Dental Hygienist Pay in the U.S. Far West

Data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were nearly 212,000 dental hygienists working in the United States as of May 2023.  More than 38,000 dental hygienists were working in the six-state U.S. Far West region according to BLS reports.  The region is the strongest one in the nation for dental hygienist pay.  A closer look at May 2023 BLS data reveals the following about dental hygienist pay in the U.S. Far West:

Dental Hygienist pay in the U.S. Far West

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	610	$115,980	3rd
CA	24,880	$118,330	2nd
HI	1,130	$91,070	18th
NV	2,160	$90,320	19th
OR	2,930	$103,440	5th
WA	6,620	$123,510	1rd
U.S.	211,670	$87,035	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 4, 2025

Recently published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that, as of May 2023, there were more than 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the U.S.  Over 365,600 of those RN jobs were in the four-state Southwest region of the country.  Though most states in the region reported pay slightly above the national average, Oklahoma being the exception, none placed in the top ten. BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following about registered nurse pay in the Southwest:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	63,150	$91,430	18th
NM	18,030	$92,140	15th
OK	32,610	$82,110	37th
TX	251,840	$90,210	19th
U.S.	3,175,440	$89,611	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on February 3, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the Great Lakes Region

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year put medical assistant (MA) employment in the U.S. at over 763,000 as of May 2023. Per BLS data, approximately 101,000 medical assistants were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region. In general, the region is a subpar one for medical assistant pay based on BLS data.  Although the average annual mean wage for medical assistants in Wisconsin was above the national average, 87% of the region's MAs lived in states where the MA annual mean wage was below the national average.  A closer examination of BLS data reveals the following about medical assistant pay in the Great Lakes region as of May 2023:

Medical Assistant Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	21,040	$42,790	21st
IN	20,220	$42,260	24th
MI	26,370	$39,840	35th
OH	21,260	$39,620	37th
WI	12,970	$45,160	14th
U.S.	763,020	$42,404	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 29, 2025

Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that almost 145,000 occupational therapists (OTs) were employed in the U.S. as of May 2023.  Over 31,000 occupational therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeast region of the country at that time.  BLS data revealed the region to be a generally subpar one in terms of OT pay, with only three Southeastern states,  Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama recording an occupational therapist annual mean wage level that was above the national average for the profession.  A closer examination of the BLS data revealed the following details about occupational therapist pay in the Southeast as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	1,300	$94,680	20th
AR	1,600	$92,680	28th
FL	8,100	$92,820	26th
GA	3,590	$98,490	15th
KY	1,960	$86,860	41st
LA	1,520	$93,310	24th
MS	1,190	$90,510	30th
NC	4,250	$88,510	35th
SC	1,930	$88,520	34th
TN	2,280	$92,710	27th
VA	3,440	$102,550	6th
WV	650	$87,460	39th
U.S.	144,850	$93,491	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 28, 2025

Rocky Mountain Region Dental Hygienist Pay

Earlier this year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported over 211,000 dental hygienists at work in the United States as of May 2023.  The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for 10,520 dental hygienist jobs according to the BLS data.  Outside of Colorado, which was ranked among the ten best states in the country for dental hygienist annual mean wages, the region was a relatively weak one for dental hygienist pay. Most dental hygienists in the region, outside of Colorado & Montana, lived in states where the dental hygienist annual mean wage level was below the national average. A closer review of May 2023 BLS data revealed the following details about Rocky Mountain region dental hygienist pay:

Rocky Mountain Region Dental Hygienist Pay

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	4,700	$101,790	8th
ID	1,420	$84,390	25th
MT	930	$88,990	21st
UT	3,030	$78,910	42nd
WY	440	$80,820	33rd
U.S.	211,670	$87,035	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 22, 2025

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported recently that 3,175,440 registered nurses (RNs) were employed in the United States as of May 2023.  More than 171,510 employed RNs worked in the six-state New England region.  BLS data shows New England to be a relatively strong region for registered nurse pay.  One state in the region ranked among the ten best in the nation for registered nurse annual mean wages.  And two other New England states ranked among the top fifteen states for RN annual mean wages.  Further examination of BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following about registered nurse pay in New England:

Registered Nurse Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	36,430	$101,840	10th
MA	87,320	$108,850	6th
ME	14,770	$84,340	30th
NH	14,380	$89,410	21st
RI	11,350	$95,070	12th
VT	7,260	$88,380	22nd
U.S.	3,175,440	$89,611	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 21, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the U.S. Far West

Medical assistant (MA) employment in the U.S. stood at more than 760,000 as of May 2023 according U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year. Per BLS data, over 153,000 medical assistants were employed in the six-state U.S. Far West region. The Far West is the best region in the nation for medical assistant pay according to BLS data.  Except for Nevada, all states in the Far West region ranked among the top ten states nationally for medical assistant annual mean wages.  A closer review of May 2023 BLS data reveals the following about medical assistant pay in the U.S. Far West:

Medical Assistant Pay in the U.S. Far West

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	2,140	$54,530	2nd
CA	110,280	$50,900	3rd
HI	3,870	$47,840	8th
NV	7,550	$41,390	28th
OR	11,650	$49,390	6th
WA	17,580	$53,780	1st
U.S.	763,020	$42,404	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 20, 2025

Recently released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from May 2023 indicated that there were just under 145,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the U.S.  About 10,900 of those employed as occupational therapists lived in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Great Plains region to be a very weak one in terms of occupational therapist pay, with the OT mean annual wage level in all states in the region falling below the national average for the profession.  Moreover, four states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for OT mean annual wage levels.  A closer examination of the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Great Plains region of the U.S. as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Mean Annual Wage	Wage Rank*
IA	1,250	$85,790	44th
KS	1,580	$92,510	29th
MN	3,070	$85,840	43rd
MO	2,960	$87,970	36th
NE	1,150	$87,710	37th
ND	470	$82,450	49th
SD	460	$81,610	50th
U.S.	144,850	$93,491	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 16, 2025

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

Data published earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put dental hygienist (DH) employment in the USA at about 211,000 as of May 2023.  At that time, approximately 19,780 dental hygienists were working in the four-state Southwestern U.S. according to the BLS.  The region is an average one for dental hygienist pay.  A deeper look at May 2023 BLS data details the following about dental hygienist pay in the Southwestern U.S.:

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	4,880	$92,460	13th
NM	1,110	$92,100	15th
OK	2,280	$91,280	17th
TX	11,510	$87,270	23rd
U.S.	211,670	$87,035	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 14, 2025

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported earlier this year that there were over 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) working in the U.S. as of May 2023.  Approximately 487,000 registered nurses were employed in the Mid-Eastern U.S. region, an area that encompasses five states and the District of Columbia.  BLS data revealed the region to be one of the better regions in the nation for RN pay. Moreover, three of the ten best states nationally for RN annual mean wages were in the region. Pennsylvania, however, was the only state to not meet the national average. Further review of BLS data from May 2023 detailed the following about registered nurse pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S. region:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	10,810	$106,850	7th
DE	11,810	$94,670	14th
MD	49,770	$92,090	16th
NJ	82,950	$101,960	9th
NY	188,060	$106,620	8th
PA	144,100	$87,530	25th
U.S.	3,175,440	$89,611	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 10, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year put the number of medical assistants (MA) at work in the United States at over 763,000 as of May 2023. Per BLS data, approximately 195,000 medical assistant jobs were in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country. In general, the Southeastern U.S. was the worst in the nation for medical assistant pay, with six states in the region ranked among the ten states in the country with the lowest annual mean wage level for medical assistants. Moreover, as of May 2023, no state in the region recorded a medical assistant annual mean wage level that was above the national average.  A closer examination of BLS data reveals the following details about medical assistant pay in the Southeastern U.S. as of May 2023:

Medical Assistant Pay in the Southeastern U.S

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	12,360	$34,160	50th
AR	4,700	$35,560	47th
FL	55,110	$40,530	33rd
GA	25,160	$39,640	36th
KY	12,460	$37,090	46th
LA	10,610	$33,610	51st
MS	3,590	$34,630	49th
NC	22,950	$40,880	31st
SC	9,530	$38,520	43rd
TN	18,640	$38,860	42nd
VA	16,100	$42,010	27th
WV	4,120	$34,660	48th
U.S.	763,020	$42,404	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 8, 2024

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational statistical data, there were almost 145,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the United States as of May 2023.  Nearly 5,900 occupational therapists were employed at that time in the five-state Rocky Mountain region of the country.  BLS data revealed that nearly 2/3rds of occupational therapists in the Rocky Mountain region lived in Colorado, which ranked as a top ten state in the nation for OT annual mean wages.  Elsewhere in the region, OTs did not fare as well financially as no other Rocky Mountain state recorded an OT annual mean wage level that topped the national average for the profession.  Moreover, three states in the region ranked among the bottom third of states for occupational therapist annual mean wage levels.  A closer look at the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	3,540	$104,950	5th
ID	610	$89,550	31st
MT	460	$87,380	40th
UT	940	$85,750	45th
WY	320	$84,690	47th
U.S.	144,850	$93,491	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 7, 2024

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 211,000 dental hygienists employed in the United States as of May 2023.  About 34,200 dental hygienists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region according to BLS reports.  The region is among the weaker ones in the nation for dental hygienist pay, with the annual mean wage for dental hygienists in all five states falling below the national average.  May 2023 BLS data reveals the following about dental hygienist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	7,730	$82,470	30th
IN	4,770	$82,800	27th
MI	8,370	$76,800	46th
OH	8,470	$79,260	39th
WI	4,880	$80,450	34th
U.S.	211,670	$87,035	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 3, 2025

The latest occupational employment data released data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that over 3,072,000 registered nurses (RNs) were working in the U.S. as of May 2023.  More than 470,000 of those RN jobs were in the six-state Far Western region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Far West as the best region in the nation for registered nurse pay.  Not only was the average annual mean wage for registered nurses in every state in the region above the national average, but all six states in the region ranked among the top ten states in the nation for RN annual mean wages.  Further examination of May 2023 BLS data reveals the following about registered nurse pay in the Far Western U.S.:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Far Western U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	6,590	$109,210	5th
CA	332,560	$137,690	1st
HI	11,920	$119,710	2nd
NV	25,890	$97,700	11th
OR	38,770	$113,440	3rd
WA	65,030	$111,030	4th
U.S.	3,175,440	$89,611	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 1, 2025