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More than 74,500 drug induced deaths were recorded in the United States in 2019. That's about 22.7 deaths per 100,000 population from drug induced causes. Drug overdoses, both intentional and accidental, accounted for almost 95% of these deaths. In the twenty year span from 1999 to 2019, the drug induced death rate per 100,000 population more than tripled in the United States. While all regions of the country experienced sharp increases in the number of drug induced deaths in the twenty years from 1999 to 2019, the experience in the seven-state Great Plains region was particularly bad. During the same twenty year period that the national drug induced death rate more than tripled, in the Great Plains region the death rate more than quadrupled. Although the region's death rate from drug induced causes was below the national average in 1999 and continued to be so in 2019, its drug induced death rate per 100,000 population surged from 3.6 in 1999 to 17.3 by 2019. A examination of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, reveals the following about drug induced deaths in the Great Plains region.:
Drug Induced Deaths in the Great Plains Region |
Area/Deaths | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
IA | 59 | 213 | 374 |
KS | 100 | 318 | 430 |
MN | 169 | 441 | 886 |
MO | 294 | 881 | 1,649 |
NE | 41 | 118 | 180 |
ND | 15 | 28 | 95 |
SD | 20 | 51 | 90 |
Region | 698 | 2,050 | 3,704 |
U.S. | 19,128 | 39,147 | 74,511 |
Area/Death Rate* | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
IA | 2.0 | 7.0 | 11.9 |
KS | 3.7 | 11.2 | 14.8 |
MN | 3.5 | 8.4 | 15.7 |
MO | 5.3 | 14.8 | 26.9 |
NE | 2.4 | 6.5 | 9.3 |
ND | ** | 4.2 | 12.5 |
SD | 2.7 | 6.3 | 10.2 |
Region | 3.6 | 10.1 | 17.3 |
U.S. | 6.9 | 12.8 | 22.7 |
(*) number of drug induced deaths per 100,000 population
(**) the CDC deems death rates as unreliable when the rate is calculated with a numerator less than 20
Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 5, 2021
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published reports recently indicating that there were nearly 148,500 speech language pathologists (SLPs) working in the United States as of May 2020. More than 19,000 of those employed as SLPs in the U.S. lived in the four-state Southwest region of the country. The Southwest region is among the weakest regions in the country for speech language pathologist pay, with all four states in the region registering average SLP annual mean wage levels 4% to 10% below the national average. An examination of BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following about speech language pathologist pay in the U.S. Southwest:
Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the U.S. Southwest |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
AZ | 2,670 | $78,420 | 28th |
NM | 830 | $79,390 | 24th |
OK | 1,550 | $74,800 | 38th |
TX | 14,220 | $75,240 | 36th |
U.S. | 148,450 | $83,240 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 2, 2021
May 2020 data released recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported there being nearly 93,000 physical therapy (PT) assistants at work in the United States. About 17,000 physical therapy assistants worked in the five-state Great Lakes region of the country. BLS data shows a good amount of pay disparity in the region for PT assistant pay. The data indicates that about 60% of the region's PT assistants work in either Illinois or Ohio, two states where the average PT assistant annual mean wage exceeds the national average. Indeed, Ohio was a top 10 state for PT assistant annual mean wages. However, elsewhere in the region annual mean wages for PT assistants runs below the national average, particularly in Michigan and Wisconsin. A deeper look at BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following about physical therapy assistant pay in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.:
Physical Therapy Assistant Pay in the Great Lakes Region |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
IL | 3,820 | $60,580 | 14th |
IN | 2,090 | $58,330 | 22nd |
MI | 3,100 | $54,240 | 37th |
OH | 6.400 | $61,440 | 10th |
WI | 1,620 | $52,930 | 41st |
U.S. | 92,740 | $59,440 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 29, 2021
In 2019, the United States incurred more than 39,700 firearm deaths, or about 12.1 firearm deaths per 100,000 population. By 2019, firearms-caused deaths per 100,000 population in the U.S. had increased about 17% from 1999 levels. The six-state New England region witnessed similar growth in its firearm death rate, which rose from 5.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999 to 5.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 2019. Despite this unfavorable experience, New England remains the region of the country with the lowest firearms-caused death rate per 100,000 population. A closer review of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, reveals the following about the trend in firearm deaths in New England over the past twenty years:
Firearm Deaths in New England |
Area/Deaths | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
CT | 199 | 173 | 190 |
MA | 195 | 207 | 247 |
ME | 113 | 122 | 163 |
NH | 71 | 89 | 156 |
RI | 56 | 56 | 48 |
VT | 57 | 60 | 67 |
Region | 691 | 707 | 871 |
U.S. | 28,874 | 31,347 | 39,707 |
Area/Death Rate* | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
CT | 5.9 | 4.9 | 5.3 |
MA | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
ME | 8.9 | 9.2 | 12.1 |
NH | 5.8 | 6.8 | 11.5 |
RI | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.5 |
VT | 9.4 | 9.6 | 10.7 |
Region | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.9 |
U.S. | 10.3 | 10.2 | 12.1 |
(*) number of firearm-caused deaths per 100,000 population; death count includes both intentional and unintentional fatalities caused by a firearm
Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 2, 2021
Data released earlier this year from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, as of May 2020, there were nearly 207,000 radiologic technicians and technologists employed in the United States. The Mid-East region of the U.S. held a bit more than 32,000 of those radiologic technologist and technician jobs. BLS data reveals the region to be a dichotomous one for radiologic tech pay. New York and the District of Columbia rank in the top 10 nationally for radiologic tech annual mean wages; and about two-thirds of radiologic techs in the region work in a state where the average annual mean wage exceeds the national average for radiologic techs. However, 30% of the region's radiologic techs are employed in Pennsylvania, where the annual mean wage runs almost 13% below the national average. A closer examination of May 2020 data from the BLS reveals the following about radiologic tech pay in Mid-East U.S. region:
Radiologic Tech Pay in the Mid-East U.S. Region |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
DC | 440 | $82,270 | 3rd |
DE | 670 | $63,720 | 20th |
MD | 3,670 | $70,530 | 14th |
NJ | 5,390 | $71,450 | 12th |
NY | 12,170 | $73,150 | 9th |
PA | 9,790 | $56,440 | 37th |
U.S. | 206,720 | $64,840 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 26, 2021
More than 326,000 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians were employed in the United States as of May 2020 according to data released earlier this summer by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Just over 19,000 clinical lab techs were employed in the six-state New England region. For clinical lab techs, New England is one of the best in the nation in terms of pay. The average annual mean wage for clinical lab techs in every state in the region is near or above the national average. Moreover, three states in the region rank in the top 10 nationally for clinical lab tech annual mean wages. BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following about clinical lab tech pay in New England:
Clinical Lab Tech Pay in New England |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
CT | 3,890 | $69,340 | 2nd |
MA | 11,460 | $59,810 | 14th |
ME | 1,330 | $55,940 | 21st |
NH | 710 | $63,850 | 9th |
RI | 990 | $68,570 | 4th |
VT | 770 | $57,870 | 17th |
U.S. | 326,220 | $55,990 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 18, 2021
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in United States, accounting for over 599,000 deaths in 2019, or about 21% of all deaths in the U.S. that year. Thanks to advancements in medical knowledge, the death rate from cancer has dropped modestly over the past twenty years. From 197.0 cancer deaths per 100,000 population in 1999, the cancer death rate had dropped 7.3%, to 182.7 deaths per 100,000 population, by 2019. The national trend in cancer deaths is also seen in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. region, although the improvement has been more modest. The region, which historically has worse cancer death rates than most sections of the country, saw its cancer death rate drop only 5.5% between 1999 and 2019, from 212.6 deaths per 100,000 population to 200.9 deaths per 100,000 population. A closer examination of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, reveals the following about cancer deaths in the Southeastern U.S.:
Cancer Deaths in the Southeastern U.S. |
Area/Deaths | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
AL | 9,506 | 10,289 | 10,266 |
AR | 6,137 | 6,513 | 6,482 |
FL | 38,478 | 40,932 | 45,583 |
GA | 13,225 | 15,143 | 17,756 |
KY | 8,925 | 9,634 | 9,975 |
LA | 9,412 | 9,098 | 9,485 |
MS | 6,143 | 6,131 | 6,587 |
NC | 15,815 | 17,513 | 19,951 |
SC | 8,089 | 9,123 | 10,487 |
TN | 11,943 | 13,482 | 14,382 |
VA | 13,365 | 14,122 | 15,045 |
WV | 4,762 | 4,786 | 4,604 |
Region | 145,800 | 156,766 | 170,603 |
U.S. | 549,838 | 567,628 | 599,601 |
Area/Death Rate* | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
AL | 214.6 | 216.2 | 209.4 |
AR | 231.4 | 224.8 | 214.8 |
FL | 244.2 | 219.4 | 212.2 |
GA | 164.4 | 157.4 | 167.2 |
KY | 222.1 | 223.2 | 223.3 |
LA | 211.0 | 202.6 | 204.0 |
MS | 217.2 | 207.2 | 221.3 |
NC | 198.9 | 185.3 | 190.2 |
SC | 203.5 | 198.8 | 203.7 |
TN | 211.8 | 213.8 | 210.6 |
VA | 190.9 | 178.2 | 176.3 |
WV | 262.8 | 259.0 | 256.9 |
Region | 212.6 | 201.5 | 200.9 |
U.S. | 197.0 | 185.0 | 182.7 |
(*) number of cancer deaths per 100,000 population
Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on July 17, 2021
May 2020 data published earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows more than 415,000 Americans being employed as pharmacy technicians. With almost 13,800 pharmacy technicians employed, the five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for less than 4% of U.S. pharmacy technician employment. In general, the Rocky Mountain region is one of the better regions in the country for pharmacy technician pay, as all states register an annual mean wage for pharmacy technicians that tops the national average of $36,450. From May 2020 BLS data, here is a summary look at pharmacy technician pay in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S.:
Pharmacy Technician Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
CO | 5,710 | $39,020 | 12th |
ID | 2,260 | $36,660 | 19th |
MT | 1,200 | $37,520 | 15th |
UT | 4,060 | $38,920 | 14th |
WY | 560 | $39,330 | 10th |
U.S. | 415,310 | $36,450 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 18, 2021
Earlier this summer the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published data indicating that, as of May 2020, there were more than 176,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) at work in the U.S. More than 38,000 of those HSW jobs were in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country. BLS data reveals the Southeastern U.S. to be a generally poor one for healthcare social worker pay, as no state in the region registers a HSW annual mean wage that tops the national average of $60,470. Moreover, half the states in the region have a HSW annual mean wages that ranks 40th or worse nationally. BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following about healthcare social worker pay in the Southeastern U.S.:
Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Southeastern U.S. |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
AL | 2,360 | $48,310 | 49th |
AR | 1,320 | $53,370 | 39th |
FL | 10,200 | $54,250 | 37th |
GA | 3,610 | $51,730 | 45th |
KY | 2,160 | $52,310 | 42nd |
LA | 1,790 | $55,450 | 36th |
MS | 1,430 | $48,260 | 50th |
NC | 3.370 | $57,670 | 24th |
SC | 1,980 | $57,790 | 23rd |
TN | 6,160 | $49,990 | 47th |
VA | 3,480 | $56,350 | 32nd |
WV | 830 | $52,540 | 41st |
U.S. | 176,110 | $60,470 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 17, 2021
Data published earlier this summer by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 211,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the United States as of May 2020. More than 22,500 nurse practitioner jobs in the U.S. were in the four-state Southwestern region of the country. The Southwestern region is a relatively good one for nurse practitioner pay. More than 90% of NPs in the Southwestern U.S. live in one of the three states in the region where NP annual mean wages exceed the national average of $114,510. A closer look at BLS data from May 2020 shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Southwestern U.S.:
Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Southwestern U.S. |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
AZ | 4,790 | $117,480 | 11th |
NM | 1,080 | $117,050 | 13th |
OK | 1,970 | $112,750 | 22nd |
TX | 14,680 | $116,700 | 15th |
U.S. | 211,280 | $114,510 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 17, 2021
Data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were nearly 195,000 dental hygienists working in the United States as of May 2020. More than 31,000 dental hygienists were working in the six-state U.S. Far West region according to BLS reports. The region is the strongest one in the nation for dental hygienist pay, with all states in the region ranking among the top ten in the country for dental hygienist annual mean wages. A closer look at May 2020 BLS data reveals the following about dental hygienist pay in the U.S. Far West:
Dental Hygienist pay in the U.S. Far West |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
AK | 610 | $115,050 | 1st |
CA | 17,880 | $109,970 | 2nd |
HI | 980 | $86,970 | 9th |
NV | 2,430 | $89,360 | 5th |
OR | 3,310 | $86,450 | 10th |
WA | 6,290 | $95,450 | 3rd |
U.S. | 194,830 | $78,050 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 17, 2021
Heart disease is the top cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 659,000 deaths in 2019, or about 23% of all deaths in the USA that year. Improvements in medical know-how have significantly reduced the heart disease death rate over the past twenty years. From 259.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999, by 2019 the death rate attributable to heart disease had dropped to 200.8 deaths per 100,000 population. Nevertheless, the heart disease death rate nationally has been inching back up since the middle of the last decade. The national experience with heart disease deaths is mirrored in the six-state New England region, where the 2019 death rate of 192.2 per 100,000 population was 25% lower than it was in 1999. A deeper dive into data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, discloses the following about the trend in heart disease deaths in New England:
Heart Disease Deaths in New England |
Area/Deaths | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
CT | 9,127 | 7,105 | 7,354 |
MA | 15,871 | 12,322 | 11,761 |
ME | 3,418 | 2,674 | 2,940 |
NH | 2,751 | 2,268 | 2,707 |
RI | 3,008 | 2,411 | 2,404 |
VT | 1,342 | 1,171 | 1,368 |
Region | 35,517 | 27,951 | 28,534 |
U.S. | 725,192 | 599,413 | 659,041 |
Area/Death Rate* | 1999 | 2009 | 2019 |
CT | 269.5 | 199.5 | 206.3 |
MA | 251.2 | 189.1 | 170.6 |
ME | 269.8 | 201.1 | 218.7 |
NH | 225.1 | 172.3 | 199.1 |
RI | 289.1 | 228.8 | 226.9 |
VT | 221.9 | 187.4 | 219.2 |
Region | 256.7 | 194.1 | 192.2 |
U.S. | 259.9 | 195.4 | 200.8 |
(*) number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population
Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 9, 2021
Recently produced employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts medical assistant (MA) employment in the United States at over 710,000 as of May 2020. Approximately 34,000 of those MA jobs were in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country. BLS data paints a mixed picture for MA pay in the Great Plains region. Minnesota ranks in the top 5 nationally for medical assistant annual mean wages according to BLS data, while Iowa and North Dakota rank in the top 20. However, three states in the region rank 40th or lower nationally for MA annual mean wages. A closer look at BLS data reveals the following about medical assistant pay in the Great Plains region as of May 2020:
Medical Assistant Pay in the Great Plains Region |
State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
IA | 5,290 | $37,660 | 19th |
KS | 5,510 | $32,030 | 44th |
MN | 9,320 | $43,090 | 5th |
MO | 10,110 | $33,540 | 40th |
NE | 2,710 | $35,810 | 26th |
ND | 340 | $38,380 | 16th |
SD | 920 | $31,910 | 45th |
U.S. | 710,200 | $36,930 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 15, 2021