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Best states for a behavioral health specialist
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for behavioral health specialists in the United States. Behavioral health specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for behavioral health specialists.Our research found that California is the best state for behavioral health specialists, while Alaska and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $62,706 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for behavioral health specialists.
The median salary for behavioral health specialists in California is $62,706. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $29,099, which ranked worst for behavioral health specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for behavioral health specialist jobs, whereas Arkansas is the worst.
10 best states for behavioral health specialists in 2026
1. California
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 6,562 Average annual salary: $62,706 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Nevada
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 414 Average annual salary: $61,974 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. North Dakota
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $56,730 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Washington
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 1,392 Average annual salary: $60,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. Minnesota
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 1,586 Average annual salary: $51,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
6. New York
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 2,448 Average annual salary: $58,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
7. New Jersey
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 1,161 Average annual salary: $67,324 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
8. Vermont
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 196 Average annual salary: $51,091 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
9. New Hampshire
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 312 Average annual salary: $58,063 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
10. Idaho
Total behavioral health specialist jobs: 406 Average annual salary: $49,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
Behavioral health specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral health specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral health specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $62,706 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,562 |
| 2 | Nevada | $61,974 | $39,000 | 2,998,039 | 414 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $56,730 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 202 |
| 4 | Washington | $60,507 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,392 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $51,875 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,586 |
| 6 | New York | $58,637 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,448 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,324 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,161 |
| 8 | Vermont | $51,091 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 196 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $58,063 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 312 |
| 10 | Idaho | $49,683 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 406 |
| 11 | Oregon | $59,324 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 698 |
| 12 | Alaska | $70,214 | $62,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $55,553 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 630 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $57,670 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 220 |
| 15 | Maine | $48,059 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 353 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $53,620 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 345 |
| 17 | Michigan | $45,901 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,083 |
| 18 | Colorado | $50,872 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,167 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,350 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 294 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $45,542 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 754 |
| 21 | Montana | $49,080 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 217 |
| 22 | Delaware | $53,342 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $47,789 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 235 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $45,908 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 210 |
| 25 | Maryland | $45,623 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,712 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $45,510 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 118 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $43,429 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,186 |
| 28 | Virginia | $48,929 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,741 |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,551 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,817 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $43,489 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,170 |
| 31 | Texas | $44,181 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,850 |
| 32 | Iowa | $40,587 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 848 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $40,261 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 730 |
| 34 | Utah | $44,118 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 569 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $41,615 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,324 |
| 36 | Missouri | $41,706 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,271 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $40,144 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 733 |
| 38 | Ohio | $39,443 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,389 |
| 39 | Kansas | $41,079 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 557 |
| 40 | Arizona | $37,339 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,518 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $38,020 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 483 |
| 42 | Indiana | $41,441 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $40,973 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $35,810 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 400 |
| 45 | Alabama | $37,562 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $36,075 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 738 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $36,032 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 188 |
| 48 | Florida | $36,901 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,533 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $36,117 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 638 |
| 50 | Georgia | $34,078 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,486 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $29,099 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
Highest paying states for behavioral health specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Behavioral Health Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $62,706 |
| 2 | Nevada | $61,974 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $56,730 |
| 4 | Washington | $60,507 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $51,875 |
| 6 | New York | $58,637 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,324 |
| 8 | Vermont | $51,091 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $58,063 |
| 10 | Idaho | $49,683 |
| 11 | Oregon | $59,324 |
| 12 | Alaska | $70,214 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $55,553 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $57,670 |
| 15 | Maine | $48,059 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $53,620 |
| 17 | Michigan | $45,901 |
| 18 | Colorado | $50,872 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,350 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $45,542 |
| 21 | Montana | $49,080 |
| 22 | Delaware | $53,342 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $47,789 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $45,908 |
| 25 | Maryland | $45,623 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $45,510 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $43,429 |
| 28 | Virginia | $48,929 |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,551 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $43,489 |
| 31 | Texas | $44,181 |
| 32 | Iowa | $40,587 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $40,261 |
| 34 | Utah | $44,118 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $41,615 |
| 36 | Missouri | $41,706 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $40,144 |
| 38 | Ohio | $39,443 |
| 39 | Kansas | $41,079 |
| 40 | Arizona | $37,339 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $38,020 |
| 42 | Indiana | $41,441 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $40,973 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $35,810 |
| 45 | Alabama | $37,562 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $36,075 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $36,032 |
| 48 | Florida | $36,901 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $36,117 |
| 50 | Georgia | $34,078 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $29,099 |
Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral health specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral health specialists to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
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Updated January 8, 2025