Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Maryland
- CalvertHealth Medical Center
Location: Prince Frederick
View Rating Details - MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
Location: Baltimore
View Rating Details - Location: Chestertown
In the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, more than 800 hospitals were appraised for their proficiency in providing adult heart care. This analysis scored hospitals on assorted metrics related to the outcomes of their heart patients, the scope of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of recognition earned by these hospitals within the cardiology community. In the 25-26 ratings, six Southeastern hospitals ranked among the 50 best U.S. hospitals for adult heart care. Here's a quick look at these top-ranked heart hospitals in the Southeast and where they rated nationally for adult cardiology care and heart surgery in the 25-26 survey:
![]() |
The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Southeast |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational employment data put the number of recreational therapists employed in the United States at more than 14,600 as of May 2024. At that time, just under 1,700 recreational therapists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region according to BLS figures. Although Minnesota ranked as a top ten state for recreational therapist annual mean wages according to BLS data, the Great Plains region was a rather weak one for recreational therapist pay. Other states in the region registered recreational therapist annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession, with Kansas ranked amongst the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric. A closer look at May 2024 BLS data provides the following details about recreational therapist pay in the Great Plains region:
![]() |
| Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| IA | 270 | $55,430 | 32nd |
| KS | 710 | $42,440 | 46th |
| MN | 240 | $67,870 | 8th |
| MO | 230 | $58,900 | 23rd |
| NE | 190 | $56,650 | 28th |
| ND | 50 | $56,770 | 26th |
| SD | ------- | ------- | N/A |
| U.S. | 14,620 | $62,644 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 14, 2025
There were nearly 122,000 general dentists employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Just under 4,500 of those general dentist jobs were in the five-state Rocky Mountain region. For general dentists, the region performed poorly relative to the national pay average. No state reported wages above the national benchmark, and three fell into the bottom quartile. Notably, three states ranked in the bottom quintile nationwide for annual mean wages for general dentists.. BLS data from May 2024 details the following about general dentist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:
![]() | ||
| General Dentist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| CO | 2,330 | $143,450 | 44th |
| ID | 690 | $173,570 | 37th |
| MT | 480 | $180,630 | 30th |
| UT | 740 | $148,860 | 42nd |
| WY | 260 | $154,030 | 41st |
| U.S. | 121,940 | $188,952 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 13, 2025
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 40,000 optometrists were employed in the United States as of May 2024. At that time, approximately 4,550 optometrists were working across the four-state Southwestern U.S. region. BLS data indicated that this region was relatively weak in terms of optometrist pay. While New Mexico ranked among the top 10 states for annual mean wage, it accounted for less than 3% of the region’s optometrists. Nearly 78% of optometrists in the region earned below the national average. A closer look at BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about optometrist pay in the Southwestern United States:
![]() |
Optometrist Pay in the Southwestern U.S. |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AZ | 960 | $139,300 | 22nd |
| NM | 140 | $159,800 | 7th |
| OK | 580 | $105,920 | 48th |
| TX | 3,180 | $132,370 | 31st |
| U.S. | 40,900 | $137,190 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 7, 2025
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published data earlier this year indicating that, as of May 2024, there were over 185,900 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the United States. More than 40,000 of those HSW jobs were in the five-state Mid-Eastern U.S. region. BLS data revealed the Mid-Eastern U.S. to be a mixed bag for healthcare social worker pay. Although New Jersey and DC recorded an annual mean wage level for healthcare social workers that ranked in the top 5 nationally, more than 90% of the Mid-Eastern region's HSW jobs were in states where that pay metric was at or below the national average for the profession. An examination of BLS data from May 2024 produced the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.
![]() |
Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S. |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| DC DE |
490 710 |
$92,240 $66,300 |
2nd 32nd |
| MD | 5,430 | $66,910 | 28th |
| NJ | 4,390 | $87,110 | 3rd |
| NY | 22,880 | $72,480 | 16th |
| PA | 6,560 | $65,940 | 35th |
| U.S. | 185,940 | $69,904 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 5, 2025
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data earlier this year that reported over 14,000 recreational therapists employed in the United States as of May 2024. Just over 400 of the nation's recreational therapists were employed in the five-state Rocky Mountain region according to the BLS. Relative to the rest of the country, BLS data shows the region to be a weak one for recreational therapist pay, with no states in the region having an annual mean wage for recreational therapists that was better than the national average. A closer study of May 2024 BLS data details the following about recreational therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:
![]() | ||
| Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| CO | N/A | $62,040 | 16th |
| ID | 90 | $54,390 | 34th |
| MT | 40 | $58,130 | 25th |
| UT | 260 | $56,740 | 27th |
| WY | 30 | $61,270 | 19th |
| U.S. | 14,620 | $62,644 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 30, 2025
Nearly 122,000 general dentists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Per BLS data, just over 7,790 of those employed general dentists worked in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country. Although home to three states ranked among the ten best in the nation for general dentist annual mean wages, on the whole the region was a subpar one in terms of pay, as nearly 64% of the region's dentists lived in states where the annual mean wage for general dentists was below the national average. A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data details the following about general dentist pay in the Great Plains region:
![]() |
| General Dentist Pay in the Great Plains Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| IA | 850 | $216,520 | 6th |
| KS | 1,240 | $172,120 | 38th |
| MN | 2,500 | $224,700 | 3rd |
| MO | 1,980 | N/A | N/A |
| NE | 740 | $185,360 | 26th |
| ND | 210 | $224,300 | 4th |
| SD | 270 | $166,690 | 40th |
| U.S. | 121,940 | $188,952 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 24, 2025
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest occupational employment figures estimated that more than 40,800 optometrists were working in the United States as of May 2024. At that time, an estimated 8,680 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 two states (Kentucky and North Carolina) that ranked among the top ten 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 2024 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 | $125,860 | 39th |
| AR | 350 | $124,990 | 41st |
| FL | 2,280 | $132,350 | 32nd |
| GA | 860 | $132,250 | 33rd |
| KY | 500 | $154,120 | 9th |
| LA | 230 | $127,470 | 37th |
| MS | 250 | $127,920 | 36th |
| NC | 1,400 | $159,420 | 3rd |
| SC | 480 | $123,900 | 42th |
| TN | 590 | $125,970 | 38th |
| VA | 1,120 | N/A | N/A |
| WV | 150 | $136,210 | 25th |
| U.S. | 40,900 | $137,190 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 23, 2025
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently published May 2024 statistics that reported that over 185,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) were employed in the United States at that time. Nearly 11,600 of those HSW jobs were in the six-state New England region. BLS data further revealed New England to be a relatively good one for healthcare social worker pay. All states reported an annual mean wage for healthcare social workers that was above the national average, furthermore four New England states ranked among the ten best states in the nation for healthcare social worker annual mean wages. May 2024 BLS data tells us the following about healthcare social worker pay in New England:
![]() |
Healthcare Social Worker Pay in New England |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| CT | 2,010 | $85,570 | 4th |
| MA | 7,540 | $71,210 | 14th |
| ME | 590 | $74,510 | 17th |
| NH | 530 | $79,400 | 9th |
| RI | 570 | $78,560 | 10th |
| VT | 300 | $81,580 | 6th |
| U.S. | 185,940 | $69,904 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 20, 2025
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released data reporting that there were more than 14,000 recreational therapists employed in the United States as of May 2024. About 1,700 recreational therapists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region according to BLS reports. Relative to the rest of the nation, BLS data shows the region to be a modestly weak one for recreational therapist pay, with only one state in the region registering an annual mean wage for recreational therapists that was above the national average. A closer look at May 2024 BLS data reveals the following about recreational therapist pay in the Great Lakes region:
![]() |
| Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| IL | 290 | $67,720 | 9th |
| IN | 220 | $55,350 | 33rd |
| MI | 450 | $61,970 | 17th |
| OH | 310 | $61,250 | 20th |
| WI | 430 | $58,580 | 24th |
| U.S. | 14,620 | $62,644 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 17, 2025
About 121,940 general dentists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nearly 21,000 general dentists were working in the six-state Far Western region of the country. For general dentists, the region is a mixed bag in terms of pay relative to the national average. About two-thirds of the Far West’s general dentists practice in California, where the average annual wage for general dentists falls below the national mean. However, three other states in the region—Alaska, Oregon, and Washington—reported average annual wages for general dentists that exceed the national average. An examination of BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about general dentist pay in Far Western U.S. states:
![]() |
| General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AK | 260 | $202,250 | 17th |
| CA | 14,760 | $184,350 | 29th |
| HI | 570 | $136,200 | 46th |
| NV | 1,040 | $146,480 | 43rd |
| OR | 1,180 | $209,670 | 9th |
| WA | 3,100 | $203,780 | 13th |
| U.S. | 121,940 | $189,551 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 16, 2025