Best states for a behavioral therapist

Q: What is the best state for behavioral therapists?

The best state to be a behavioral therapist is Pennsylvania based on behavioral therapist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for behavioral therapists?

The highest paying state for behavioral therapists is Montana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for behavioral therapists?

The worst state for behavioral therapists is Arizona, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.

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Behavioral therapist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for behavioral therapists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for behavioral therapists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of behavioral therapists in America is $51,000.

We figured that the best places for behavioral therapist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Pennsylvania is the best state, and Long Beach is the city with the highest pay for behavioral therapists.

10 best states for behavioral therapists in 2025

1. Pennsylvania
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 2,950
Average annual salary: $44,246
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Behavioral therapist jobs in Pennsylvania
2. New York
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 2,981
Average annual salary: $44,382
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Behavioral therapist jobs in New York
3. Indiana
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 1,560
Average annual salary: $39,696
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Behavioral therapist jobs in Indiana
4. Kentucky
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 679
Average annual salary: $41,780
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Behavioral therapist jobs in Kentucky
5. Maryland
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 1,620
Average annual salary: $41,482
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Behavioral therapist jobs in Maryland
6. Michigan
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 1,668
Average annual salary: $39,323
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Behavioral therapist jobs in Michigan
7. Delaware
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 235
Average annual salary: $41,701
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Behavioral therapist jobs in Delaware
8. New Jersey
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 1,894
Average annual salary: $39,843
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Behavioral therapist jobs in New Jersey
9. Mississippi
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 180
Average annual salary: $41,964
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.43
Behavioral therapist jobs in Mississippi
10. Virginia
Total behavioral therapist jobs: 1,707
Average annual salary: $41,729
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Behavioral therapist jobs in Virginia

Behavioral therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a behavioral therapist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a behavioral therapist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Pennsylvania	$44,246	$31,000	12,805,537	2,950
2	New York	$44,382	$32,000	19,849,399	2,981
3	Indiana	$39,696	$28,000	6,666,818	1,560
4	Kentucky	$41,780	$29,000	4,454,189	679
5	Maryland	$41,482	$29,000	6,052,177	1,620
6	Michigan	$39,323	$28,000	9,962,311	1,668
7	Delaware	$41,701	$29,000	961,939	235
8	New Jersey	$39,843	$28,000	9,005,644	1,894
9	Mississippi	$41,964	$29,000	2,984,100	180
10	Virginia	$41,729	$28,000	8,470,020	1,707
11	New Hampshire	$41,966	$31,000	1,342,795	137
12	Massachusetts	$38,047	$28,000	6,859,819	2,496
13	Nevada	$38,789	$26,000	2,998,039	393
14	North Carolina	$39,176	$27,000	10,273,419	1,707
15	Rhode Island	$40,137	$29,000	1,059,639	123
16	West Virginia	$40,110	$28,000	1,815,857	82
17	Arkansas	$36,712	$25,000	3,004,279	556
18	Alabama	$38,375	$27,000	4,874,747	691
19	Texas	$36,353	$25,000	28,304,596	4,528
20	North Dakota	$34,796	$25,000	755,393	248
21	Maine	$35,394	$27,000	1,335,907	450
22	Georgia	$36,253	$25,000	10,429,379	2,206
23	Ohio	$35,604	$25,000	11,658,609	1,953
24	California	$38,765	$25,000	39,536,653	6,707
25	Kansas	$36,001	$25,000	2,913,123	621
26	District of Columbia	$41,811	$29,000	693,972	176
27	Vermont	$39,284	$30,000	623,657	61
28	Wyoming	$38,638	$27,000	579,315	40
29	New Mexico	$36,722	$25,000	2,088,070	188
30	Illinois	$35,163	$24,000	12,802,023	2,706
31	Alaska	$35,540	$25,000	739,795	142
32	Wisconsin	$34,290	$24,000	5,795,483	1,109
33	Washington	$34,253	$23,000	7,405,743	1,732
34	Florida	$35,261	$25,000	20,984,400	1,421
35	Missouri	$33,258	$23,000	6,113,532	1,262
36	Connecticut	$36,118	$26,000	3,588,184	329
37	South Carolina	$34,680	$24,000	5,024,369	397
38	Idaho	$33,898	$23,000	1,716,943	311
39	Minnesota	$34,439	$24,000	5,576,606	1,196
40	Colorado	$32,995	$23,000	5,607,154	1,339
41	Nebraska	$31,027	$22,000	1,920,076	564
42	Louisiana	$34,131	$23,000	4,684,333	275
43	Tennessee	$31,845	$22,000	6,715,984	1,160
44	Iowa	$31,281	$22,000	3,145,711	750
45	Montana	$29,608	$21,000	1,050,493	302
46	South Dakota	$32,813	$23,000	869,666	94
47	Oklahoma	$30,653	$21,000	3,930,864	666
48	Hawaii	$34,820	$24,000	1,427,538	121
49	Oregon	$31,907	$22,000	4,142,776	834
50	Utah	$32,461	$22,000	3,101,833	511
51	Arizona	$31,360	$21,000	7,016,270	734

Highest paying states for behavioral therapists

Rank	State	Avg. Behavioral Therapist Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$44,246
2	New York	$44,382
3	Indiana	$39,696
4	Kentucky	$41,780
5	Maryland	$41,482
6	Michigan	$39,323
7	Delaware	$41,701
8	New Jersey	$39,843
9	Mississippi	$41,964
10	Virginia	$41,729
11	New Hampshire	$41,966
12	Massachusetts	$38,047
13	Nevada	$38,789
14	North Carolina	$39,176
15	Rhode Island	$40,137
16	West Virginia	$40,110
17	Arkansas	$36,712
18	Alabama	$38,375
19	Texas	$36,353
20	North Dakota	$34,796
21	Maine	$35,394
22	Georgia	$36,253
23	Ohio	$35,604
24	California	$38,765
25	Kansas	$36,001
26	District of Columbia	$41,811
27	Vermont	$39,284
28	Wyoming	$38,638
29	New Mexico	$36,722
30	Illinois	$35,163
31	Alaska	$35,540
32	Wisconsin	$34,290
33	Washington	$34,253
34	Florida	$35,261
35	Missouri	$33,258
36	Connecticut	$36,118
37	South Carolina	$34,680
38	Idaho	$33,898
39	Minnesota	$34,439
40	Colorado	$32,995
41	Nebraska	$31,027
42	Louisiana	$34,131
43	Tennessee	$31,845
44	Iowa	$31,281
45	Montana	$29,608
46	South Dakota	$32,813
47	Oklahoma	$30,653
48	Hawaii	$34,820
49	Oregon	$31,907
50	Utah	$32,461
51	Arizona	$31,360

Expert opinions on the best states for behavioral therapists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for behavioral therapists 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 therapist best states FAQs

What is the best state for behavioral therapists?

What is the highest paying state for behavioral therapists?

What is the worst state for behavioral therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for behavioral therapist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total behavioral therapist jobs:	2,950
Average annual salary:	$44,246
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$31,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$62,000
Location Quotient:	1.28

Best states for a behavioral therapist

10 best states for behavioral therapists in 2025

1. Pennsylvania

2. New York

3. Indiana

4. Kentucky

5. Maryland

6. Michigan

7. Delaware

8. New Jersey

9. Mississippi

10. Virginia