770 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $33,420 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,988 |
| 42 | Delaware | $34,222 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,620 |
| 44 | Maine | $27,171 |
| 45 | Georgia | $36,853 |
| 46 | Virginia | $36,285 |
| 47 | New York | $37,389 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $36,092 |
| 49 | Connecticut | $30,866 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $30,711 |
| 51 | New Jersey | $31,315 |
Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral health professionals
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral health professionals to find work opportunities?
Dr. Andrew Wiley Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Kent State University
There is a demand for fully credentialled special educators in every part of the country. The demand is highest in both rural and urban areas, but suburban districts also need special educators. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are all good places for a career in special education because of the particularly high salary compared to cost of living. But again, there are many special education careers to choose from anywhere in the United States. The demand continues to grow.
Behavioral health professional best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025