Best states for a senior therapist

Q: What is the best state for senior therapists?

The best state to be a senior therapist is Pennsylvania based on senior therapist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for senior therapists?

The highest paying state for senior therapists is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for senior therapists?

The worst state for senior therapists is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.

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It seems like senior therapists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for senior therapists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for senior therapists -- where there are plenty of senior therapist jobs to go around and senior therapists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

The median salary for senior therapists in Pennsylvania is $79,361. Compare that to the median salary in South Carolina of $43,325, which ranked worst for senior therapists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Pennsylvania is the best state, and Scranton is the city with the highest pay for senior therapists.

10 best states for senior therapists in 2025

1. Pennsylvania
Total senior therapist jobs: 1,497
Average annual salary: $79,361
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Senior therapist jobs in Pennsylvania
2. Texas
Total senior therapist jobs: 3,136
Average annual salary: $66,251
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Senior therapist jobs in Texas
3. New Jersey
Total senior therapist jobs: 1,067
Average annual salary: $72,966
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Senior therapist jobs in New Jersey
4. North Dakota
Total senior therapist jobs: 184
Average annual salary: $59,342
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.73
Senior therapist jobs in North Dakota
5. Rhode Island
Total senior therapist jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $69,009
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Senior therapist jobs in Rhode Island
6. Alabama
Total senior therapist jobs: 526
Average annual salary: $64,263
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Senior therapist jobs in Alabama
7. Virginia
Total senior therapist jobs: 1,150
Average annual salary: $67,226
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Senior therapist jobs in Virginia
8. New York
Total senior therapist jobs: 1,502
Average annual salary: $68,854
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Senior therapist jobs in New York
9. Maryland
Total senior therapist jobs: 801
Average annual salary: $67,149
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Senior therapist jobs in Maryland
10. Minnesota
Total senior therapist jobs: 584
Average annual salary: $65,688
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Senior therapist jobs in Minnesota

Senior therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior therapist

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

Detailed list of the best states for a senior therapist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Pennsylvania	$79,361	$52,000	12,805,537	1,497
2	Texas	$66,251	$45,000	28,304,596	3,136
3	New Jersey	$72,966	$48,000	9,005,644	1,067
4	North Dakota	$59,342	$45,000	755,393	184
5	Rhode Island	$69,009	$45,000	1,059,639	76
6	Alabama	$64,263	$44,000	4,874,747	526
7	Virginia	$67,226	$44,000	8,470,020	1,150
8	New York	$68,854	$45,000	19,849,399	1,502
9	Maryland	$67,149	$44,000	6,052,177	801
10	Minnesota	$65,688	$48,000	5,576,606	584
11	Illinois	$62,885	$43,000	12,802,023	1,598
12	West Virginia	$66,194	$44,000	1,815,857	75
13	Maine	$59,743	$38,000	1,335,907	191
14	Kentucky	$60,401	$41,000	4,454,189	456
15	Wisconsin	$58,574	$41,000	5,795,483	686
16	Indiana	$55,800	$38,000	6,666,818	1,057
17	Michigan	$60,105	$40,000	9,962,311	901
18	Alaska	$65,681	$58,000	739,795	69
19	Kansas	$54,700	$39,000	2,913,123	465
20	Georgia	$56,853	$38,000	10,429,379	1,442
21	District of Columbia	$67,009	$44,000	693,972	102
22	Delaware	$59,080	$39,000	961,939	155
23	Iowa	$54,393	$38,000	3,145,711	494
24	Wyoming	$57,545	$43,000	579,315	32
25	Ohio	$54,157	$36,000	11,658,609	1,308
26	Washington	$55,750	$41,000	7,405,743	1,037
27	Connecticut	$62,034	$41,000	3,588,184	74
28	Nebraska	$52,027	$38,000	1,920,076	385
29	Oregon	$57,101	$41,000	4,142,776	504
30	North Carolina	$54,034	$36,000	10,273,419	1,197
31	Massachusetts	$60,464	$39,000	6,859,819	308
32	Vermont	$57,736	$37,000	623,657	57
33	New Hampshire	$58,182	$38,000	1,342,795	45
34	Colorado	$54,133	$40,000	5,607,154	799
35	Oklahoma	$51,682	$36,000	3,930,864	449
36	Idaho	$54,371	$40,000	1,716,943	194
37	California	$56,231	$37,000	39,536,653	3,877
38	Tennessee	$49,022	$34,000	6,715,984	791
39	Mississippi	$52,755	$36,000	2,984,100	71
40	Montana	$45,807	$34,000	1,050,493	174
41	Arkansas	$47,744	$33,000	3,004,279	320
42	Louisiana	$50,940	$34,000	4,684,333	141
43	Utah	$50,202	$36,000	3,101,833	280
44	Missouri	$43,500	$31,000	6,113,532	887
45	Nevada	$49,274	$33,000	2,998,039	239
46	Florida	$49,841	$33,000	20,984,400	523
47	South Dakota	$44,477	$33,000	869,666	83
48	Arizona	$48,567	$33,000	7,016,270	273
49	New Mexico	$46,558	$32,000	2,088,070	137
50	Hawaii	$45,665	$37,000	1,427,538	33
51	South Carolina	$43,325	$29,000	5,024,369	188

Highest paying states for senior therapists

Rank	State	Avg. Senior Therapist Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$79,361
2	Texas	$66,251
3	New Jersey	$72,966
4	North Dakota	$59,342
5	Rhode Island	$69,009
6	Alabama	$64,263
7	Virginia	$67,226
8	New York	$68,854
9	Maryland	$67,149
10	Minnesota	$65,688
11	Illinois	$62,885
12	West Virginia	$66,194
13	Maine	$59,743
14	Kentucky	$60,401
15	Wisconsin	$58,574
16	Indiana	$55,800
17	Michigan	$60,105
18	Alaska	$65,681
19	Kansas	$54,700
20	Georgia	$56,853
21	District of Columbia	$67,009
22	Delaware	$59,080
23	Iowa	$54,393
24	Wyoming	$57,545
25	Ohio	$54,157
26	Washington	$55,750
27	Connecticut	$62,034
28	Nebraska	$52,027
29	Oregon	$57,101
30	North Carolina	$54,034
31	Massachusetts	$60,464
32	Vermont	$57,736
33	New Hampshire	$58,182
34	Colorado	$54,133
35	Oklahoma	$51,682
36	Idaho	$54,371
37	California	$56,231
38	Tennessee	$49,022
39	Mississippi	$52,755
40	Montana	$45,807
41	Arkansas	$47,744
42	Louisiana	$50,940
43	Utah	$50,202
44	Missouri	$43,500
45	Nevada	$49,274
46	Florida	$49,841
47	South Dakota	$44,477
48	Arizona	$48,567
49	New Mexico	$46,558
50	Hawaii	$45,665
51	South Carolina	$43,325

Expert opinions on the best states for senior therapists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior 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.

Senior therapist best states FAQs

What is the best state for senior therapists?

What is the highest paying state for senior therapists?

What is the worst state for senior therapists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for senior therapist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total senior therapist jobs:	1,497
Average annual salary:	$79,361
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$52,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$120,000
Location Quotient:	1.13

Best states for a senior therapist

10 best states for senior therapists in 2025

1. Pennsylvania

2. Texas

3. New Jersey

4. North Dakota

5. Rhode Island

6. Alabama

7. Virginia

8. New York

9. Maryland

10. Minnesota