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.

Recreational Therapist Pay in the U.S. Mid-East

The most recent occupational employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that over14,000 recreational therapists were employed in the United States as of May 2024.  Just under 3,000 of those recreational therapist jobs were in the five-state U.S. Mid-East region, which encompasses the District of Columbia and five states.  Relative to the rest of the country, BLS data shows the region to be one of much disparity for recreational therapist pay.  The District of Columbia and two states, which collectively hold about 55% of the region's recreational therapist jobs, all ranked among the top eleven states in the country for recreational therapist annual mean wage levels.  However, the remaining 45% of region's employed recreational therapists lived in states where the annual mean wage level for recreational therapists was below the national average.  A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data details the following about recreational therapist pay in the U.S. Mid-East region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the U.S. Mid-East

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	60	$88,810	2nd
DE	70	$50,940	40th
MD	340	$59,600	22nd
NJ	360	$68,570	7th
NY	1,310	$66,270	11th
PA	750	$56,600	29th
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 December 5, 2025

In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, more than 800 hospitals were examined for their capabilities in delivering care to adult heart patients.  Hospitals in the survey were measured on the clinical outcomes of their adult heart patients, the scale of their heart care programs, and the level of recognition earned by these hospitals from other members of the cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult heart care in the 25-26 survey, eight were based in the five-state Great Lakes region, with the region's top-ranked heart hospital, Cleveland Clinic, being rated as the third best adult heart hospital in the United States.  Here's a summary look at the top-ranked heart hospitals in the Great Lakes region and where they ranked nationally for adult heart care in the 25-26 survey:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Cleveland Clinic

Location:  Cleveland 

National Rank:  #3 (See ranking details)

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Location:  Chicago 

National Rank:  #7 (See ranking details)

Rush University Medical Center

Location:  Chicago

National Rank:  #13 (See ranking details)

University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers

Location:  Ann Arbor, MI

National Rank:  #21 (See ranking details)

Advocate Christ Medical Center

Location:  Oak Lawn, IL

National Rank:  #23 (See ranking details)

Corewell Health Beaumont University Hospital

Location:  Royal Oaks, MI

National Rank:  #25 (See ranking details)

University of Chicago Medical Center

Location:  Chicago

National Rank:  #33 (See ranking details)

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

Location:  Columbus, OH

National Rank:  #47 (See ranking details)

For more insight into the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to learn more about the adult heart care rating of other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

General Dentist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

There were almost 122,000 general dentists at work in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to the latest occupational statistical information published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Just over 12,400 general dentists were employed in the four-state Southwestern U.S.  For general dentists, on the whole the region was a good one in terms of pay, as all of the region's practitioners lived in a state where the general dentist annual mean wage level topped the national average.  Further examination of May 2024 BLS data reveals the following details about general dentist pay in the Southwestern U.S.:

General Dentist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	2,930	$201,240	19th
NM	660	$191,570	23rd
OK	1,150	$201,720	18th
TX	7,690	$207,300	11th
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 December 3, 2025

Over 800 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness in providing adult heart care in the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings of American hospitals.  In this analysis, hospitals were scored on multiple metrics related to their adult heart patient outcomes, the scope of their adult heart programs, and the degree of recognition they've earned from the wider cardiac care community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiac care in 25-26, eight were based in six-state Far Western region of the United States.  This included Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which was rated #6 nationally for adult heart care.  Here's a summary look at the top-ranked heart hospitals in the Far West and where they rated nationally for adult heart care in the 25-26 USNWR survey:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Far West

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles 
National Rank:  #6 (See ranking details)

Stanford Hospital
Location:  Palo Alto, CA
National Rank:  #11 (See ranking details)

UCLA Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank:  #17 (See ranking details)

UCSF Medical Center
UCSF Heart and Vascular Center
Location:  San Francisco
National Rank:  #22 (See ranking details)

Scripps La Jolla Hospitals

Location: La Jolla, CA

National Rank:  #24 (See ranking details)

Cardiovascular Institute at UC San Diego Health

Location: San Diego

National Rank:  #27 (See ranking details)

Keck Hospital of USC
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)

UC Davis Medical Center

Location: Sacramento, CA

National Rank:  #46 (See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the heart care ratings of other Far West hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

More than 800 hospitals were rated for their capabilities at delivering adult cardiology in the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings of American hospitals.  This analysis graded subject hospitals on multiple metrics related to the outcomes experienced by their adult heart patients, the scale of their adult heart care programs, and the amount of professional recognition a hospital earned from the broader cardiology community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult heart care in the 25-26 survey, thirteen were based in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes five states and the District of Columbia.  This included the two highest rated heart hospitals in the nation, three more hospitals that ranked among the top ten heart hospitals nationally and nine in total that ranked in the top twenty.  In the 25-26 survey, no other region of the country had as many top-rated heart hospitals as the Mid-Eastern U.S.  Here is a summary look at the top-ranked heart hospitals in the Mid-Eastern U.S. from the 25-26 USNWR survey:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

NYU Langone Hospitals 

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #1 (See ranking details)

Mount Sinai Hospital

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #2 (See ranking details)

New York-Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell

Location:  New York City 

National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian

Location:  Philadelphia

National Rank:  #9 (See ranking details)

Johns Hopkins Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute

Location:  Baltimore, MD

National Rank:  #10 (See ranking details)

Montefiore Einstein Medical Center

Location:  Bronx, NY

National Rank:  #15 (See ranking details)

Lenox Hill Hospital at Northwell Health

New York, NY

National Rank:  #16 (See ranking details)

Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West Hospitals

New York, NY

National Rank:  #17 (See ranking details)

North Shore University Hospital at Northwell Health

Location:  Manhasset, NY

National Rank:  #19 (See ranking details)

Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute

Location:  Washington, DC

National Rank:  #31 (See ranking details)

St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center

Location:  Roslyn, NY

National Rank:  #32 (See ranking details)

Hackensack Meridian Health

Hackensack, NJ

National Rank: #37 (See ranking details)

Morristown Medical Center Atlantic Health System

Location:  Morristown, NJ

National Rank:  #40 (See ranking details)

For insight into the metrics used to grade adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology ranking of other Mid-Eastern U.S. hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, more than 800 hospitals were rated for their effectiveness at delivering heart care to adult patients.  The hospitals surveyed were ranked on assorted metrics related to heart patient outcomes, the scope of their adult heart care program, and the amount of professional recognition they received from their peers within the cardiac care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult heart care in the 25-26 survey, six were based in the Southwest.  Here's a quick view of the top-ranked heart hospitals in the Southwestern U.S. and where they ranked nationally for adult heart care:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Southwestern U.S.

Houston Methodist Hospital

Location:  Houston, TX

National Rank:  #14 (See ranking details)

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Location:  Dallas, TX

National Rank:  #20 (See ranking details)

Texas Heart Institute at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Location:  Houston, TX

National Rank:  #25 (See ranking details)

Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital

Location:  Plano, TX

National Rank:  #30 (See ranking details)

Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Medicine

Location:  Phoenix, AZ

National Rank:  #45 (See ranking details)

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

Location:  The Woodlands, TX

National Rank:  #47 (See ranking details)

For a deeper look at the metrics used to score adult cardiology care and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find adult heart care rankings for other Southwestern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology and Heart Surgery.  

In the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, over 800 hospitals were scored on their proficiency in providing adult heart care, including heart surgery.  In this survey, hospitals were scored on assorted metrics related to their experience with adult heart patients, the scope of their adult heart care programs, and the degree of distinction a hospital has earned within the adult cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 25-26, four were based in the seven-state Great Plains region. This included the Mayo Clinic, the 4th highest-rated heart hospital in the country. Here's a summary view of the top-rated heart hospitals in the Great Plains region and where they ranked nationally for adult heart care in the 25-26 survey:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

Mayo Clinic

Location:  Rochester, MN

National Rank:  #4 (See ranking details)

Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Location:  St. Louis, MO

National Rank:  #28 (See ranking details)

University of Kansas Hospital

Location:  Kansas City, KS

National Rank:  #33 (See ranking details)

Sanford Medical Center Bismarck
Location:  Bismarck, ND
National Rank:  #44 (See ranking details)

For a further look at the metrics used to grade adult heart care and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology rating of other Great Plains region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 40,900 optometrists were employed in the United States as of May 2024.  At that time, about 6,090 optometrists were employed in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes five states and the District of Columbia. BLS data shows the region to be a generally strong one for optometrist pay.  Although Delaware & Pennsylvania failed to meet the national average for optometrist annual mean wages, the other four states in the region rated among the twenty best states in the nation on that pay metric for optometrists. A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about optometrist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Optometrist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	60	$157,130	6th
DE	180	$134,830	27th
MD	870	$142,060	19nd
NJ	950	$145,500	13th
NY	2,500	$158,600	5th
PA	1,530	$135,880	26th
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 21, 2025

More than 800 hospitals were evaluated for their proficiency in delivering adult heart-care services in the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals.  In this study, hospitals were graded on assorted metrics related to the outcomes of their adult heart patients, the scope of their adult cardiology programs, and the degree of professional recognition they received from the broader cardiology community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology in 25-26, five were based in the six-state New England region, including one that was rated among the ten best heart hospitals in the nation.  From the 25-26 survey, the top-ranked heart hospitals in New England were:

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in New England

Massachusetts General Hospital

Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #8 (See ranking details)

Brigham and Women's Hospital Heart & Vascular Center
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #12 (See ranking details)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #39 (See ranking details)

Yale New Haven Hospital

Location:  New Haven, CT

National Rank:  #40 (See ranking details)

Boston Medical Center

Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

For a closer look at the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the heart-care rating of other New England hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

The most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that, as of May 2024, more than 185,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) were working in the United States.  More than 28,000 of those HSW jobs were in the six-state Far West region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Far West U.S. to be the best in the nation for healthcare social worker pay. Not only did every state in the region register a healthcare social worker annual mean wage that topped the national average of $62,670, but every state in the region rated among the fifteen best in the nation for HSW annual mean wages. This included California and Oregon, which were #1 and #5 nationally for that pay metric.  A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Far West U.S.:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	290	$79,450	8th
CA	19,680	$97,090	1st
HI	680	$81,530	7th
NV	1,070	$77,420	11th
OR	2,050	$84,830	5th
WA	4,970	$77,320	12th
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 20, 2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a star rating methodology to grade the quality of acute care hospitals that service Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS methodology assesses hospital data on several quality-related measures, including data on patient experience, the timeliness of care, mortality experience, readmission rates, and patient safety.  The CMS then calculates a standardized score for each metric and then consolidates the scores into an overall quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the highest score on the scale.  As of November 16, 2025, four (4) acute care hospitals in the state of Maryland earned a CMS five-star quality rating.  Listed alphabetically, here are the five-star quality acute care hospitals in Maryland as rated by CMS:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Maryland

1. CalvertHealth Medical Center
   Location:  Prince Frederick
   View Rating Details
   
   
2. MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Baltimore
   View Rating Details
   
   
3. University of Maryland Shore Medical Center
   Location:  Chestertown
   View Rating Details
   
   
4. University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center

   Location:  Towson

   View Rating Details
   

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

Duke University Hospital

Location:  Durham, NC

National Ranking: #29 (See ranking details)

AdventHealth Orlando
Location:  Orlando FL
National Ranking:  #36 (See ranking details)

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

Location:  Jacksonville, FL

National Ranking: #38 (See ranking details)

Tampa General Hospital

Location:  Tampa, FL

National Ranking: #43 (See ranking details)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Location:  Nashville, TN

National Ranking:  #49 (See ranking details)

Orlando Regional Medical Center

Location:  Orlando, FL

National Ranking:  #50 (See ranking details)

For a deeper dive into the scoring metrics for adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the heart-care ratings of other Southeastern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

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

General Dentist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

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

Using a five-star rating system, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grades the quality of the more than 4,000 acute care hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid participants. This rating methodology analyzes data from participating hospitals on various quality metrics, calculates a grade for each measure, and then consolidates the grades into a unified quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the best score. For acute care hospitals, the particular metrics examined include patient safety, the timeliness of care, patient experience, readmission rates, and mortality. As of November 12, 2025, thirteen (13) acute care hospitals, including one devoted to veterans' care, in the state of Wisconsin earned a five-star quality rating from the CMS.  Listed here, in alphabetical order, are the hospitals rated as CMS five-star quality acute care hospitals in Wisconsin:

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Wisconsin

1. Aurora Health Care Central
   Location:  Sheboygan
   View Rating Details
   
   
2. Aurora Medical Center
   Location:  Grafton
   View Rating Details
   
   
3. Aurora Medical Center - Summit

   Location:  Summit

   View Rating Details
   
   
4. Aurora Memorial Hospital Burlington

   Location:  Burlington

   View Rating Details
   
   
5. Bellin Memorial Hospital

   Location:  Green Bay

   View Rating Details
   
   
6. Door County Medical Center
   Location:  Sturgeon Bay
   View Rating Details
   
   
7. Madison VA Medical Center

   Location:  Madison

   View Rating Details
   
   
8. Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire Hospital

   Location:  Eau Claire

   View Rating Details
   
   
9. Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center

   Location:  La Crosse

   View Rating Details
   
   
10. Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital

    Location:  Oconomowoc

    View Rating Details
    
    
11. Sauk Prairie Hospital
    Location:  Prairie Du Sac
    View Rating Details
    
    
12. Thedacare Regional Med Center - Neenah
    Location:  Neenah
    View Rating Details
    
    
13. Waukesha Memorial Hospital
    Location:  Waukesha
    View Rating Details
    
    

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) utilizes a star rating methodology to grade the quality of acute care hospitals that treat Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. This methodology assesses hospital data on several quality-related measures, including data on the timeliness of care, mortality experience, readmission rates, patient safety, and patient experience.  The CMS then computes a standardized score for each measure and consolidates the scores into an all-embracing overall quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the scale's best score.  As of November 10, 2025, nine (9) acute care hospitals in the state of Utah earned a CMS five-star quality rating.  Alphabetically listed, here are the five-star quality acute care hospitals in Utah as rated by CMS:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Utah

1. Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital
   Location:  Provo
   View Rating Details
   
   
2. Intermountain Medical Center
   Location:  Murray
   View Rating Details
   
   
3. Lakeview Hospital
   Location:  Bountiful
   View Rating Details
   
   
4. Logan Regional Hospital

   Location:  Logan

   View Rating Details
   
   
5. Lone Peak Hospital

   Location:  Draper
   View Rating Details

   
   
6. McKay-Dee Hospital
   Location:  Ogden

   View Rating Details
   
   
7. Mountain View Hospital

   Location:  Payson
   View Rating Details

   
   
8. University of Utah Hospital and Clinics

   Location:  Salt Lake City

   View Rating Details
   
   
9. VA Salt Lake City Healthcare - Wahlen VA Medical Center
   

   Location:  Salt Lake City

   View Rating Details

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