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Best states for a rehabilitation therapist
Quoted expert
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a rehabilitation therapist and really want to work at Johns Hopkins Hospital? Turns out, your chances to become a rehabilitation therapist are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of rehabilitation therapists in America is $115,000.
The median salary for rehabilitation therapists in California is $91,672. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $45,165, which ranked worst for rehabilitation therapists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.California is the best state, and Long Branch is the city with the highest pay for rehabilitation therapists.
10 best states for rehabilitation therapists in 2026
1. California
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 4,286 Average annual salary: $91,672 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
2. New Jersey
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 955 Average annual salary: $93,209 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. North Dakota
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 154 Average annual salary: $69,426 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
4. Washington
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 1,016 Average annual salary: $75,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
5. Oregon
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 439 Average annual salary: $89,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Pennsylvania
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 1,342 Average annual salary: $74,530 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Maryland
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $77,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
8. Idaho
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $69,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Utah
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 238 Average annual salary: $72,535 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
10. Maine
Total rehabilitation therapist jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $60,777 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Rehabilitation therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a rehabilitation therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a rehabilitation therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $91,672 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,286 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $93,209 | $51,000 | 9,005,644 | 955 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $69,426 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 154 |
| 4 | Washington | $75,673 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,016 |
| 5 | Oregon | $89,323 | $52,000 | 4,142,776 | 439 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $74,530 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,342 |
| 7 | Maryland | $77,340 | $41,000 | 6,052,177 | 760 |
| 8 | Idaho | $69,339 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 184 |
| 9 | Utah | $72,535 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 238 |
| 10 | Maine | $60,777 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 191 |
| 11 | Alaska | $86,090 | $69,000 | 739,795 | 56 |
| 12 | New York | $71,422 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,276 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $76,369 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 110 |
| 14 | Texas | $61,056 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,734 |
| 15 | Ohio | $61,578 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,087 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $66,754 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 64 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $70,211 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 425 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $62,462 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 76 |
| 19 | Michigan | $59,099 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 855 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $63,760 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 118 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $65,461 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 47 |
| 22 | Virginia | $61,109 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,112 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $55,093 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 313 |
| 24 | Arizona | $62,756 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 327 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $54,244 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 359 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $61,106 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 150 |
| 27 | Montana | $54,033 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 163 |
| 28 | Delaware | $58,588 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 157 |
| 29 | Nevada | $58,606 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 192 |
| 30 | Alabama | $54,078 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 532 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $51,688 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 134 |
| 32 | Vermont | $58,968 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 58 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $52,906 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 612 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $54,301 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 390 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $56,437 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 519 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $53,265 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 88 |
| 37 | Missouri | $51,672 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 789 |
| 38 | Illinois | $52,906 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,528 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $56,078 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 79 |
| 40 | Colorado | $50,045 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 861 |
| 41 | Georgia | $50,229 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,411 |
| 42 | Iowa | $50,070 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 474 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $47,388 | $26,000 | 5,795,483 | 827 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $52,346 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 38 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $48,939 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 683 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | $57,176 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 103 |
| 47 | Indiana | $46,614 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 924 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $50,976 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 974 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $47,421 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 399 |
| 50 | Kansas | $46,589 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 384 |
| 51 | Florida | $45,165 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 639 |
Highest paying states for rehabilitation therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Rehabilitation Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $91,672 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $93,209 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $69,426 |
| 4 | Washington | $75,673 |
| 5 | Oregon | $89,323 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $74,530 |
| 7 | Maryland | $77,340 |
| 8 | Idaho | $69,339 |
| 9 | Utah | $72,535 |
| 10 | Maine | $60,777 |
| 11 | Alaska | $86,090 |
| 12 | New York | $71,422 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $76,369 |
| 14 | Texas | $61,056 |
| 15 | Ohio | $61,578 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $66,754 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $70,211 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $62,462 |
| 19 | Michigan | $59,099 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $63,760 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $65,461 |
| 22 | Virginia | $61,109 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $55,093 |
| 24 | Arizona | $62,756 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $54,244 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $61,106 |
| 27 | Montana | $54,033 |
| 28 | Delaware | $58,588 |
| 29 | Nevada | $58,606 |
| 30 | Alabama | $54,078 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $51,688 |
| 32 | Vermont | $58,968 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $52,906 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $54,301 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $56,437 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $53,265 |
| 37 | Missouri | $51,672 |
| 38 | Illinois | $52,906 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $56,078 |
| 40 | Colorado | $50,045 |
| 41 | Georgia | $50,229 |
| 42 | Iowa | $50,070 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $47,388 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $52,346 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $48,939 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | $57,176 |
| 47 | Indiana | $46,614 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $50,976 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $47,421 |
| 50 | Kansas | $46,589 |
| 51 | Florida | $45,165 |
Expert opinions on the best states for rehabilitation therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for rehabilitation therapists to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, Agnes Scott College
Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.
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Updated January 8, 2025