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Best states for a youth care specialist
Quoted expert
Dr. Kathy McDonald Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a youth care specialist at Great Circle, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for youth care specialists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research shows that Maryland is the best state in the country for youth care specialists.
We figured that the best places for youth care specialist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the Midwest is best for youth care specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Annapolis, MD is the best city in the country for youth care specialist jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.
10 best states for youth care specialists in 2026
1. Maryland
Total youth care specialist jobs: 1,534 Average annual salary: $54,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
2. Delaware
Total youth care specialist jobs: 300 Average annual salary: $48,399 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Nevada
Total youth care specialist jobs: 545 Average annual salary: $43,468 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
4. New Mexico
Total youth care specialist jobs: 437 Average annual salary: $45,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
5. Hawaii
Total youth care specialist jobs: 237 Average annual salary: $47,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
6. Arizona
Total youth care specialist jobs: 1,641 Average annual salary: $41,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
7. New York
Total youth care specialist jobs: 2,331 Average annual salary: $51,662 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. Mississippi
Total youth care specialist jobs: 509 Average annual salary: $40,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
9. Illinois
Total youth care specialist jobs: 3,019 Average annual salary: $40,694 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
10. District of Columbia
Total youth care specialist jobs: 299 Average annual salary: $53,369 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
Youth care specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth care specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a youth care specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $54,563 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,534 |
| 2 | Delaware | $48,399 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 300 |
| 3 | Nevada | $43,468 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 545 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $45,943 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 437 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $47,852 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 237 |
| 6 | Arizona | $41,457 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,641 |
| 7 | New York | $51,662 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,331 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $40,003 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 509 |
| 9 | Illinois | $40,694 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,019 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $53,369 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 299 |
| 11 | California | $47,236 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,392 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $40,745 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,249 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $45,030 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,723 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $46,218 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 443 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $37,809 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 228 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $46,499 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,068 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $38,489 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,192 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,378 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 371 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $40,926 | $25,000 | 1,059,639 | 243 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $37,015 | $22,000 | 1,815,857 | 355 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $37,836 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,460 |
| 22 | Virginia | $42,053 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,978 |
| 23 | Michigan | $34,698 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,141 |
| 24 | Maine | $34,072 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 413 |
| 25 | Ohio | $36,229 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,346 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $35,251 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 721 |
| 27 | Texas | $40,070 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,416 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $33,953 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,605 |
| 29 | Colorado | $36,982 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,205 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $35,044 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 719 |
| 31 | Oregon | $35,386 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 918 |
| 32 | Florida | $37,273 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,241 |
| 33 | Montana | $29,025 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 366 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $34,998 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 882 |
| 35 | Utah | $34,226 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 591 |
| 36 | Missouri | $31,583 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,412 |
| 37 | Iowa | $29,632 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 932 |
| 38 | Vermont | $30,660 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 180 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $34,016 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 615 |
| 40 | Washington | $32,355 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,548 |
| 41 | Kansas | $33,033 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 556 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $33,285 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 336 |
| 43 | Georgia | $33,076 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,190 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $31,111 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 122 |
| 45 | Alaska | $27,241 | $24,000 | 739,795 | 192 |
| 46 | Alabama | $32,606 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 774 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $31,981 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 732 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,434 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 252 |
| 49 | Indiana | $32,181 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 785 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $28,613 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 520 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,900 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 343 |
Highest paying states for youth care specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Youth Care Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $54,563 |
| 2 | Delaware | $48,399 |
| 3 | Nevada | $43,468 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $45,943 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $47,852 |
| 6 | Arizona | $41,457 |
| 7 | New York | $51,662 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $40,003 |
| 9 | Illinois | $40,694 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $53,369 |
| 11 | California | $47,236 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $40,745 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $45,030 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $46,218 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $37,809 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $46,499 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $38,489 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,378 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $40,926 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $37,015 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $37,836 |
| 22 | Virginia | $42,053 |
| 23 | Michigan | $34,698 |
| 24 | Maine | $34,072 |
| 25 | Ohio | $36,229 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $35,251 |
| 27 | Texas | $40,070 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $33,953 |
| 29 | Colorado | $36,982 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $35,044 |
| 31 | Oregon | $35,386 |
| 32 | Florida | $37,273 |
| 33 | Montana | $29,025 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $34,998 |
| 35 | Utah | $34,226 |
| 36 | Missouri | $31,583 |
| 37 | Iowa | $29,632 |
| 38 | Vermont | $30,660 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $34,016 |
| 40 | Washington | $32,355 |
| 41 | Kansas | $33,033 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $33,285 |
| 43 | Georgia | $33,076 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $31,111 |
| 45 | Alaska | $27,241 |
| 46 | Alabama | $32,606 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $31,981 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $27,434 |
| 49 | Indiana | $32,181 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $28,613 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,900 |
Expert opinions on the best states for youth care specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth care specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Kathy McDonald Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School Counseling Coordinator, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Ours is a fully online program that draws students from across the United States and a few foreign countries. Although not all United States areas have a shortage of applicants, the need in many locations is apparent. Some students get hired before they complete the program. Others enter the program working as school counselors but need the degree to keep the position. Regardless of the area, whether there is a shortage of applicants or competition for jobs, well-trained and dedicated individuals are needed to serve students.
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Updated January 8, 2025