The latest occupational employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that there were over 3,174,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the country as of May 2023.  Over 506,000 of those RN jobs were in the five Great Lakes states.  BLS data revealed the Great Lakes region as a weak one for registered nurse pay, as no state in the region had an RN annual mean wage level that topped the national average. A closer look at BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following details about registered nurse pay in the Great Lakes region:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	139,910	$87,650	24th
IN	68,850	$82,700	35th
MI	102,240	$86,210	27th
OH	133,300	$84,430	29th
WI	61,870	$87,220	26th
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 28, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the Great Plains Region

Recently produced employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts medical assistant (MA) employment in the United States at over 763,000 as of May 2023.  Approximately 37,210 of those MA jobs were in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country.  BLS data paints a mixed picture for MA pay in the Great Plains region. Minnesota ranks in the top 5 nationally for medical assistant annual mean wages according to BLS data, while Iowa and Nebraska nearly rank in the top 20.  However, the other four states in the region rank 34th or lower nationally for MA annual mean wages.  A closer look at BLS data reveals the following about medical assistant pay in the Great Plains region as of May 2023:

Medical Assistant Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	4,830	$42,660	22nd
KS	4,900	$39,020	39th
MN	11,840	$49,740	5th
MO	11,820	$39,230	38th
NE	2,390	$42,280	23rd
ND	420	$40,320	34th
SD	1,010	$37,760	44th
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 February 27, 2025

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year indicated that, as of May 2023, there were nearly 145,000 occupational therapists (OTs) at work in the United States.  At that time, occupational therapist employment in the Far West U.S. totaled just under 19,000.  BLS data reveals the Far West region to be the best in the nation in terms of OT pay.  Every state in the region had an OT annual mean wage level above the national average of $93,491.  Moreover, four of the six states in the Far West U.S. ranked among the top ten states in the nation for occupational therapist annual mean wages.  A deeper dive into the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Far West U.S. as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	350	$98,960	14th
CA	12,470	$113,550	1st
HI	290	$99,490	13th
NV	1,220	$107,070	3rd
OR	1,180	$100,910	10th
WA	3,270	$101,780	7th
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 February 25, 2025

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S

The most recent occupational employment reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put dental hygienist (DH) employment in the country at about 211,600 as of May 2023.  At that time, the Mid-Eastern U.S. was home to approximately 30,440 employed dental hygienists according to the BLS.  BLS data shows the region to be a mixed picture for dental hygienist pay.  Three states in the region, plus the District of Columbia, ranked among the eleven best states nationally for dental hygienist annual mean wages.  At the same time, however, the region's two biggest employment centers for DHs, New York and Pennsylvania, both had dental hygienist annual mean wage levels that were just at or below the national average.  A deeper examination of May 2023 BLS data shows the following about dental hygienist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	230	$113,600	4th
DE	710	$98,660	8th
MD	3,590	$101,140	7th
NJ	6,060	$95,700	10th
NY	12,100	$87,290	22nd
PA	7,750	$77,010	44th
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 February 24, 2025

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Nearly 221,200 radiologic technicians and technologists were employed in the United States as of May 2023 according to the most recent occupational employment data released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for just over 8,000 of those radiologic technologist and technician jobs.  BLS data reveals the region to be a mixed picture for radiologic tech pay.  Nearly half the radiologic tech professionals in the region lived in Colorado, a state where the radiologic tech annual mean wage level topped the national average.  However, the annual mean wage for radiologic techs in all other states in the region ran below the national average for the profession.  More examination of May 2023 data from the BLS reveals the following details about radiologic tech pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	3,700	$80,140	13th
ID	1,450	$72,890	22nd
MT	820	$68,820	31st
UT	1,610	$72,690	23rd
WY	460	$72,390	25th
U.S.	221,180	$73,907	-------

(*) 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 21, 2025

Recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the U.S. as of May 2023.  More than 804,000 of those RN jobs were in the twelve-state Southeast region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Southeast as a generally weak region for registered nurse pay.  The average annual mean wage for registered nurses in nearly every state in the region fell below the national average, and six states in the region ranked among the bottom ten states in the nation for RN annual mean wages.  BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following about registered nurse pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	50,450	$71,370	50th
AR	29,690	$72,900	49th
FL	207,910	$84,760	28th
GA	93,730	$90,000	20th
KY	48,710	$81,770	38th
LA	36,840	$80,760	40th
MS	28,910	$75,510	47th
NC	104,380	$82,530	36th
SC	48,790	$81,390	39th
TN	63,460	$78,240	43rd
VA	70,650	$88,350	23rd
WV	20,860	$75,990	46th
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 20, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data published this past spring showed just over 763,000 medical assistants (MAs) at work in the United States as of May 2023.  The four-state Southwestern U.S. held over 105,000 of those MA jobs.  BLS data shows the Southwest to be one of the weakest regions in the country for medical assistant pay, as all but one state, Arizona, reported an annual mean wage below the national average for medical assistants.  In fact, all three other states in the region ranked among the fifteen worst states in the nation for medical assistant annual mean wages.  BLS data reveals the following detail about medical assistant pay in the Southwestern U.S. as of May 2020:

Medical Assistant Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	22,180	$43,140	20th
NM	6,580	$39,020	40th
OK	9,880	$37,480	45th
TX	66,720	$38,870	41st
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 February 19, 2025

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data published recently indicated that, as of May 2023, there were about 144,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the United States.  More than 25,000 occupational therapists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Great Lakes region to be a relatively weak one in terms of OT pay, with OT annual mean wage levels in all states but one falling below the national average for occupational therapists.  In fact, two states in the region, Michigan and Wisconsin, ranked among the bottom ten states in the nation for occupational therapist annual mean wages.  A closer look at the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	7,270	$96,160	18th
IN	4,080	$88,700	33rd
MI	4,690	$84,560	48th
OH	6,060	$89,490	32nd
WI	3,160	$85,030	46th
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 February 18, 2025

Dental Hygienist Pay in New England

Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported nearly 212,000 dental hygienists at work in the United States as of May 2023. Almost 12,000 dental hygienists were employed in the six-state New England region according to the BLS.  The region is a generally good one for dental hygienist pay, with over 85% of the region's practitioners living in a state with a dental hygienist annual mean wage level that was above the national average.  A deeper dive into May 2023 BLS data reveals the following details about dental hygienist pay in New England:

Dental Hygienist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	3,170	$94,220	11th
MA	5,010	$96,410	9th
ME	840	$80,310	35th
NH	1,480	$92,840	12th
RI	770	$79,980	37th
VT	560	$92,310	14th
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 February 17, 2025

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Far Western U.S.

Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that, as of May 2023, over 221,000 radiologic technicians and technologists were employed in the United States.  The six-state Far Western U.S. held more than 28,000 of those radiologic technologist and technician jobs.  BLS data revealed the region to be the best in the nation for radiologic tech pay.  The Far Western U.S. was home to four of the top five states ranked best in the nation for radiologic tech annual mean wages. In fact, all six states ranked among the top ten nationally. Further examination of May 2023 data from the BLS provided the following data about radiologic tech pay in Far Western U.S.:

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Far Western U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	320	$87,180	7th
CA	19,670	$103,150	1st
HI	690	$92,170	3rd
NV	1,580	$86,570	8th
OR	2,220	$90,610	4th
WA	3,660	$89,910	5th
U.S.	221,180	$73,907	-------

(*) 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 14, 2025

Data released recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that, as of May 2023, there were over 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the country.  More than 252,000 of those RN jobs were in the seven Great Plains states.  BLS data revealed the Great Plains as one of the weakest regions of the country for registered nurse pay.  Only one state in the region, Minnesota, recorded an RN annual mean wage level above the national average pay for registered nurses, and it was home to only 26% of the region's employed RNs. Meanwhile, all other RNs in the region lived in one of six Great Plains states that ranked among the ten states in the country with the lowest annual mean wage levels for registered nurses. A closer examination of BLS data from May 2023 reveals the following details about registered nurse pay in the Great Plains states:

Registered Nurse Pay in the Great Plains States

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	33,300	$74,610	48th
KS	31,120	$76,240	45th
MN	66,700	$94,830	13th
MO	73,190	$77,590	44th
NE	22,870	$79,780	41st
ND	10,350	$79,190	42nd
SD	14,600	$69,030	51st
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 13, 2025

Medical Assistant Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most current occupational data put medical assistant (MA) employment in the U.S. at over 760,000 as of May 2023. Per BLS data, nearly 30,000 medical assistants were employed in the five-state Rocky Mountain region at that time. In general, the region is a marginally good one for medical assistant pay based on BLS data.  Colorado, the 11th best state in the nation for medical assistant annual mean wage levels, was home to about 41% of the region's MAs.  In all, about 49% of the region's medical assistants lived in a state where the annual mean wage level for MAs exceeded the national average.  A closer examination of BLS data reveals the following state-level details about medical assistant pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Medical Assistant Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	12,270	$46,270	11th
ID	4,660	$42,110	25th
MT	2,330	$43,230	19th
UT	9,660	$41,290	30th
WY	870	$40,810	32nd
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 February 12, 2025

Recently published May 2023 employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were nearly 145,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the U.S.  About 26,000 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 relatively good region for OT pay with New York, New Jersey, and Maryland making 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 2023:

Occupational Therapist Employment in the Mid-East Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	340	$100,430	12th
DE	450	$94,180	22nd
MD	2,590	$101,710	8th
NJ	4,950	$105,880	4th
NY	10,460	$107,530	2nd
PA	7,110	$92,870	25th
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 February 7, 2025

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