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Best states for a behavioral health technician
Quoted expert
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a behavioral health technician at Preferred Family Healthcare, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for behavioral health technicians that you can check out, before you begin your journey. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for behavioral health technician jobs.
In order to get you the best states for behavioral health technicians, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Vermont is the best state, and Lompoc is the city with the highest pay for behavioral health technicians.
10 best states for behavioral health technicians in 2026
1. Vermont
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 185 Average annual salary: $46,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
2. California
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 5,173 Average annual salary: $49,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
3. Massachusetts
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 2,176 Average annual salary: $38,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. Arkansas
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 663 Average annual salary: $34,827 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
5. Indiana
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 1,920 Average annual salary: $34,371 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
6. Maine
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 322 Average annual salary: $34,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
7. Montana
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $42,096 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
8. New York
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 1,659 Average annual salary: $45,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
9. Oregon
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 424 Average annual salary: $43,231 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.55
10. New Hampshire
Total behavioral health technician jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $38,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
Behavioral health technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral health technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral health technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $46,875 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 185 |
| 2 | California | $49,005 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,173 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $38,169 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,176 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $34,827 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 663 |
| 5 | Indiana | $34,371 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,920 |
| 6 | Maine | $34,539 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 322 |
| 7 | Montana | $42,096 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 153 |
| 8 | New York | $45,875 | $34,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,659 |
| 9 | Oregon | $43,231 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 424 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $38,582 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 276 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $36,951 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 600 |
| 12 | Iowa | $33,439 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 823 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $34,164 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 413 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $35,691 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 160 |
| 15 | Arizona | $34,330 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,329 |
| 16 | Colorado | $36,059 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,064 |
| 17 | Washington | $38,680 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 713 |
| 18 | Maryland | $36,406 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,226 |
| 19 | Illinois | $34,825 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,115 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $34,836 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 159 |
| 21 | Michigan | $31,481 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,946 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $36,275 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 163 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $32,112 | $25,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,233 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $34,161 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 348 |
| 25 | Nevada | $33,746 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 347 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $36,422 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,072 |
| 27 | Alabama | $31,598 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 916 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $32,522 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,504 |
| 29 | Ohio | $31,191 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,330 |
| 30 | Virginia | $34,269 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,633 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $32,220 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 97 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $29,925 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,386 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $30,311 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 667 |
| 34 | Alaska | $30,547 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 196 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $31,198 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 218 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $29,749 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 202 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,055 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 560 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $34,230 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 216 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $30,512 | $23,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,897 |
| 40 | Delaware | $30,877 | $23,000 | 961,939 | 218 |
| 41 | Georgia | $31,303 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,493 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,883 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 613 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $28,607 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 755 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,412 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 626 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $28,900 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 957 |
| 46 | Missouri | $27,060 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,403 |
| 47 | Texas | $28,289 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,826 |
| 48 | Utah | $28,650 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 549 |
| 49 | Florida | $28,468 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,470 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $29,131 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 241 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,396 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 315 |
Highest paying states for behavioral health technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Behavioral Health Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $46,875 |
| 2 | California | $49,005 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $38,169 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $34,827 |
| 5 | Indiana | $34,371 |
| 6 | Maine | $34,539 |
| 7 | Montana | $42,096 |
| 8 | New York | $45,875 |
| 9 | Oregon | $43,231 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $38,582 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $36,951 |
| 12 | Iowa | $33,439 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $34,164 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $35,691 |
| 15 | Arizona | $34,330 |
| 16 | Colorado | $36,059 |
| 17 | Washington | $38,680 |
| 18 | Maryland | $36,406 |
| 19 | Illinois | $34,825 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $34,836 |
| 21 | Michigan | $31,481 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $36,275 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $32,112 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $34,161 |
| 25 | Nevada | $33,746 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $36,422 |
| 27 | Alabama | $31,598 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $32,522 |
| 29 | Ohio | $31,191 |
| 30 | Virginia | $34,269 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $32,220 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $29,925 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $30,311 |
| 34 | Alaska | $30,547 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $31,198 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $29,749 |
| 37 | Kansas | $30,055 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $34,230 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $30,512 |
| 40 | Delaware | $30,877 |
| 41 | Georgia | $31,303 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,883 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $28,607 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,412 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $28,900 |
| 46 | Missouri | $27,060 |
| 47 | Texas | $28,289 |
| 48 | Utah | $28,650 |
| 49 | Florida | $28,468 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $29,131 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,396 |
Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral health technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral health technicians to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, Agnes Scott College
Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.
Behavioral health technician best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025