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Best states for a health specialist
Quoted expert
Anita Killins Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a health specialist at Examinetics, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for health specialists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research found that Washington is the best state for health specialists, while Alaska and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Washington has a median salary of $53,930 and Alaska has the highest median salary among all 50 states for health specialists.
We figured that the best places for health specialist 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.We found that the Midwest is best for health specialists, and the West is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for health specialist jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for health specialists in 2026
1. Washington
Total health specialist jobs: 1,195 Average annual salary: $53,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. California
Total health specialist jobs: 3,836 Average annual salary: $62,063 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Alaska
Total health specialist jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $70,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
4. Mississippi
Total health specialist jobs: 278 Average annual salary: $53,215 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Hawaii
Total health specialist jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $60,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
6. Idaho
Total health specialist jobs: 289 Average annual salary: $49,889 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
7. Nevada
Total health specialist jobs: 258 Average annual salary: $52,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
8. Pennsylvania
Total health specialist jobs: 678 Average annual salary: $57,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
9. Rhode Island
Total health specialist jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $52,665 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Delaware
Total health specialist jobs: 159 Average annual salary: $52,443 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
Health specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a health specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a health specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $53,930 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,195 |
| 2 | California | $62,063 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,836 |
| 3 | Alaska | $70,976 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 79 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $53,215 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 278 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $60,296 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 168 |
| 6 | Idaho | $49,889 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 289 |
| 7 | Nevada | $52,328 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 258 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $57,043 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 678 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $52,665 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 129 |
| 10 | Delaware | $52,443 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 159 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $48,954 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 448 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,703 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 179 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $50,463 | $30,000 | 1,815,857 | 118 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $46,534 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 104 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $55,426 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 214 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $47,909 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 120 |
| 17 | Oregon | $52,531 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 261 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $55,350 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 361 |
| 19 | Michigan | $44,211 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,449 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $45,703 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 137 |
| 21 | Maryland | $50,521 | $30,000 | 6,052,177 | 961 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $44,877 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,655 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $51,804 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 175 |
| 24 | Illinois | $50,354 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 646 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $49,809 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 617 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $44,140 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 506 |
| 27 | Alabama | $43,162 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 688 |
| 28 | Georgia | $47,347 | $29,000 | 10,429,379 | 647 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $42,580 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 473 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $43,779 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 297 |
| 31 | Arizona | $43,606 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 947 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $46,012 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 111 |
| 33 | Vermont | $46,099 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 58 |
| 34 | Maine | $45,921 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 75 |
| 35 | Texas | $43,766 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,316 |
| 36 | Ohio | $41,424 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,581 |
| 37 | Montana | $44,492 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 82 |
| 38 | Kansas | $42,050 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 430 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $41,897 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 821 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $42,011 | $25,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,126 |
| 41 | Iowa | $40,626 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 601 |
| 42 | Colorado | $43,374 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 659 |
| 43 | Virginia | $42,624 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,154 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,382 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,249 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $40,141 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 562 |
| 46 | Utah | $41,725 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 333 |
| 47 | Florida | $41,461 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,086 |
| 48 | New York | $42,948 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 716 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $41,793 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 218 |
| 50 | Missouri | $41,475 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 317 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $38,039 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 336 |
Highest paying states for health specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Health Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $53,930 |
| 2 | California | $62,063 |
| 3 | Alaska | $70,976 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $53,215 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $60,296 |
| 6 | Idaho | $49,889 |
| 7 | Nevada | $52,328 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $57,043 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $52,665 |
| 10 | Delaware | $52,443 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $48,954 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,703 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $50,463 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $46,534 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $55,426 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $47,909 |
| 17 | Oregon | $52,531 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $55,350 |
| 19 | Michigan | $44,211 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $45,703 |
| 21 | Maryland | $50,521 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $44,877 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $51,804 |
| 24 | Illinois | $50,354 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $49,809 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $44,140 |
| 27 | Alabama | $43,162 |
| 28 | Georgia | $47,347 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $42,580 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $43,779 |
| 31 | Arizona | $43,606 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $46,012 |
| 33 | Vermont | $46,099 |
| 34 | Maine | $45,921 |
| 35 | Texas | $43,766 |
| 36 | Ohio | $41,424 |
| 37 | Montana | $44,492 |
| 38 | Kansas | $42,050 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $41,897 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $42,011 |
| 41 | Iowa | $40,626 |
| 42 | Colorado | $43,374 |
| 43 | Virginia | $42,624 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,382 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $40,141 |
| 46 | Utah | $41,725 |
| 47 | Florida | $41,461 |
| 48 | New York | $42,948 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $41,793 |
| 50 | Missouri | $41,475 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $38,039 |
Expert opinions on the best states for health specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for health specialists to find work opportunities?
Anita Killins Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
This is a difficult question to answer. We have graduates that have found positions all over the country.
Our students often decide where they want to live first, and then search for a position in that area, with quite a bit of success. Finding a job might be a bit more challenging during this time, depending on the virus's location and status. However, many recent physical therapy graduates are still finding jobs.
Health specialist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025