Data released recently from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were more than 229,700 physical therapists (PTs) at work in the United States as of May 2022.  Nearly 24,000 of those working as physical therapists in the U.S. lived in the four-state Southwest region.  The Southwest region was a relatively good one for physical therapist pay, with the two largest states in the region, Arizona and Texas, both recording PT annual mean wage levels that ranked among the top 10 states nationally for the profession.  A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following about PT employment and physical therapist pay in the U.S. Southwest:

Physical Therapist Pay in the U.S. Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	4,280	$99,980	10th
NM	1,310	$92,050	31st
OK	2,080	$91,100	38th
TX	16,280	$102,300	7th
U.S.	229,740	$97,960	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 10, 2023

According to the latest data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2022, there were nearly 325,500 pharmacists employed in the United States.  About 48,000 of those employed as pharmacists in the U.S. lived in the five-state Great Lakes region.  Generally speaking, the region is a modestly weak one for pharmacist pay.  Although Wisconsin ranked among the ten best states in the U.S. for pharmacist annual mean wage levels, that pay metric was below the national average in every other state in the region.  BLS data from May 2022 details the following about pharmacist employment and pharmacist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Pharmacist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	12,560	$125,130	35th
IN	6,710	$124,760	36th
MI	10,200	$124,390	37th
OH	13,170	$121,290	45th
WI	5,450	$132,530	8th
U.S.	325,480	$129,410	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 10, 2023

May 2022 employment data published this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that there were about 632,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) at work in the United States.  Known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in certain parts of the country, LPNs comprise one of the largest healthcare occupations in the U.S.  Nearly 190,000 licensed practical nurses were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country. Home to 30% of all LPNs nationally, the Southeast is easily the worst region in the country for LPN pay as licensed practical nurse annual mean wage levels in all twelve states in the region fell below the national average.  Moreover, seven Southeastern states ranked among the ten states nationally with the lowest LPN annual mean wages.  A closer examination of BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following about licensed practical nurse pay in the Southeast region of the U.S.:

Licensed Practical Nurse Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	10,290	$45,260	50th
AR	10,790	$45,990	48th
FL	36,970	$53,780	29th
GA	22,900	$50,830	41st
KY	10,370	$49,570	42nd
LA	19,230	$47,430	45th
MS	8,660	$45,020	51st
NC	16,230	$53,010	31st
SC	9,080	$51,060	40th
TN	20,480	$46,540	46th
VA	18,490	$52,790	33rd
WV	6,200	$45,530	49th
U.S.	632,020	$55,860	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 2, 2023

In the 23-24 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, nearly 900 hospitals were examined for their proficiency and effectiveness in delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study rated hospitals on various measures related to their cancer patient outcomes, the scale of their cancer care services and programs, and the level of professional recognition a hospital earned from their peers within the cancer care community.  Four New England hospitals rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey.  Here's a quick view of these four New England institutions and where they rated nationally for adult cancer care in the 23-24 U.S. News survey:

New England's Top Cancer Hospitals

Dana Farber Brigham Cancer Center
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #17 (See ranking details)

Massachusetts General Hospital
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #28 (See ranking details)

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven
Location:  New Haven, CT

National Rank:  #50 (See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to grade adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other New England hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

Recently published May 2022 employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were nearly 135,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the U.S.  About 24,000 of those OT jobs were in the Mid-East region of the country, an area that encompasses five states and the District of Columbia.  BLS data reveals the Mid-East region to be a mixed one in terms of OT pay, with OT annual mean wage levels in several states falling below the national average for all occupational therapists.  Even so, the District of Columbia and New Jersey were in the top ten nationally for OT annual mean wages.  BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist employment in the Mid-East region of the U.S. as of May 2022:

Occupational Therapist Employment in the Mid-East Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	410	$96,000	10th
DE	420	$88,180	29th
MD	2,900	$95,810	11th
NJ	4,280	$104,710	3rd
NY	8,660	$95,280	13th
PA	7,290	$88,560	28th
U.S.	134,980	$92,800	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 2, 2023

Data released recently from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, as of May 2022, more than 363,000 dental assistants were working in the United States.  About 23,000 dental assistants at work in May 2022 lived in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country.  BLS data reveals much disparity in the Great Plains region for dental assistant pay.  Dental assistants in Minnesota enjoy the highest average annual mean wage in the country, and North Dakota is another top 10 state for dental assistant annual mean wages.  However, about 53% of the region's dental assistants work in one of three states that rank 30th or worse for average annual mean wages for the profession.  A deeper dive into May 2022 BLS data details the following about dental assistant pay in the Great Plains region of the U.S.:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	3,280	$45,650	18th
KS	3,220	$39,000	44th
MN	5,890	$58,890	1st
MO	6,660	$42,260	31st
NE	2,240	$42,330	30th
ND	740	$51,370	8th
SD	1,010	$43,790	27th
U.S.	363,880	$44,710	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 2, 2023