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Best states for a thoracic surgeon
Quoted expert
Rajesh Balkrishnan Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for thoracic surgeons? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for thoracic surgeon jobs.We wanted to look at the best states for thoracic surgeons -- where there are plenty of thoracic surgeon jobs to go around and thoracic surgeons get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for thoracic surgeons, 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 West is best for thoracic surgeons, and the Midwest is the worst. Minneapolis, MN is the best city in the country for thoracic surgeon jobs, where as North Dakota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for thoracic surgeons in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $222,605 Lowest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $295,000 Location Quotient: 2
2. Wisconsin
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $222,703 Lowest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $295,000 Location Quotient: 2.4
3. Maine
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $224,841 Lowest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $294,000 Location Quotient: 3.74
4. Indiana
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $222,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $294,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
5. Minnesota
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $226,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $172,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $296,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Alaska
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $222,494 Lowest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $296,000 Location Quotient: 2.38
7. Michigan
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $218,965 Lowest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $293,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
8. Kentucky
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $220,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $293,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
9. Pennsylvania
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $217,541 Lowest 10 percent earn: $162,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $291,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
10. New Hampshire
Total thoracic surgeon jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $221,970 Lowest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $293,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
Thoracic surgeon jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a thoracic surgeon
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a thoracic surgeon
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $222,605 | $167,000 | 755,393 | 15 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $222,703 | $168,000 | 5,795,483 | 107 |
| 3 | Maine | $224,841 | $171,000 | 1,335,907 | 40 |
| 4 | Indiana | $222,438 | $167,000 | 6,666,818 | 68 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $226,526 | $172,000 | 5,576,606 | 61 |
| 6 | Alaska | $222,494 | $166,000 | 739,795 | 16 |
| 7 | Michigan | $218,965 | $163,000 | 9,962,311 | 67 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $220,381 | $165,000 | 4,454,189 | 29 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $217,541 | $162,000 | 12,805,537 | 136 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $221,970 | $167,000 | 1,342,795 | 16 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $215,750 | $159,000 | 1,920,076 | 19 |
| 12 | Washington | $217,497 | $161,000 | 7,405,743 | 91 |
| 13 | Montana | $221,977 | $166,000 | 1,050,493 | 6 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $212,658 | $156,000 | 6,715,984 | 48 |
| 15 | Kansas | $217,634 | $161,000 | 2,913,123 | 17 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $213,034 | $156,000 | 1,815,857 | 12 |
| 17 | Vermont | $214,237 | $158,000 | 623,657 | 16 |
| 18 | Illinois | $217,736 | $162,000 | 12,802,023 | 93 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $216,871 | $161,000 | 3,588,184 | 29 |
| 20 | Alabama | $215,158 | $159,000 | 4,874,747 | 23 |
| 21 | Idaho | $214,076 | $157,000 | 1,716,943 | 11 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $209,321 | $151,000 | 869,666 | 9 |
| 23 | Delaware | $217,611 | $162,000 | 961,939 | 8 |
| 24 | Iowa | $212,960 | $156,000 | 3,145,711 | 20 |
| 25 | Georgia | $213,086 | $157,000 | 10,429,379 | 74 |
| 26 | Maryland | $219,169 | $164,000 | 6,052,177 | 36 |
| 27 | Texas | $212,147 | $156,000 | 28,304,596 | 149 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $216,780 | $161,000 | 9,005,644 | 48 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $212,525 | $156,000 | 4,684,333 | 17 |
| 30 | Ohio | $210,248 | $153,000 | 11,658,609 | 47 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $211,682 | $155,000 | 3,930,864 | 16 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $204,939 | $147,000 | 2,088,070 | 22 |
| 33 | New York | $207,389 | $150,000 | 19,849,399 | 171 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $207,579 | $150,000 | 2,984,100 | 14 |
| 35 | Oregon | $206,338 | $148,000 | 4,142,776 | 46 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $203,763 | $145,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $209,522 | $152,000 | 6,859,819 | 75 |
| 38 | Florida | $203,693 | $146,000 | 20,984,400 | 154 |
| 39 | Colorado | $212,012 | $155,000 | 5,607,154 | 19 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $196,140 | $138,000 | 10,273,419 | 104 |
| 41 | Utah | $207,541 | $149,000 | 3,101,833 | 11 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $207,560 | $150,000 | 5,024,369 | 16 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $194,861 | $136,000 | 3,004,279 | 21 |
| 44 | Arizona | $205,349 | $148,000 | 7,016,270 | 38 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | $207,946 | $151,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 46 | Nevada | $192,016 | $133,000 | 2,998,039 | 20 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $142,680 | $82,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 48 | Missouri | $201,966 | $143,000 | 6,113,532 | 27 |
| 49 | Virginia | $205,654 | $148,000 | 8,470,020 | 41 |
| 50 | California | $195,935 | $137,000 | 39,536,653 | 164 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $202,217 | $144,000 | 693,972 | 1 |
Highest paying states for thoracic surgeons
| Rank | State | Avg. Thoracic Surgeon Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $222,605 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $222,703 |
| 3 | Maine | $224,841 |
| 4 | Indiana | $222,438 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $226,526 |
| 6 | Alaska | $222,494 |
| 7 | Michigan | $218,965 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $220,381 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $217,541 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $221,970 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $215,750 |
| 12 | Washington | $217,497 |
| 13 | Montana | $221,977 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $212,658 |
| 15 | Kansas | $217,634 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $213,034 |
| 17 | Vermont | $214,237 |
| 18 | Illinois | $217,736 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $216,871 |
| 20 | Alabama | $215,158 |
| 21 | Idaho | $214,076 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $209,321 |
| 23 | Delaware | $217,611 |
| 24 | Iowa | $212,960 |
| 25 | Georgia | $213,086 |
| 26 | Maryland | $219,169 |
| 27 | Texas | $212,147 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $216,780 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $212,525 |
| 30 | Ohio | $210,248 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $211,682 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $204,939 |
| 33 | New York | $207,389 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $207,579 |
| 35 | Oregon | $206,338 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $203,763 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $209,522 |
| 38 | Florida | $203,693 |
| 39 | Colorado | $212,012 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $196,140 |
| 41 | Utah | $207,541 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $207,560 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $194,861 |
| 44 | Arizona | $205,349 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | $207,946 |
| 46 | Nevada | $192,016 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $142,680 |
| 48 | Missouri | $201,966 |
| 49 | Virginia | $205,654 |
| 50 | California | $195,935 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $202,217 |
Expert opinions on the best states for thoracic surgeons
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for thoracic surgeons to find work opportunities?
Rajesh Balkrishnan Ph.D.
Professor of Public Health Sciences, Clinical Professor, University of Virginia
Areas close to IT Hubs or where there are many new startups (For example, Northern Virginia or Bay Area)
Areas where health care technology industry is growing (Boston, NJ)
Thoracic surgeon best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025