The Best and Worst States for General Dentist Pay

There were approximately 110,000 general dentists working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports.  Most general dentists work in dental offices, but smaller numbers work in physician offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals and with state government entities. Like many other trained healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills, general dentists earn salaries and wages in excess of that earned by workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for general dentists was $178,260 annually, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  Pay for the profession varies widely from state-to-state, with general dentists in some states making double what their counterparts earn elsewhere. As of May 2019, according to BLS data the ten states with the best annual mean salary and wages for general dentists were:

Rhode Island	$262,900
Vermont	$261,790
Alaska	$239,930
North Dakota	$225,770
Maine	$220,400
Michigan	$216,310
New Hampshire	$215,600
Minnesota	$213,210
Wisconsin	$207,350
Nevada	$204,240

At the other end of the spectrum, here were the bottom ten states for general dentist pay:

Alabama	$157,040
California	$155,670
Louisiana	$155,350
Mississippi	$153,220
Montana	$150,170
Nebraska	$138,250
Utah	$134,730
Kentucky	$129,310
Wyoming	$127,990
West Virginia	$126,880

So where does your state rank for General Dentist pay?

Check out General Dentist Average Wages by State for more information.

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, close to 600 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care to patients.  In this analysis, hospitals were measured on various metrics related to their patient experience and outcomes, the size and scale of their adult cardiology programs, and the level of distinction they have earned within the adult cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, five are based in the Great Plains region, including the second highest rated cardiology care hospital in the country. Here's a quick rundown of the five Great Plains region medical institutions that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally for adult cardiology care:

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

Mayo Clinic

Location:  Rochester, MN

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #2

St. Luke's Hospital Kansas City

Location:  Kansas City, MO

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #22

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Location:  St. Louis, MO

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #32

Centracare St. Cloud Hospital

Location:  St. Cloud, MN

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #41

Minneapolis Heart Institute

Location: Minneapolis, MN

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #42

For a closer look at the metrics used to grade adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology care rating of other Great Plains region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

The Best and Worst States for EMT and Paramedic Pay

There were approximately 260,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  EMTs and paramedics work in varied settings, including for ambulatory healthcare service providers, hospitals, physician offices, and outpatient care centers. Unlike many other trained healthcare professionals, EMTs and paramedics earn lower salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations.  Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for EMTs and paramedics was $38,830 annually, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  Pay for the profession varies widely from state-to-state, with EMTs and paramedics in some states making 30% or more annually than their counterparts elsewhere. As of May 2019, according to BLS data the ten states with the best annual mean salary and wages for EMTs and paramedics were:

Hawaii	$56,610
Washington	$56,140
Maryland	$50,750
Alaska	$50,640
Connecticut	$46,510
New York	$44,920
Massachusetts	$44,140
California	$43,680
Minnesota	$43,620
Illinois	$43,310

At the other end of the table, here were the bottom ten states for emergency medical technician and paramedic pay:

Pennsylvania	$34,310
Ohio	$34,020
Michigan	$33,760
South Dakota	$32,620
Mississippi	$32,480
Montana	$32,050
Kentucky	$31,250
Kansas	$30,890
Alabama	$30,240
West Virginia	$29,920

So where does your state rank for EMT and paramedic pay?

Check out EMT and Paramedic Average Wages by State for more information.

The Best and Worst States for Registered Nurse Pay

There were approximately 2,982,000 registered nurses (RNs) working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  RNs work in varied healthcare settings, including hospitals, physician offices, home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient care centers. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced training and skills, registered nurses usually earn higher salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations.  Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for registered nurses was $77,460 per year, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  While RNs realize better than average pay, there is much variation from state-to-state in how much registered nurses earn.  Per BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten states where RNs attain the highest average pay:

California	$113,240
Hawaii	$104,060
Massachusetts	$93,160
Oregon	$92,960
Alaska	$90,500
Nevada	$88,380
New York	$87,840
Washington	$86,170
New Jersey	$84,280
Connecticut	$83,440

At the other end of the table, here were the bottom ten states for RN pay:

Missouri	$64,160
Kentucky	$63,750
West Virginia	$63,220
Tennessee	$62,570
Kansas	$62,450
Arkansas	$61,330
Iowa	$60,590
Alabama	$60,230
Mississippi	$59,750
South Dakota	$59,540

So where does your state rank for registered nurse pay?

Visit Registered Nurse Average Wages by State for more information.

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southwest

Almost 900 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals.  This study scored hospitals on various metrics related to the outcomes and experience of their adult cancer patients, the scale and scope of their cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they have earned within the broader adult cancer care community.  Five Southwestern hospitals ranked in the top 50 nationally for adult cancer care, including the nation's top ranked cancer hospital, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Here's a brief rundown of these five Southwestern medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southwest

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Location:  Houston
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #1

Houston Methodist Hospital
Location:  Houston
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #17

Mayo Clinic Arizona Campus

Location:  Phoenix
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #23

Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Location:  Houston
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #27

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Location:  Dallas
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #32

For a closer look into the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Southwestern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacist Pay

There were about 311,000 pharmacists working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Pharmacists work in varied settings, including health and personal care stores, hospitals, food and general merchandise stores with pharmacy services, and other businesses involved in the distribution of pharmacy products. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical training and skills, pharmacists typically earn higher salaries and wages than most workers in other occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for pharmacists was $125,510 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  While a well paying occupation, there is considerable variation from state-to-state in how much pharmacists earn.  Per BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten states where pharmacists earn the highest pay:

California	$144,050
Alaska	$142,610
Vermont	$135,650
Oregon	$135,150
Maine	$134,670
Wisconsin	$134,090
Minnesota	$130,290
Delaware	$130,230
New Hampshire	$129,370
Hawaii	$129,360

The bottom ten states for pharmacist pay were:

Arkansas	$120,020
Indiana	$119,920
Pennsylvania	$119,800
South Dakota	$118,360
Nebraska	$117,630
Iowa	$117,420
Ohio	$117,020
Oklahoma	$116,170
Montana	$115,270
North Dakota	$100,560

So where does your state rank for pharmacist pay?

Check out Pharmacist Average Wages by State for more information.

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, close to 600 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care to patients.  In this analysis, hospitals were scored on various measures related to their patient outcomes and experience, the size of their adult cardiology programs, and the level of distinction they have earned among professionals in the adult cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, twelve are based in the Great Lakes region, including the top rated cardiology care hospital in the country.  No other region of the country had more top 50 adult cardiology care hospitals than did the five-state Great Lakes region. Here's a quick rundown of the twelve institutions in the region that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally for adult cardiology care:

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Cleveland Clinic

Location:  Cleveland 

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #1

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Location:  Chicago 

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #10

University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers

Location:  Ann Arbor, MI

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #14

Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak

Location:  Royal Oaks, MI

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #18

University Hospitals Cleveland

Location:  Cleveland

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #28

Rush University Medical Center

Location:  Chicago

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #34

Advocate Christ Medical Center

Location:  Oak Lawn, IL

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #40

Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest

Location:  Mayfield Heights, OH

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #43

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

Location:  Columbus, OH

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #46

Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital

Location:  Cleveland

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #48 (tie)

Loyola University Medical Center

Location:  Maywood, IL

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #48 (tie)

Beaumont Hospital - Troy

Location:  Troy, MI

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #50 (tie)

For a closer look at the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to learn more about the cardiology care rating of other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

The Best and Worst States for Physical Therapist Pay

There were just over 233,000 physical therapists (PTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Physical therapists work in varied healthcare settings, including offices of non-physician practitioners, hospitals, home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and in physician offices.  Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills and training, PTs generally earn more money than most occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for physical therapists was $90,170 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  That said, there is significant disparity from state-to-state in the average annual wages earned by PTs.  According to BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten best pay states for physical therapists:

Nevada	$108,550
Alaska	$102,650
California	$99,920
New Jersey	$99,060
Connecticut	$98,780
Delaware	$96,520
New Mexico	$94,430
Hawaii	$92,650
Alabama	$92,570
West Virginia	$92,320

The bottom ten states for PT pay were:

New Hampshire	$84,610
Minnesota	$84,280
Missouri	$84,180
Iowa	$82,940
Montana	$82,130
North Dakota	$81,630
Vermont	$81,020
Maine	$80,380
Idaho	$80,360
South Dakota	$77,130

So where does your state rank for physical therapist pay?

Refer to Physical Therapist Average Wages by State for more information.

Rural Health Associations

Rural health associations are a key voice in the efforts to improve rural healthcare in America. Serving the healthcare needs of rural Americans, which comprise about 15% of the U.S. population, or close to 46 million people, has long been a challenge. Despite the wealth and resources of America's healthcare system, the reality is that rural Americans, in general, have more health issues and poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts. For example, rural residents are more likely than urban residents to die prematurely from all five of the leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, stroke, heart disease, unintentional injury, and chronic lower respiratory disease. These health disparities stem from many causes. More limited access to healthy foods, higher rates of smoking, lower income and education levels, a higher likelihood of poor or no health insurance, and poor access to healthcare services are just some of the factors that contribute to the health disparities found in rural America.

Rural health disparities have long been prevalent in the U.S. The earliest initiatives to address poor rural health care actually date back more than 100 years. And since the middle of the 20th century, various state and federal programs have had mixed success at advancing the state of healthcare for rural Americans. While improvements have been achieved through these various efforts, many challenges remain to reducing rural health disparities. Rural health associations play an important role in these ongoing efforts to improve the rural health disparity gap.

Rural health associations, which typically operate in a particular state or region, are membership based organizations that provide leadership and advocacy on rural health matters at the state and national level. These organizations are usually comprised of rural health care institutions and practitioners, educational institutions, industry partners and others with a vested interest in the delivery of healthcare products and services to rural populations. The operating objective of a typical rural health association is to:

Identify rural health issues and needs in their service regions

Serve as a single voice in the promotion of rural health initiatives and issues in their region

Disseminate timely information about key federal and state health programs and policies

Educate and advocate about rural health issues and policies

Encourage networking and collaboration among parties who support rural health causes

To find the rural health association serving your area, and to learn more about the important work that they do, visit our Rural Health Associations resource page.

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southeast

Almost 900 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals.  In this study, hospitals were rated on various measures related to the experience and outcomes of their adult cancer patients, the scope and scale of their cancer care services and programs, and the level of professional recognition they have earned within the wider adult cancer care community.  No Southeastern hospital ranked in the top 10 nationally for adult cancer care, but quality cancer care is definitely available in the region as nine hospitals in the Southeast ranked among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21.  Here's a brief view of these nine Southeastern medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southeast

Moffitt Cancer Center

Location:  Tampa, FL

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #11

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Location:  Birmingham, AL

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #25

U Kentucky Markey Cancer Center

Location:  Lexington, KY

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #29

UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital

Location:  Gainesville, FL

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #33

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

Location:  Charleston, SC

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #39

Emory University Hospital

Location:  Atlanta, GA

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #40

Duke University Hospital

Location:  Durham, NC

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #41 (tie)

Mayo Clinic in Florida

Location:  Jacksonville, FL

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #45

Levine Cancer Institute

Location:  Charlotte, NC

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #50

For a deeper dive into the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Southeastern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

The Best and Worst States for Licensed Practical Nurse Pay

Licensed practical nurses (LPN), or licensed vocational nurses (LVN) as they are known in some states, work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, physician offices, home health care agencies, hospitals, and assisted living centers.  As of May 2019,  the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that nearly 698,000 LPNs and LVNs were employed in the the U.S.  The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for LPNs and LVNs was $48,500 per year, which compared to a $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  From state-to-state there was considerable variation in the average annual wages earned by LPNs and LVNs, with practitioners in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere.  From BLS data of May 2019, the ten states where licensed practical or vocational nurses earned the most were:

Alaska	$63,850
Massachusetts	$60,340
California	$60,240
Rhode Island	$59,860
Nevada	$58,470
Washington	$57,940
New Jersey	$57,510
Connecticut	$57,380
Maryland	$55,020
Oregon	$54,740

Bringing up the rear for LPN/LVN pay were these ten states:

Georgia	$42,570
South Carolina	$42,190
Oklahoma	$42,090
Tennessee	$41,270
Arkansas	$40,760
Louisiana	$40,300
Alabama	$39,310
Mississippi	$39,020
South Dakota	$38,760
West Virginia	$37,500

So where does your state rank for LPN/LVN pay?

Refer to Licensed Practical Nurse Average Wages by State for more information.

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region of the U.S.

In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, nearly 600 hospitals were evaluated for their proficiency and effectiveness in delivering adult cardiology care to patients.  In this U.S. News analysis, hospitals were graded on various metrics related to their patient experience and outcomes, the scale and scope of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they've earned within the adult cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, eleven are based in the Mid-East region of the country.  Only the Great Lakes region had more top 50 cardiology care hospitals than did the five-state Mid-East region. Here's a quick look at the eleven institutions in the region that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally in adult cardiology care:

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region

New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Location:  New York City 

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #4

Mount Sinai Hospital

Location:  New York City

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #6

NYU Langone Medical Center 

Location:  New York City

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #11

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Location:  Baltimore, MD

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #16

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian

Location:  Philadelphia

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #19

NYU Winthrop Hospital 

Location:  Mineola, NY

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #21

Montefiore Medical Center

Location:  Bronx, NY

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #23

St. Francis Hospital

Location:  Roslyn, NY

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #24

North Shore University Hospital

Location:  Manhasset, NY

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #29

Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute

Location:  Washington, DC

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #37

Morristown Medical Center

Location:  Morristown, NJ

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #38

For a closer look at the metrics used to grade adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology care rating of other Mid-East region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

The Best and Worst States for Occupational Therapist Pay

There were just under 134,000 occupational therapist jobs in the U.S. as of May 2019 per data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Occupational therapists work in varied healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies and in offices with other health practitioners.  A good number of OTs also work in educational settings, mostly elementary and secondary schools.  Like many other healthcare professionals with special skills and training, occupational therapists typically earn more money than most occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for occupational therapists was $86,210 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  That said, there is considerable variation from state-to-state in the average annual wages earned by occupational therapists.  According to BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten best pay states for occupational therapists:

Nevada	$105,450
California	$98,450
New Jersey	$96,820
Arizona	$95,180
Connecticut	$92,770
Oregon	$92,730
Virginia	$91,970
Colorado	$90,990
Alaska	$90,340
New York	$89,920

The bottom ten states for occupational therapist pay were:

Michigan	$78,010
Nebraska	$77,450
Montana	$76,670
Vermont	$76,580
Wisconsin	$76,270
Minnesota	$76,220
South Carolina	$75,700
Maine	$74,400
South Dakota	$72,370
North Dakota	$70,350

So where does your state rank for occupational therapist pay?

Refer to Occupational Therapist Average Wages by State for more information.

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Nearly 900 hospitals were studied for their proficiency and effectiveness at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals,.  Per the U.S. News study, hospitals were rated on various measures related to the outcomes and experience of their adult cancer patients, the scale and scope of their cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they have within the broader cancer care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21, seven are based in the Great Lakes region, including the Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which are two of the highest rated adult cancer care hospitals in the country  Here's a brief look at these seven Great Lakes medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Cleveland Clinic
Location:  Cleveland
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #5

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Location:  Chicago
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #8

UChicago Cancer Center

Location:  Chicago

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #24

Ohio State Cancer Center

Location:  Columbus, OH

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #30

UH Seidman Cancer Center

Location:  Cleveland

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #37

University of Michigan Hospitals
Location:  Ann Arbor, MI 
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #38

Rush University Medical Center
Location:  Chicago

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #48

For a closer look at the metrics used to grade adult cancer care hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

The Best and Worst States for Physician Assistant Pay

There were just over 120,000 physician assistant jobs in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Physician assistants mostly work in physician offices and hospital facilities, with smaller numbers of PAs working in outpatient care centers, academic institutions, and in offices of other types of healthcare practitioners. Because of their training and the range of supervised physician services they can provide, physician assistants generally earn more more than most healthcare occupations, excluding certain high-skill clinical occupations in medicine and dentistry.  The BLS estimated that, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for physician assistants was $112,410 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  There is, however, a wide state-to-state variation in the average annual wages earned by physician assistants.  According to BLS data as of May 2019, the ten states where physician assistants earn the most are:

Connecticut	$137,060
Washington	$129,520
New Jersey	$129,440
Alaska	$128,530
California	$127,520
New York	$123,080
Nevada	$121,540
Vermont	$120,680
New Mexico	$120,400
Minnesota	$119,240

At the back of the class for physician assistant pay were these ten states:

West Virginia	$102,500
Georgia	$101,460
Mississippi	$99,810
Arkansas	$97,970
Indiana	$96,120
Missouri	$95,090
Tennessee	$90,760
Alabama	$90,080
Louisiana	$86,490
Kentucky	$84,870

So where does your state rank for physician assistant pay?

Refer to Physician Assistant Average Wages by State for more information.

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Far West

Some 594 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care in the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals.  In this analysis, hospitals were graded on various metrics related to the outcomes and experience of their adult patients, the scope and scale of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they've earned in the broader cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, nine are based in Far West states.  Here's a quick look at these nine Far West institutions and where they rank nationally:

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Far West

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles 
National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #3

UCLA Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #7 (tie)

Stanford Hospital
Location:  Stanford, CA
National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #9

Keck Hospital of USC
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #15

Scrips La Jolla Hospitals

Location: La Jolla, CA

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #30

UC San Diego Health

Location: San Diego

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #31

UCSF Medical Center
Location:  San Francisco
National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #33

UC Davis Medical Center

Location: Sacramento, CA

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #36

OHSU Hospital

Location: Portland, OR

National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery:  #47

For a deeper dive into the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology care rating of other Far West hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

The Best and Worst States for Chiropractor Pay

As of May 2019, there were just over 35,000 chiropractors working in the U.S. according to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Per that same data, the BLS estimated that the national mean wage for chiropractors was $85,010 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S.  While most chiropractors earn incomes in excess of the average annual wages of most workers, there is a wide disparity from state-to-state in chiropractors' annual mean wages.  As of May 2019, according to the BLS the ten best pay states for chiropractors were:

Connecticut	$127,180
Washington	$122,730
New Jersey	$121,060
Ohio	$111,960
Hawaii	$109,050
Oklahoma	$107,210
Missouri	$101,140
Tennessee	$98,960
Massachusetts	$98,050
North Carolina	$96,410

At the other end of the spectrum, the ten worst states for chiropractor pay were:

Iowa	$69,980
Nebraska	$69,560
Michigan	$66,580
Arizona	$65,870
New Mexico	$62,940
Georgia	$61,460
Kansas	$60,120
Arkansas	$55,650
Montana	$52,020
Utah	$48,640

So where does your state rank for chiropractor pay?

Refer to Chiropractor Average Wages by State for more information.

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

In the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, 899 hospitals were examined for their effectiveness and proficiency at providing cancer care to adult patients.  In the U.S. News study, hospitals were scored on various metrics related to their patient outcomes and experience, the scope and scale of their adult cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they've earned from within the cancer care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21, four are based in the Great Plains region, including the Mayo Clinic, which is also among the highest rated adult cancer care hospitals in the country  Here's a quick look of these four Great Plains medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

Mayo Clinic

Location:  Rochester, MN

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #3

Siteman Cancer Center

Location:  St. Louis, MO

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #11 (tie)

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Location:  Omaha, NE

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #34

University of Iowa Hospitals

Location:  Iowa City, IA

National Rank in Adult Cancer Care:  #41 (tie)

For a closer look at the measures used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other Great Plains region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Southwest

In the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, nearly 600 hospitals were examined for their proficiency and effectiveness at delivering cardiology care to adult patients.  In the U.S. News study, hospitals were rated on various measures related to their patient outcomes and experience, the scale and scope of their cardiology services and programs, and the level of professional recognition they've earned from their peers within the cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, five are based in the Southwest.  Here's a quick view of these five Southwestern institutions and where they rate nationally:

Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Southwest

Houston Methodist Hospital
Location:  Houston, TX

National Rank in Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery:  #12

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Location:  Dallas, TX

National Rank in Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery:  #13

Texas Heart Institute
Location:  Houston, TX

National Rank in Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery:  #17

Mayo Clinic Arizona Campus

Location:  Phoenix, AZ

National Rank in Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery:  #20

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital

Location:  Plano, TX

National Rank in Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery:  #27

For a closer look at the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find cardiology care ratings for other Southwestern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology and Heart Surgery