In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) survey of American hospitals, nearly 820 hospitals were rated for their effectiveness at delivering care to adult heart patients.  The hospitals surveyed were scored on various measures related to heart patient outcomes, the breadth of their heart program and services, and the amount of recognition earned by these hospitals from their peers within the cardiology community.  In the 25-26 survey, a score of at least 63.0 out of 100 was required to earn a spot among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult heart care. No hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region made the top 50 list and only four hospitals in the region scored more than 50 out of 100 in the 25-26 survey.  The four top-ranked heart hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region in the 25-26 USNWR survey were:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Rocky Mountain Region

UC Health University of Colorado Hospital

Location:  Aurora, CO

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  52.9 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Location:  Missoula, MT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  52.8 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

University of Utah Hospital
Location:  Salt Lake City, UT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  51.4 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

Intermountain Healthcare Intermountain Medical Center

Location:  Murray, UT

National Rank:  N/R

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Score:  50.7 out of 100 

(See ranking details)

For more insight into the metrics used to rate heart hospitals in the 25-26 USNWR survey, or to find the cardiology rating of other hospitals in the Rocky Mountain region, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

There were approximately 280,100 nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  NPs work in varied healthcare settings, including physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, educational institutions, and the offices of other types of healthcare practitioners. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced training and skills, nurse practitioners usually earn higher salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations.  Per BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for NPs was $128,490 per year.  While nurse practitioners realize better than average pay, there is considerable variation from state to state in how much NPs earn.  Per annual mean wage data from the BLS, as of May 2023, these were the ten best and worst states for nurse practitioner pay:

The Best and Worst States for Nurse Practitioner Pay

Best Paying States
California	$161,540
Nevada	$148,670
Washington	$145,400
New Jersey	$145,030
Oregon	$144,950
Massachusetts	$144,010
New York	$142,830
Connecticut	$136,980
New Mexico	$136,770
Minnesota	$135,010

Worst Paying States
Kansas	$119,270
Louisiana	$118,670
Mississippi	$117,490
South Carolina	$116,940
Missouri	$116,680
West Virginia	$113,450
Arkansas	$113,410
Kentucky	$110,370
Alabama	$110,020
Tennessee	$103,720

(*) 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 27, 2024

There were just over 240,800 physical therapists (PTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2023 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 healthcare agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and 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 2023, the national mean wage for physical therapists was $100,440 per year.  That said, there is a significant disparity from state to state in the average annual wages earned by PTs.  A more extensive examination of BLS annual mean wage data reveals that, as of May 2023, the following were the ten best and worst states for physical therapist pay.

The Best and Worst States for Physical Therapist Pay

Best Paying States
California	$114,270
Nevada	$111,460
Alaska	$110,830
New Jersey	$109,280
Texas	$106,960
Maryland	$105,520
Illinois	$104,640
Delaware	$104,530
Connecticut	$103,870
District of Columbia	$103,550

Worst Paying States
Idaho	$92,400
Arkansas	$92,270
Iowa	$91,850
Maine	$91,720
Missouri	$91,030
Nebraska	$90,870
South Dakota	$89,050
North Dakota	$88,430
Kentucky	$87,480
Montana	$85,550

(*) 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 27, 2024

There were more than 144,800 occupational therapists employed in the U.S. as of May 2023 per the most current occupational statistical data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Occupational therapists (OTs) work in varied healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare agencies, and 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 2023, the national mean wage for occupational therapists was $96,790 per year.  From state to state, there is a very wide variation in the average annual wages earned by occupational therapists.  Further examination of BLS data as of May 2023 identifies the following as the ten best and worst states for occupational therapist pay based on annual mean wage levels:

The Best and Worst States for Occupational Therapist Pay

Best Paying States
California	$113,550
New York	$107,530
Nevada	$107,070
New Jersey	$105,880
Colorado	$104,950
Virginia	$102,550
Washington	$101,780
Maryland	$101,710
Texas	$101,610
Oregon	$100,910

Worst Paying States
Vermont	$86,370
Minnesota	$85,840
Iowa	$85,790
Utah	$85,750
Wisconsin	$85,030
Wyoming	$84,690
Michigan	$84,560
North Dakota	$82,450
South Dakota	$81,610
Maine	$80,590

(*) 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 27, 2024

Just over 460,000 pharmacy technicians were working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Pharmacy technicians 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. Pharmacy technicians typically earn lower salaries and wages than workers in most other healthcare occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for pharmacy technicians was $43,330 per year.  Pharmacy technician pay varies considerably from state to state.  Based on annual mean wage levels, BLS data indicated that as of May 2023 these were the ten best and worst states for pharmacy technician pay:

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacy Technician Pay

Best Paying States
California	$55,710
Washington	$55,390
District of Columbia	$54,030
Oregon	$50,440
Alaska	$49,810
Colorado	$47,150
Massachusetts	$46,450
Minnesota	$46,430
North Dakota	$45,870
Utah	$45,400

Worst Paying States
Georgia	$39,740
Louisiana	$39,540
Pennsylvania	$39,250
Tennessee	$38,940
Kentucky	$38,570
Mississippi	$38,260
West Virginia	$37,910
Oklahoma	$37,410
Arkansas	$37,170
Alabama	$37,030

(*) 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 6, 2024

More than 331,000 pharmacists working in the U.S. as of May 2023 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 2023, the national mean wage for pharmacists was $134,790 per year.  While a well-paying occupation, there is considerable variation from state to state in how much pharmacists earn.  Per BLS data, as of May 2023, these were the ten best and worst states for pharmacist pay based on annual mean wage levels:

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacist Pay

Best Paying States
California	$157,280
Alaska	$151,600
Oregon	$149,550
Washington	$148,550
Minnesota	$143,210
Colorado	$141,670
Vermont	$140,010
Wisconsin	$139,980
New Hampshire	$139,560
Hawaii	$138,390

Worst Paying States
Iowa	$127,780
North Dakota	$127,260
Alabama	$126,960
Oklahoma	$125,710
Mississippi	$125,330
Ohio	$124,850
Louisiana	$124,770
Tennessee	$122,820
West Virginia	$121,000
Rhode Island	$113,110

(*) 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 6, 2024

Nursing assistants work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home healthcare agencies, and other individual and family service environments.  As of May 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that approximately 1,352,000 nursing assistants were employed in the U.S., making it one of the largest healthcare occupations in the U.S.  The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for nursing assistants was $39,610 per year.  From state to state there was considerable disparity in nursing assistants' mean annual wages, with nursing assistants in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere.  Per BLS data as of May 2023, based on annual mean wage levels the ten best and worst states for nursing assistant pay were:

The Best and Worst States for Nursing Assistant Pay

Best Paying States
District of Columbia	$47,860
Alaska	$47,080
California	$47,070
Oregon	$46,970
Washington	$46,430
New York	$46,020
New Hampshire	$45,090
Hawaii	$44,990
Massachusetts	$44,750
Colorado	$43,580

Worst Paying States
North Carolina	$35,340
West Virginia	$35,340
Georgia	$34,890
Tennessee	$34,850
South Carolina	$34,590
Oklahoma	$33,090
Arkansas	$32,050
Alabama	$31,280
Louisiana	$30,420
Mississippi	$29,660

(*) 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 6, 2024