Best states for a counselor/case manager

Q: What is the best state for counselor/case managers?

The best state to be a counselor/case manager is Connecticut based on counselor/case manager salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for counselor/case managers?

The highest paying state for counselor/case managers is New Hampshire based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for counselor/case managers?

The worst state for counselor/case managers is Utah, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella

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Are you thinking of becoming a counselor/case manager and really want to work at Aegis? Turns out, your chances to become a counselor/case manager are better in some states than others.Our research found that Connecticut is the best state for counselor/case managers, while Connecticut and Colorado are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Connecticut has a median salary of $52,379 and Connecticut has the highest median salary among all 50 states for counselor/case managers.

The median salary for counselor/case managers in Connecticut is $52,379. Compare that to the median salary in Utah of $33,252, which ranked worst for counselor/case managers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Connecticut is the best state, and Torrington is the city with the highest pay for counselor/case managers.

10 best states for counselor/case managers in 2025

1. Connecticut
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 492
Average annual salary: $52,379
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Counselor/case manager jobs in Connecticut
2. District of Columbia
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 202
Average annual salary: $54,029
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Counselor/case manager jobs in District of Columbia
3. Colorado
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 646
Average annual salary: $52,328
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Counselor/case manager jobs in Colorado
4. Washington
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 982
Average annual salary: $46,461
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Counselor/case manager jobs in Washington
5. Idaho
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 196
Average annual salary: $43,486
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Counselor/case manager jobs in Idaho
6. California
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 4,235
Average annual salary: $46,988
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Counselor/case manager jobs in California
7. New York
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 1,551
Average annual salary: $46,178
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Counselor/case manager jobs in New York
8. Alaska
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 156
Average annual salary: $43,700
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.69
Counselor/case manager jobs in Alaska
9. Illinois
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 1,384
Average annual salary: $44,027
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Counselor/case manager jobs in Illinois
10. Wisconsin
Total counselor/case manager jobs: 467
Average annual salary: $47,001
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Counselor/case manager jobs in Wisconsin

Counselor/case manager jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a counselor/case manager

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

Detailed list of the best states for a counselor/case manager

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Connecticut	$52,379	$45,000	3,588,184	492
2	District of Columbia	$54,029	$44,000	693,972	202
3	Colorado	$52,328	$43,000	5,607,154	646
4	Washington	$46,461	$40,000	7,405,743	982
5	Idaho	$43,486	$36,000	1,716,943	196
6	California	$46,988	$38,000	39,536,653	4,235
7	New York	$46,178	$39,000	19,849,399	1,551
8	Alaska	$43,700	$40,000	739,795	156
9	Illinois	$44,027	$36,000	12,802,023	1,384
10	Wisconsin	$47,001	$39,000	5,795,483	467
11	North Dakota	$48,801	$42,000	755,393	69
12	Nevada	$47,538	$38,000	2,998,039	169
13	Hawaii	$50,545	$45,000	1,427,538	87
14	Oregon	$45,092	$38,000	4,142,776	425
15	Kansas	$43,890	$36,000	2,913,123	260
16	Arkansas	$42,395	$34,000	3,004,279	242
17	Minnesota	$42,815	$36,000	5,576,606	623
18	Pennsylvania	$39,402	$33,000	12,805,537	1,431
19	Maine	$39,484	$34,000	1,335,907	198
20	New Jersey	$43,183	$36,000	9,005,644	846
21	Mississippi	$40,467	$33,000	2,984,100	179
22	Arizona	$39,332	$32,000	7,016,270	844
23	Nebraska	$41,003	$34,000	1,920,076	170
24	Ohio	$40,137	$33,000	11,658,609	770
25	Texas	$40,318	$33,000	28,304,596	1,817
26	Louisiana	$39,870	$32,000	4,684,333	328
27	Delaware	$40,590	$33,000	961,939	118
28	Wyoming	$39,028	$32,000	579,315	58
29	Indiana	$38,094	$31,000	6,666,818	734
30	Maryland	$40,562	$33,000	6,052,177	702
31	Michigan	$37,235	$31,000	9,962,311	928
32	Montana	$38,505	$33,000	1,050,493	120
33	North Carolina	$39,992	$32,000	10,273,419	684
34	New Mexico	$37,354	$30,000	2,088,070	220
35	Iowa	$37,345	$31,000	3,145,711	310
36	Massachusetts	$36,208	$31,000	6,859,819	1,710
37	Georgia	$36,302	$29,000	10,429,379	1,193
38	South Carolina	$35,992	$29,000	5,024,369	494
39	Florida	$34,927	$29,000	20,984,400	2,148
40	Missouri	$37,671	$31,000	6,113,532	482
41	Virginia	$37,339	$30,000	8,470,020	851
42	Rhode Island	$33,770	$29,000	1,059,639	137
43	Vermont	$36,906	$32,000	623,657	56
44	Kentucky	$34,656	$28,000	4,454,189	313
45	Tennessee	$34,870	$28,000	6,715,984	438
46	Alabama	$35,449	$29,000	4,874,747	266
47	South Dakota	$34,631	$29,000	869,666	77
48	Oklahoma	$34,014	$28,000	3,930,864	253
49	New Hampshire	$32,844	$28,000	1,342,795	148
50	West Virginia	$33,782	$27,000	1,815,857	95
51	Utah	$33,252	$27,000	3,101,833	206

Highest paying states for counselor/case managers

Rank	State	Avg. Counselor/Case Manager Salary
1	Connecticut	$52,379
2	District of Columbia	$54,029
3	Colorado	$52,328
4	Washington	$46,461
5	Idaho	$43,486
6	California	$46,988
7	New York	$46,178
8	Alaska	$43,700
9	Illinois	$44,027
10	Wisconsin	$47,001
11	North Dakota	$48,801
12	Nevada	$47,538
13	Hawaii	$50,545
14	Oregon	$45,092
15	Kansas	$43,890
16	Arkansas	$42,395
17	Minnesota	$42,815
18	Pennsylvania	$39,402
19	Maine	$39,484
20	New Jersey	$43,183
21	Mississippi	$40,467
22	Arizona	$39,332
23	Nebraska	$41,003
24	Ohio	$40,137
25	Texas	$40,318
26	Louisiana	$39,870
27	Delaware	$40,590
28	Wyoming	$39,028
29	Indiana	$38,094
30	Maryland	$40,562
31	Michigan	$37,235
32	Montana	$38,505
33	North Carolina	$39,992
34	New Mexico	$37,354
35	Iowa	$37,345
36	Massachusetts	$36,208
37	Georgia	$36,302
38	South Carolina	$35,992
39	Florida	$34,927
40	Missouri	$37,671
41	Virginia	$37,339
42	Rhode Island	$33,770
43	Vermont	$36,906
44	Kentucky	$34,656
45	Tennessee	$34,870
46	Alabama	$35,449
47	South Dakota	$34,631
48	Oklahoma	$34,014
49	New Hampshire	$32,844
50	West Virginia	$33,782
51	Utah	$33,252

Expert opinions on the best states for counselor/case managers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for counselor/case managers to find work opportunities?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella
Professor, MSW Program Coordinator, Southern Connecticut State University
Social workers are needed everywhere -- from rural settings to small towns, to large cities. Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S.

Counselor/case manager best states FAQs

What is the best state for counselor/case managers?

What is the highest paying state for counselor/case managers?

What is the worst state for counselor/case managers?

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

Search for counselor/case manager jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total counselor/case manager jobs:	492
Average annual salary:	$52,379
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$45,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$60,000
Location Quotient:	1.35

Best states for a counselor/case manager

10 best states for counselor/case managers in 2025

1. Connecticut

2. District of Columbia

3. Colorado

4. Washington

5. Idaho

6. California

7. New York

8. Alaska

9. Illinois

10. Wisconsin