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Best states for a mental health specialist
Quoted expert
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
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Are you thinking of becoming a mental health specialist and really want to work at Allendale Association? Turns out, your chances to become a mental health specialist are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that California is the best state for mental health specialists in America. The best city in America for mental health specialists with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
California is the best state for jobs for mental health specialists, and Georgia is the worst. The most common pay in California is $71,693, while the median pay in Georgia is $36,553.If you are currently seeking employment as a mental health specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for mental health specialists in 2026
1. California
Total mental health specialist jobs: 5,911 Average annual salary: $71,693 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. Alaska
Total mental health specialist jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $64,875 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
3. Iowa
Total mental health specialist jobs: 777 Average annual salary: $53,330 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
4. Hawaii
Total mental health specialist jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $62,867 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
5. Nevada
Total mental health specialist jobs: 346 Average annual salary: $59,048 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
6. Utah
Total mental health specialist jobs: 510 Average annual salary: $58,584 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
7. Washington
Total mental health specialist jobs: 1,228 Average annual salary: $57,591 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
8. North Carolina
Total mental health specialist jobs: 1,823 Average annual salary: $52,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
9. Arizona
Total mental health specialist jobs: 1,295 Average annual salary: $50,121 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
10. New York
Total mental health specialist jobs: 2,085 Average annual salary: $57,146 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
Mental health specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mental health specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mental health specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $71,693 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,911 |
| 2 | Alaska | $64,875 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 175 |
| 3 | Iowa | $53,330 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 777 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $62,867 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 210 |
| 5 | Nevada | $59,048 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 346 |
| 6 | Utah | $58,584 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 510 |
| 7 | Washington | $57,591 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,228 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $52,722 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,823 |
| 9 | Arizona | $50,121 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,295 |
| 10 | New York | $57,146 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,085 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $51,876 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 161 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,304 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 257 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $50,120 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,513 |
| 14 | Idaho | $48,865 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 357 |
| 15 | Maine | $47,539 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 359 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $57,600 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 457 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $58,093 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 275 |
| 18 | Vermont | $49,011 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 165 |
| 19 | Oregon | $54,287 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 588 |
| 20 | Delaware | $51,851 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 197 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $49,073 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 167 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $54,011 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 961 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $45,636 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 111 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $46,897 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 206 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $45,143 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 370 |
| 26 | Michigan | $42,804 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,904 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $47,645 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 250 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,116 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,283 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $42,337 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,448 |
| 30 | Indiana | $40,547 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,584 |
| 31 | Kansas | $43,571 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 465 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,416 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 167 |
| 33 | Colorado | $43,749 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,000 |
| 34 | Ohio | $39,312 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,140 |
| 35 | Florida | $45,002 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,963 |
| 36 | Alabama | $41,782 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 706 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,950 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,577 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,410 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $40,290 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 992 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,796 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,198 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $38,624 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 642 |
| 42 | Illinois | $43,520 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,331 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $38,873 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 643 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $38,259 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 678 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $40,940 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 125 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $31,074 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 592 |
| 47 | Virginia | $39,737 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,538 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $32,967 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 425 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $38,520 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 541 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $37,170 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 587 |
| 51 | Georgia | $36,553 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,142 |
Highest paying states for mental health specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Mental Health Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $71,693 |
| 2 | Alaska | $64,875 |
| 3 | Iowa | $53,330 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $62,867 |
| 5 | Nevada | $59,048 |
| 6 | Utah | $58,584 |
| 7 | Washington | $57,591 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $52,722 |
| 9 | Arizona | $50,121 |
| 10 | New York | $57,146 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $51,876 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,304 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $50,120 |
| 14 | Idaho | $48,865 |
| 15 | Maine | $47,539 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $57,600 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $58,093 |
| 18 | Vermont | $49,011 |
| 19 | Oregon | $54,287 |
| 20 | Delaware | $51,851 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $49,073 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $54,011 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $45,636 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $46,897 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $45,143 |
| 26 | Michigan | $42,804 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $47,645 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,116 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $42,337 |
| 30 | Indiana | $40,547 |
| 31 | Kansas | $43,571 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,416 |
| 33 | Colorado | $43,749 |
| 34 | Ohio | $39,312 |
| 35 | Florida | $45,002 |
| 36 | Alabama | $41,782 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,577 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $40,290 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,796 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $38,624 |
| 42 | Illinois | $43,520 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $38,873 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $38,259 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $40,940 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $31,074 |
| 47 | Virginia | $39,737 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $32,967 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $38,520 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $37,170 |
| 51 | Georgia | $36,553 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mental health specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mental health specialists to find work opportunities?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Oberlin College
One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
Mental health specialist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025