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Best states for a health therapist
Quoted expert
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a health therapist at Sanford Health, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for health therapists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In order to help you decide which state is the best for health therapists, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for health therapist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for health therapists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for health therapists, and the West is the worst. Los Angeles, CA is the best city in the country for health therapist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for health therapists in 2025
1. California
Total health therapist jobs: 8,896 Average annual salary: $81,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
2. Washington
Total health therapist jobs: 2,360 Average annual salary: $71,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
3. North Dakota
Total health therapist jobs: 260 Average annual salary: $69,744 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
4. Minnesota
Total health therapist jobs: 1,479 Average annual salary: $73,276 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Wisconsin
Total health therapist jobs: 1,422 Average annual salary: $63,498 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Colorado
Total health therapist jobs: 1,665 Average annual salary: $61,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
7. Nevada
Total health therapist jobs: 420 Average annual salary: $64,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
8. Idaho
Total health therapist jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $63,335 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
9. Iowa
Total health therapist jobs: 894 Average annual salary: $60,577 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
10. Utah
Total health therapist jobs: 573 Average annual salary: $63,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Health therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a health therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a health therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $81,098 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,896 |
| 2 | Washington | $71,048 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,360 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $69,744 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 260 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $73,276 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,479 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $63,498 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,422 |
| 6 | Colorado | $61,456 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,665 |
| 7 | Nevada | $64,043 | $47,000 | 2,998,039 | 420 |
| 8 | Idaho | $63,335 | $50,000 | 1,716,943 | 405 |
| 9 | Iowa | $60,577 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 894 |
| 10 | Utah | $63,989 | $48,000 | 3,101,833 | 573 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $66,763 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 224 |
| 12 | Michigan | $62,243 | $45,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,297 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $61,692 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,508 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $61,493 | $47,000 | 579,315 | 105 |
| 15 | Oregon | $63,420 | $51,000 | 4,142,776 | 735 |
| 16 | Indiana | $50,581 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,965 |
| 17 | Maine | $49,907 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 414 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $60,985 | $47,000 | 869,666 | 160 |
| 19 | Alaska | $63,320 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 150 |
| 20 | Kansas | $54,346 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 657 |
| 21 | Ohio | $50,090 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,488 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $58,538 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 374 |
| 23 | Delaware | $50,832 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 311 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $50,755 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,269 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $49,657 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 884 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $59,611 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 282 |
| 27 | New York | $54,383 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,306 |
| 28 | Virginia | $52,391 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,180 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $46,259 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,586 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $52,597 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 234 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $54,426 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 204 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,751 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 245 |
| 33 | Vermont | $47,951 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 184 |
| 34 | Maryland | $47,557 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,625 |
| 35 | Texas | $47,300 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,851 |
| 36 | Illinois | $51,538 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,028 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $44,514 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,659 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $50,064 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 200 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $43,793 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 809 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $40,789 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,370 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $42,059 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 567 |
| 42 | Alabama | $41,703 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,098 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $46,725 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 121 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $46,070 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 303 |
| 45 | Missouri | $40,270 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,561 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $44,904 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 544 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $33,797 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 772 |
| 48 | Arizona | $39,679 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,231 |
| 49 | Florida | $44,131 | $29,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,546 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $38,499 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,320 |
| 51 | Georgia | $40,143 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,966 |
Highest paying states for health therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Health Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $81,098 |
| 2 | Washington | $71,048 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $69,744 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $73,276 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $63,498 |
| 6 | Colorado | $61,456 |
| 7 | Nevada | $64,043 |
| 8 | Idaho | $63,335 |
| 9 | Iowa | $60,577 |
| 10 | Utah | $63,989 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $66,763 |
| 12 | Michigan | $62,243 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $61,692 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $61,493 |
| 15 | Oregon | $63,420 |
| 16 | Indiana | $50,581 |
| 17 | Maine | $49,907 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $60,985 |
| 19 | Alaska | $63,320 |
| 20 | Kansas | $54,346 |
| 21 | Ohio | $50,090 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $58,538 |
| 23 | Delaware | $50,832 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $50,755 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $49,657 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $59,611 |
| 27 | New York | $54,383 |
| 28 | Virginia | $52,391 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $46,259 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $52,597 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $54,426 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,751 |
| 33 | Vermont | $47,951 |
| 34 | Maryland | $47,557 |
| 35 | Texas | $47,300 |
| 36 | Illinois | $51,538 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $44,514 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $50,064 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $43,793 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $40,789 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $42,059 |
| 42 | Alabama | $41,703 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $46,725 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $46,070 |
| 45 | Missouri | $40,270 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $44,904 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $33,797 |
| 48 | Arizona | $39,679 |
| 49 | Florida | $44,131 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $38,499 |
| 51 | Georgia | $40,143 |
Expert opinions on the best states for health therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for health therapists to find work opportunities?
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lynn University
The expected growth for mental health professionals (of all kinds) is promising in the United States. As national certifications and licensing rules continue to expand, with more legislative support and movement, one of the hopes of this profession is that counseling will no longer be location bound. Therefore, no matter where you are in the country, there will likely be good work opportunities upon graduation. Historically, of course, those living in more metropolitan or urban areas have more opportunities for employment in this field.
But many people who choose or must work in rural areas can be offered positions that sometimes involve stipends or higher salaries to help recruit and retain people in areas where counseling resources are less available. Another consideration, outside of population density, for future counselors to consider, is which state(s) they plan to seek licensure in. Some states have stronger licensing laws that make them better to practice in over others, including legislation that protects professional rights and client access to services.
Our program encourages counselors to do in-depth research on the places they intend to seek licensure to ensure a smooth transition to prosperous work opportunities in the field.
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Updated January 8, 2025