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Best states for a primary therapist
Quoted expert
Ali Cunningham Abbott Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a primary therapist at Jersey City Medical Center, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for primary therapists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. We wanted to look at the best states for primary therapists -- where there are plenty of primary therapist jobs to go around and primary therapists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
California is the best state for jobs for primary therapists, and Rhode Island is the worst. The most common pay in California is $80,266, while the median pay in Rhode Island is $28,566.We found that the Northeast is best for primary therapists, and the West is the worst. Thousand Oaks, CA is the best city in the country for primary therapist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for primary therapists in 2025
1. California
Total primary therapist jobs: 6,624 Average annual salary: $80,266 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.252. North Dakota
Total primary therapist jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $61,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.383. Washington
Total primary therapist jobs: 1,579 Average annual salary: $65,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.24. Nevada
Total primary therapist jobs: 384 Average annual salary: $76,865 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.025. Oregon
Total primary therapist jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $66,177 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.026. Montana
Total primary therapist jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $55,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.327. Colorado
Total primary therapist jobs: 1,272 Average annual salary: $57,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.188. Idaho
Total primary therapist jobs: 303 Average annual salary: $57,550 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.029. New Mexico
Total primary therapist jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $66,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.5810. Illinois
Total primary therapist jobs: 2,418 Average annual salary: $55,648 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
Primary therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a primary therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a primary therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,266 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,624 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $61,344 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 232 |
| 3 | Washington | $65,734 | $44,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,579 |
| 4 | Nevada | $76,865 | $50,000 | 2,998,039 | 384 |
| 5 | Oregon | $66,177 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 760 |
| 6 | Montana | $55,001 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 276 |
| 7 | Colorado | $57,992 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,272 |
| 8 | Idaho | $57,550 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 303 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $66,219 | $44,000 | 2,088,070 | 204 |
| 10 | Illinois | $55,648 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,418 |
| 11 | Alaska | $68,818 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 122 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,873 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,114 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,328 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 638 |
| 14 | Texas | $53,610 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,557 |
| 15 | Indiana | $47,671 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,493 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $51,269 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,653 |
| 17 | Missouri | $50,566 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,168 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $47,986 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,719 |
| 19 | Kansas | $49,715 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 577 |
| 20 | Utah | $52,964 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 391 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,742 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 84 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $49,143 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 549 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $53,193 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 33 |
| 24 | Iowa | $47,780 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 660 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $45,298 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 513 |
| 26 | Virginia | $49,767 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,486 |
| 27 | Michigan | $43,333 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,436 |
| 28 | Delaware | $44,496 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 231 |
| 29 | New York | $40,266 | $18,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,645 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $53,283 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 162 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $58,978 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 93 |
| 32 | Maryland | $41,782 | $22,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,324 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $45,625 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 898 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,701 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 258 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,719 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 886 |
| 36 | Alabama | $45,656 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 666 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,578 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 609 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $43,799 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 943 |
| 39 | Maine | $29,861 | $12,000 | 1,335,907 | 459 |
| 40 | Georgia | $41,416 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,181 |
| 41 | Ohio | $41,331 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,643 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $35,307 | $15,000 | 3,588,184 | 382 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $33,188 | $16,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,356 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $24,240 | $10,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,341 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $43,298 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 158 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $35,385 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 470 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $34,700 | $14,000 | 1,342,795 | 126 |
| 48 | Florida | $43,187 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,272 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $39,030 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 67 |
| 50 | Vermont | $31,801 | $13,000 | 623,657 | 59 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $28,566 | $12,000 | 1,059,639 | 128 |
Highest paying states for primary therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Primary Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,266 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $61,344 |
| 3 | Washington | $65,734 |
| 4 | Nevada | $76,865 |
| 5 | Oregon | $66,177 |
| 6 | Montana | $55,001 |
| 7 | Colorado | $57,992 |
| 8 | Idaho | $57,550 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $66,219 |
| 10 | Illinois | $55,648 |
| 11 | Alaska | $68,818 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,873 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $54,328 |
| 14 | Texas | $53,610 |
| 15 | Indiana | $47,671 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $51,269 |
| 17 | Missouri | $50,566 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $47,986 |
| 19 | Kansas | $49,715 |
| 20 | Utah | $52,964 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $52,742 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $49,143 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $53,193 |
| 24 | Iowa | $47,780 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $45,298 |
| 26 | Virginia | $49,767 |
| 27 | Michigan | $43,333 |
| 28 | Delaware | $44,496 |
| 29 | New York | $40,266 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $53,283 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $58,978 |
| 32 | Maryland | $41,782 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $45,625 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $48,701 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $43,719 |
| 36 | Alabama | $45,656 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,578 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $43,799 |
| 39 | Maine | $29,861 |
| 40 | Georgia | $41,416 |
| 41 | Ohio | $41,331 |
| 42 | Connecticut | $35,307 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $33,188 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $24,240 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $43,298 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $35,385 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | $34,700 |
| 48 | Florida | $43,187 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $39,030 |
| 50 | Vermont | $31,801 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $28,566 |
Expert opinions on the best states for primary therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for primary 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