Best states for a prior authorization specialist

Q: What is the best state for prior authorization specialists?

The best state to be a prior authorization specialist is Massachusetts based on prior authorization specialist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for prior authorization specialists?

The highest paying state for prior authorization specialists is Louisiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for prior authorization specialists?

The worst state for prior authorization specialists is Utah, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for prior authorization specialists in the United States. Prior authorization specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for prior authorization specialists.In order to help you decide which state is the best for prior authorization specialists, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for prior authorization specialist jobs.

In order to get you the best states for prior authorization specialists, 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 prior authorization specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Framingham, MA is the best city in the country for prior authorization specialist jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.

10 best states for prior authorization specialists in 2025

1. Massachusetts
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 1,121
Average annual salary: $49,963
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Massachusetts
2. Vermont
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $41,333
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Vermont
3. Illinois
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 1,386
Average annual salary: $40,989
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Illinois
4. Connecticut
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 448
Average annual salary: $39,970
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Connecticut
5. Rhode Island
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 137
Average annual salary: $38,478
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Rhode Island
6. Maryland
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 639
Average annual salary: $43,606
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Maryland
7. Pennsylvania
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 1,318
Average annual salary: $36,800
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Pennsylvania
8. New Hampshire
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 229
Average annual salary: $36,208
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Prior authorization specialist jobs in New Hampshire
9. New York
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 1,361
Average annual salary: $40,836
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Prior authorization specialist jobs in New York
10. Maine
Total prior authorization specialist jobs: 272
Average annual salary: $34,789
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.89
Prior authorization specialist jobs in Maine

Prior authorization specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a prior authorization specialist

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

Detailed list of the best states for a prior authorization specialist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Massachusetts	$49,963	$37,000	6,859,819	1,121
2	Vermont	$41,333	$32,000	623,657	107
3	Illinois	$40,989	$30,000	12,802,023	1,386
4	Connecticut	$39,970	$28,000	3,588,184	448
5	Rhode Island	$38,478	$28,000	1,059,639	137
6	Maryland	$43,606	$31,000	6,052,177	639
7	Pennsylvania	$36,800	$26,000	12,805,537	1,318
8	New Hampshire	$36,208	$27,000	1,342,795	229
9	New York	$40,836	$29,000	19,849,399	1,361
10	Maine	$34,789	$27,000	1,335,907	272
11	New Jersey	$38,860	$27,000	9,005,644	918
12	West Virginia	$36,449	$26,000	1,815,857	163
13	Alaska	$35,730	$29,000	739,795	149
14	Michigan	$36,295	$26,000	9,962,311	836
15	Wisconsin	$35,164	$26,000	5,795,483	642
16	North Dakota	$34,452	$26,000	755,393	114
17	Minnesota	$39,140	$29,000	5,576,606	569
18	Ohio	$34,100	$25,000	11,658,609	956
19	Delaware	$35,522	$25,000	961,939	133
20	District of Columbia	$41,581	$29,000	693,972	107
21	Iowa	$31,784	$23,000	3,145,711	474
22	Washington	$33,272	$25,000	7,405,743	1,165
23	Mississippi	$34,765	$26,000	2,984,100	157
24	Arizona	$31,230	$23,000	7,016,270	882
25	Oregon	$32,391	$24,000	4,142,776	509
26	South Dakota	$31,105	$23,000	869,666	120
27	Kansas	$32,894	$24,000	2,913,123	267
28	Missouri	$33,081	$24,000	6,113,532	551
29	Nevada	$32,796	$24,000	2,998,039	195
30	California	$36,355	$26,000	39,536,653	2,600
31	Indiana	$30,793	$22,000	6,666,818	738
32	Wyoming	$29,989	$22,000	579,315	76
33	Nebraska	$30,475	$22,000	1,920,076	239
34	North Carolina	$31,479	$23,000	10,273,419	854
35	Hawaii	$28,685	$23,000	1,427,538	150
36	New Mexico	$31,220	$23,000	2,088,070	172
37	Arkansas	$28,107	$21,000	3,004,279	340
38	Idaho	$29,789	$22,000	1,716,943	187
39	Virginia	$32,378	$23,000	8,470,020	851
40	Florida	$28,930	$21,000	20,984,400	2,322
41	Texas	$30,106	$22,000	28,304,596	2,000
42	Georgia	$30,217	$22,000	10,429,379	1,032
43	Colorado	$30,603	$22,000	5,607,154	597
44	Kentucky	$28,502	$21,000	4,454,189	358
45	South Carolina	$29,555	$22,000	5,024,369	356
46	Alabama	$28,498	$21,000	4,874,747	400
47	Tennessee	$26,957	$20,000	6,715,984	627
48	Louisiana	$25,109	$18,000	4,684,333	387
49	Montana	$28,999	$21,000	1,050,493	100
50	Oklahoma	$25,560	$19,000	3,930,864	319
51	Utah	$26,754	$20,000	3,101,833	307

Highest paying states for prior authorization specialists

Rank	State	Avg. Prior Authorization Specialist Salary
1	Massachusetts	$49,963
2	Vermont	$41,333
3	Illinois	$40,989
4	Connecticut	$39,970
5	Rhode Island	$38,478
6	Maryland	$43,606
7	Pennsylvania	$36,800
8	New Hampshire	$36,208
9	New York	$40,836
10	Maine	$34,789
11	New Jersey	$38,860
12	West Virginia	$36,449
13	Alaska	$35,730
14	Michigan	$36,295
15	Wisconsin	$35,164
16	North Dakota	$34,452
17	Minnesota	$39,140
18	Ohio	$34,100
19	Delaware	$35,522
20	District of Columbia	$41,581
21	Iowa	$31,784
22	Washington	$33,272
23	Mississippi	$34,765
24	Arizona	$31,230
25	Oregon	$32,391
26	South Dakota	$31,105
27	Kansas	$32,894
28	Missouri	$33,081
29	Nevada	$32,796
30	California	$36,355
31	Indiana	$30,793
32	Wyoming	$29,989
33	Nebraska	$30,475
34	North Carolina	$31,479
35	Hawaii	$28,685
36	New Mexico	$31,220
37	Arkansas	$28,107
38	Idaho	$29,789
39	Virginia	$32,378
40	Florida	$28,930
41	Texas	$30,106
42	Georgia	$30,217
43	Colorado	$30,603
44	Kentucky	$28,502
45	South Carolina	$29,555
46	Alabama	$28,498
47	Tennessee	$26,957
48	Louisiana	$25,109
49	Montana	$28,999
50	Oklahoma	$25,560
51	Utah	$26,754

Prior authorization specialist best states FAQs

What is the best state for prior authorization specialists?

What is the highest paying state for prior authorization specialists?

What is the worst state for prior authorization specialists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

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Prior Authorization Specialist
Best states for Prior Authorization Specialists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total prior authorization specialist jobs:	1,121
Average annual salary:	$49,963
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$67,000
Location Quotient:	1.13

Best states for a prior authorization specialist

10 best states for prior authorization specialists in 2025

1. Massachusetts

2. Vermont

3. Illinois

4. Connecticut

5. Rhode Island

6. Maryland

7. Pennsylvania

8. New Hampshire

9. New York

10. Maine