Over 38,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2021 according to the most current employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the six-state New England region accounted for 2,370 MRI technologist jobs.  BLS data revealed the New England region to be a generally good one for MRI technologist pay, with five of the six states in the region attaining an annual mean wage level for MRI technologists that was higher than the national average for the profession. A deeper look at May 2021 BLS data reveals the following state-level details about MRI technologist pay in New England:

MRI Technologist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	320	$84,960	12th
MA	1,400	$88,040	10th
ME	180	$72,130	27th
NH	220	$81,330	16th
RI	200	$87,790	11th
VT	50	$80,910	18th
U.S.	38,070	$77,820	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on June 25, 2022

In excess of 58,000 clinical psychologists were working in the United States as of May 2021 according to the latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. was home to just over 9,600 working clinical psychologists.  BLS data indicated the region to be a generally poor one for clinical psychologist pay. Nearly 79% of employed clinical psychologists in the region lived in a state where the annual mean wage was below the national average for the profession.  This included four states that ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for that clinical psychologist pay metric.   Further study of BLS May 2021 data provides the following details about clinical psychologist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	370	$84,360	36th
AR	420	$75,050	45th
FL	2,580	$87,730	30th
GA	830	$73,350	46th
KY	470	$96,290	20th
LA	200	$101,420	16th
MS	330	$76,800	44th
NC	1,930	$94,480	23rd
SC	240	$84,760	35th
TN	510	$108,560	11th
VA	1,350	$108,910	10th
WV	390	$63,410	51st
U.S.	58,100	$99,640	-------

(*) 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 25, 2022

In the latest U.S. News & World Report American hospital rankings, 90 hospitals surveyed received national recognition in at least one of the ten pediatric specialties analyzed in the survey.  Two pediatric hospitals in the Far Western U.S. ranked among the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation, while a total of twelve pediatric hospitals in the region earned a top 50 national ranking in at least one of the ten specialties examined.  Among these hospitals, ten Far Western pediatric hospitals earned top 50 national rankings in at least five pediatric specialties. For earning recognition nationally in at least five specialty areas, here's a summary look at the ten hospitals that stand out among the best pediatric hospitals in the Far Western U.S.:

Best Pediatric Hospitals in the Far Western U.S.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles (#8 overall nationally)

Location: Los Angeles

Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#14  Cancer
#12  Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#7    Diabetes & Endocrinology
#6    Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#17  Nephrology
#19  Neonatology
#15  Neurology & Neurosurgery
#6   Orthopedics
#15 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#7   Urology

(See ranking details)

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford (#10 overall nationally)

Location: Palo Alto, CA
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#22 Cancer
#26 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#11 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#13 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#2   Nephrology
#6   Neonatology
#7   Neurology & Neurosurgery
#18 Orthopedics
#5   Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#22 Urology

(See ranking details)

Rady Children's Hospital

Location: San Diego
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#29 Cancer
#11 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#10 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#26 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#16 Nephrology
#9   Neonatology
#8   Neurology & Neurosurgery
#2   Orthopedics
#23 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#16 Urology

(See ranking details)

Seattle Children's Hospital

Location: Seattle
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#20 Cancer
#23 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#9   Diabetes & Endocrinology
#21 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#7   Nephrology
#28 Neonatology
#13 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#33 Orthopedics
#11 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#10 Urology

(See ranking details)

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

Location: San Francisco
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#17 Cancer
#41 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#29 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#23 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#13 Nephrology
#5   Neonatology
#16 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#27 Orthopedics
#24 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#23 Urology

(See ranking details)

CHOC Children's Hospital

Location: Orange, CA
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 7 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#25 Cancer
#50 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#26 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#13 Neonatology
#37 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#25 Orthopedics
#38 Urology

(See ranking details)

Doernbecher Children's Hospital

Location: Portland, OR
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 7 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#30 Cancer
#37 Diabetes & Endocrinology

#20 Nephrology
#35 Neonatology
#38 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#49 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#43 Urology

(See ranking details)

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

Location: Los Angeles
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 7 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#39 Cancer
#11 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery

#13 Nephrology
#20 Neonatology
#30 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#14 Orthopedics
#28 Urology

(See ranking details)

Valley Children's Hospital

Location: Madera, CA
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 6 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#44 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery

#30 Neonatology
#33 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#21 Orthopedics

#29 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#29 Urology

(See ranking details)

UC Davis Children's Hospital

Location: Sacramento, CA
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 5 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#47 Diabetes & Endocrinology

#29 Neonatology
#19 Nephrology
#19 Orthopedics

#35 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

(See ranking details)

To find other children's hospitals in the Far Western U.S. and elsewhere, visit our U.S. Children's Hospitals resource page.

In 2020, nearly 697,000 deaths in the United States were attributable to heart disease, about 5.8% more such deaths than in 2019.  The seven-state Great Plains region recorded nearly 45,100 heart disease deaths in 2020.  With 209.8 heart disease deaths per 100,000 population, the Great Plains' regional heart disease death rate was slightly better than the national average heart disease death rate of 211.5 per 100,000 population.  There was, however, wide disparity at the state level within the region, with Minnesota having one of the lowest state-level heart disease death rates in the country, while Missouri had one of the worst.  Further study of data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics yields the following state-level details about heart disease death rates in the Great Plains region:

Heart Disease Death Rates in the Great Plains Region

State	Deaths	Population	Death Rate*
Iowa	7,499	3,163,561	237.0
Kansas	6,264	2,913,805	215.0
Minnesota	8,562	5,657,342	151.3
Missouri	15,934	6,151,548	259.0
Nebraska	3,532	1,937,552	182.3
North Dakota	1,449	765,309	189.3
South Dakota	1,820	892,717	203.9
Region	45,060	21,481,834	209.8
U.S.	696,962	329,484,123	211.5

(*) number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 22, 2022

The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, as of May 2021, more than 38,700 optometrists were working in the United States.  At that time, New England accounted for an estimated 1,880 employed optometrists. BLS data shows the region to be a generally strong one for optometrist pay.  Almost three-fourths of the region's optometrists worked in a state where the optometrist annual mean wage level topped the national average for the profession.  This included Connecticut, where the annual mean wage level for optometrists was the highest in the nation. A deeper examination of BLS data from May 2021 reveals the following state-level details about optometrist pay in New England:

Optometrist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	430	$155,070	1st
MA	780	$130,600	14th
ME	190	$135,410	9th
NH	170	$124,910	23rd
RI	210	-------	-------
VT	100	$112,530	39th
U.S.	38,720	$125,440	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 18, 2022

In the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, 90 hospitals surveyed earned national distinction in at least one of the ten pediatric specialties analyzed in the survey.  No pediatric hospitals in the Southeast ranked among the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation, but 26 pediatric hospitals in the region earned a top 50 national ranking in at least one of the ten specialties examined.  Moreover, among the best pediatric hospitals in the Southeastern U.S., eleven children's hospitals earned top 50 national rankings in at least five pediatric specialties. For earning national recognition in at least five specialty areas, here's a summary look at the eleven hospitals that stand out among the best pediatric hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.:

Best Pediatric Hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 
Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally: 
#7   Cancer
#18 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#32 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#7   Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#9   Nephrology
#37 Neonatology
#11 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#11 Orthopedics
#16 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#10 Urology

(See ranking details)

Children's of Alabama
Location: Birmingham, AL
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#42 Cancer
#28 Cardiology & Heart Surgery

#42 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#41 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#32 Nephrology
#50 Neonatology
#28 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#42 Orthopedics
#41 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#44 Urology

(See ranking details)

Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Location: Nashville, TN
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 10 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#19 Cancer
#30 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#29 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#28 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#47 Nephrology
#22 Neonatology
#23 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#30 Orthopedics
#19 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#8   Urology

(See ranking details)

Duke Children's Hospital
Location: Durham, NC
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 9 of 10

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#48 Cancer
#7   Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#39 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#36 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#38 Nephrology
#24 Neonatology
#43 Orthopedics
#35 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#27 Urology

(See ranking details)

Levine Children's Hospital
Location: Charlotte, NC
Nationally Ranked Pediatric  Specialties: 8 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#22 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#22 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#26 Nephrology
#31 Neonatology
#42 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#24 Orthopedics
#39 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

#48 Urology

(See ranking details)

North Carolina Children's Hospital at UNC
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 8 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#34 Cancer
#14 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#20 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#44 Nephrology

#23 Neonatology
#23 Orthopedics
#12 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#37 Urology

(See ranking details)

Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Location: Little Rock, AR
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 7 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:

#42 Cancer
#44 Cardiology & Heart Surgery

#29 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#34 Nephrology
#48 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#24 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
#40 Urology

(See ranking details)

UVA Children's Hospital
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 6 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#20 Cardiology & Heart Surgery
#49 Diabetes & Endocrinology

#39 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#32 Neonatology

#45 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#44 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

(See ranking details)

Arnold Palmer's Children's Hospital
Location:  Orlando, FL
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 5 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#28 Diabetes & Endocrinology
#34 Neonatology
#41 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#35 Orthopedics
#49 Urology

(See ranking details)

Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Location: Miami, FL
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 5 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:
#47 Cardiology & Heart Surgery

#41 Neonatology
#25 Neurology & Neurosurgery
#44 Orthopedics
#34 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

(See ranking details)

UF Health Shands Children's Hospital

Location: Gainesville, FL
Nationally Ranked Pediatric Specialties: 5 of 10 

Pediatric Specialties Ranked in Top 50 Nationally:

#49 Cancer

#26 Cardiology & Heart Surgery

#13 Diabetes & Endocrinology

#34 Neurology & Neurosurgery

#18 Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

(See ranking details)

To find other children's hospitals in the Southeast and elsewhere, visit our U.S. Children's Hospitals resource page.

In 2020, cancer accounted for 602,350 deaths in the United States, with 95,354 of those cancer deaths occurring in the five-state Great Lakes region.  As such, the Great Lakes states accounted for nearly 16% of all cancer deaths in the U. S. that year.  At 203.6 deaths per 100,000 population, the Great Lakes region had a cancer death rate in 2020 that was more than 11% above the national average.  All five states in the region had a cancer death rate that was worse than the national average.  No other section of the country had a worse regional cancer death rate in 2020 than did the Great Lakes region.  An additional review of data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics details the following about cancer death rates in the Great Lakes region:

Cancer Death Rates in the Great Lakes Region

State	Deaths	Population	Death Rate*
Illinois	24,015	12,587,530	190.8
Indiana	13,664	6,754,953	202.3
Michigan	21,158	9,966,555	212.3
Ohio	24,863	11,693,217	212.6
Wisconsin	11,654	5,832,655	199.8
Region	95,354	46,834,910	203.6
U.S.	602,350	329,484,123	182.8

(*) number of cancer deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 18, 2022

An estimated 38,070 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the U.S. as of May 2021 according to the most recent occupational employment figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The six-state Far Western U.S. accounted for nearly 4,200 MRI technologist jobs at that time, or about 11% of the national total.  BLS data revealed the Far West to be far and away the best region in the nation for MRI technologist pay, as every state in the region ranked among the top six states in the country for MRI technologist annual mean wages.  Further examination of May 2021 state-level BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Far Western U.S.:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Far Western U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	110	$104,040	2nd
CA	2,470	$108,580	1st
HI	100	$101,700	3rd
NV	390	$92,640	6th
OR	410	$92,820	5th
WA	700	$95,160	4th
U.S.	38,070	$77,820	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on June 18, 2022

In 2020, heart disease was responsible for 696,962 deaths in the U.S., an increase of about 5.8% from the prior year.  That year, heart disease accounted for 80,454 deaths in the four-state Southwest region of the U.S.  With 187.7 deaths per 100,000 population, the U.S. Southwest had a regional heart disease death rate in 2020 that was about 11% better than the national average.  An examination of state-level data from the National Center for Health Statistics, a unit of the CDC, provides the following details about heart disease death rates in the U.S. Southwest:

Heart Disease Death Rates in the U.S. Southwest

State	Deaths	Population	Death Rate*
Arizona	14,196	7,421,401	191.3
New Mexico	4,219	2,106,319	200.3
Oklahoma	11,758	3,980,783	295.4
Texas	50,281	29,360,759	171.3
Region	80,454	42,869,262	187.7
U.S.	696,962	329,484,123	211.5

(*) number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 15, 2022

More than 58,000 clinical psychologists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2021 per the most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the seven-state Great Plains region was home to an estimated 3,850 working clinical psychologists.  BLS data revealed the region to be a poor one overall for clinical psychologist pay. Although Iowa and North Dakota ranked among the top fifteen states nationally for clinical psychologist annual mean wages, more than 85% of the region's employed clinical psychologists lived in a state where that pay metric was below the national average for the profession. Closer examination of May 2021 state-level data from the BLS reveals the following about clinical psychologist pay in the Great Plains region:

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	330	$103,070	15th
KS	430	$96,950	19th
MN	1,260	$93,790	24th
MO	1,290	$72,530	48th
NE	260	$82,110	38th
ND	180	$112,160	8th
SD	100	$91,540	29th
U.S.	58,100	$99,640	-------

(*) 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 15, 2022

The latest occupational employment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of medical records specialists working in the U.S. at over 180,000 as of May 2021. With more than 23,600 medical records specialists employed at that time, the five-state Great Lakes region accounted for 13.1% of medical records specialist employment in the United States.  BLS data indicated the region to be a modestly weak one for medical records specialist pay, with nearly two-thirds of the region's medical records specialists living in a state where the annual mean wage for the profession was below the national average. From May 2021 BLS data, a state-level view reveals the following details about medical records specialist pay in the Great Lakes region.:

Medical Records Specialist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	4,760	$48,920	18th
IN	4,010	$46,140	25th
MI	3,290	$43,610	42nd
OH	7,990	$46,340	24th
WI	3,600	$51,860	13th
U.S.	180,570	$48,310	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on June 15, 2022

In 2020, 602,350 deaths in the United States were attributed to cancer.  In the seven-state Great Plains region, cancer accounted for 41,272 deaths in 2020, about 7% of all cancer deaths in the U. S. that year.  At 192.1 deaths per 100,000 population, the Great Plains region had a cancer death rate in 2020 that was about 5% above the national average.  Further examination of data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals the following state-level details about cancer death rates in the Great Plains region:

Cancer Death Rates in the Great Plains Region

State	Deaths	Population	Death Rate*
Iowa	6,304	3,163,561	199.3
Kansas	5,538	2,913,805	190.1
Minnesota	9,944	5,657,342	175.8
Missouri	12,907	6,151,548	209.8
Nebraska	3,541	1,937,552	182.8
North Dakota	1,308	765,309	170.9
South Dakota	1,730	892,717	193.8
Region	41,272	21,481,834	192.1
U.S.	602,350	329,484,123	182.8

(*) number of cancer deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 11, 2022

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest occupational employment figures estimated that more than 38,700 optometrists were working in the United States as of May 2021.  At that time, an estimated 7,950 optometrists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S region. BLS data shows the region to be a relatively poor one for optometrist pay.  Although having three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina) that ranked among the dozen best states in the country for optometrist annual mean wages, nine of twelve Southeastern states were below the national average for that optometrist pay metric.  Moreover, those nine states were home to over 80% of the region's employed optometrists.  A closer look into BLS data from May 2021 details the following about optometrist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Optometrist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	470	$120,380	29th
AR	270	$114,070	36th
FL	2,310	$107,200	44th
GA	940	$124,830	24th
KY	380	$124,650	25th
LA	250	$138,520	5th
MS	220	$133,570	11th
NC	1,010	$141,140	4th
SC	360	$101,050	48th
TN	430	$113,370	37th
VA	1,170	$123,340	26th
WV	140	$105,210	47th
U.S.	38,720	$125,440	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 11, 2022

In 2020, 696,962 heart disease deaths were recorded in the United States, about 5.8% more than were recorded in 2019.  The six-state U.S. Far West region recorded nearly 96,816 heart disease deaths in 2020.  With 171.1 heart disease deaths per 100,000 population, about 19% below the national average, the Far Western U.S. had the second lowest regional heart disease death rate in the country in 2020.  Only the Rocky Mountain region recorded a lower regional heart disease death rate that year than did the U.S. Far West.  Further study of state-level statistical data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reveals the following about heart disease death rates in the U.S. Far West:

Heart Disease Death Rates in the U.S. Far West

State	Deaths	Population	Death Rate*
Alaska	915	731,158	125.1
California	66,538	39,368,078	169.0
Hawaii	2,623	1,407,006	186.4
Nevada	7,285	3,138,259	232.1
Oregon	7,371	4,241,507	173.8
Washington	12,084	7,693,612	157.1
Region	96,816	56,579,620	171.1
U.S.	696,962	329,484,123	211.5

(*) number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 11, 2022

More than 38,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the U.S. as of May 2021 according to the latest occupational employment numbers available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The four-state Southwestern region accounted for an estimated 3,910 MRI technologist jobs at that time, or about 10.3% of the national total.  BLS data revealed the Southwestern U.S. to be a modestly better than average one for MRI technologist pay, with about 88% of the region's MRI technologists working in a state where the annual mean wage for the profession was above the national average.  A closer study of May 2021 state-level BLS statistical data provides the following about MRI technologist pay in the Southwestern U.S. region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	760	$79,660	19th
NM	110	$74,970	26th
OK	350	$69,440	39th
TX	2,690	$78,380	21st
U.S.	38,070	$77,820	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on June 11, 2022

Over 58,000 clinical psychologists were at work in the United States as of May 2021 according to the most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the six-state New England region was home to around 4,400 working clinical psychologists.  BLS data revealed the region to be a generally weak one for clinical psychologist pay. Although Connecticut and Rhode Island rated among the top twelve states nationally for clinical psychologist annual mean wages, more than three-quarters of the region's clinical psychologists lived in a state that was below the national average for that pay metric. Further study of May 2021 data from the BLS reveals the following state-level details about clinical psychologist pay in New England:

Clinical Psychologist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	550	$116,740	6th
MA	3,120	$92,110	27th
ME	120	$91,630	28th
NH	160	$95,850	21st
RI	410	$107,060	12th
VT	n/a	$69,060	49th
U.S.	58,100	$99,640	-------

(*) 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 10, 2022