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Best states for a behavioral specialist
Quoted expert
Dr. Thomas Uhle
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for behavioral specialists? 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 specialist jobs.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of behavioral specialists in America is $61,000.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for behavioral specialists. Alaska is the best state for behavioral specialists, where the median salary is $93,877.We found that the Midwest is best for behavioral specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Anchorage, AK is the best city in the country for behavioral specialist jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for behavioral specialists in 2026
1. Alaska
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $93,877 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
2. Washington
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 1,078 Average annual salary: $57,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Pennsylvania
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 1,893 Average annual salary: $48,568 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. Maryland
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 1,078 Average annual salary: $51,012 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
5. Oregon
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 557 Average annual salary: $49,910 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
6. Wyoming
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $46,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. New York
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 2,141 Average annual salary: $47,366 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
8. Michigan
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 1,012 Average annual salary: $44,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Delaware
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $47,961 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Rhode Island
Total behavioral specialist jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $44,458 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
Behavioral specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $93,877 | $76,000 | 739,795 | 165 |
| 2 | Washington | $57,339 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,078 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $48,568 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,893 |
| 4 | Maryland | $51,012 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,078 |
| 5 | Oregon | $49,910 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 557 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $46,026 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 83 |
| 7 | New York | $47,366 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,141 |
| 8 | Michigan | $44,418 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,012 |
| 9 | Delaware | $47,961 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 140 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $44,458 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 165 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $45,985 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 427 |
| 12 | California | $47,579 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,983 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $45,785 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 193 |
| 14 | Nevada | $44,477 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 263 |
| 15 | Idaho | $43,476 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 214 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $43,335 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 111 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $42,163 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 330 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $45,460 | $30,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,004 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $42,191 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,073 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $44,972 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 159 |
| 21 | Virginia | $47,424 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 990 |
| 22 | Illinois | $44,119 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,517 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $44,589 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 346 |
| 24 | Vermont | $42,831 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 100 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $44,310 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 221 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $45,369 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 150 |
| 27 | Texas | $43,457 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,287 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $43,124 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 961 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $47,956 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 160 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $40,451 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 256 |
| 31 | Maine | $38,305 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 299 |
| 32 | Montana | $38,599 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 182 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $39,455 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 321 |
| 34 | Ohio | $40,606 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,058 |
| 35 | Alabama | $40,416 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 353 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,795 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 371 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $39,174 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 803 |
| 38 | Colorado | $39,128 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 730 |
| 39 | Kansas | $39,092 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 307 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $39,234 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 544 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $37,342 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 126 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,141 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 502 |
| 43 | Arizona | $35,356 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 902 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $36,571 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 394 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,572 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,129 |
| 46 | Georgia | $38,012 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,093 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $36,812 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 488 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,744 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 646 |
| 49 | Indiana | $34,924 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 718 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $33,375 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 386 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $33,673 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 594 |
Highest paying states for behavioral specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Behavioral Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $93,877 |
| 2 | Washington | $57,339 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $48,568 |
| 4 | Maryland | $51,012 |
| 5 | Oregon | $49,910 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $46,026 |
| 7 | New York | $47,366 |
| 8 | Michigan | $44,418 |
| 9 | Delaware | $47,961 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $44,458 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $45,985 |
| 12 | California | $47,579 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $45,785 |
| 14 | Nevada | $44,477 |
| 15 | Idaho | $43,476 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $43,335 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $42,163 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $45,460 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $42,191 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $44,972 |
| 21 | Virginia | $47,424 |
| 22 | Illinois | $44,119 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $44,589 |
| 24 | Vermont | $42,831 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $44,310 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $45,369 |
| 27 | Texas | $43,457 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $43,124 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $47,956 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $40,451 |
| 31 | Maine | $38,305 |
| 32 | Montana | $38,599 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $39,455 |
| 34 | Ohio | $40,606 |
| 35 | Alabama | $40,416 |
| 36 | Utah | $38,795 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $39,174 |
| 38 | Colorado | $39,128 |
| 39 | Kansas | $39,092 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $39,234 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $37,342 |
| 42 | Iowa | $35,141 |
| 43 | Arizona | $35,356 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $36,571 |
| 45 | Florida | $35,572 |
| 46 | Georgia | $38,012 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $36,812 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,744 |
| 49 | Indiana | $34,924 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $33,375 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $33,673 |
Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral specialists 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025