EMT Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Data recently made available by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that more than 178,000 Americans were working as EMTs (emergency medical technicians) as of May 2024. The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for a bit more than 6,600 of those EMT jobs. In general, the Rocky Mountain region is a mixed one for EMT pay.  While EMTs in Colorado realize annual mean wage levels above the national average, elsewhere in the region that is not the case.  A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data shows the following about EMT pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

EMT Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	3,420	$45,130	18th
ID	700	$39,700	39th
MT	680	$36,250	45th
UT	1,360	$39,120	42nd
WY	450	$43,140	25th
U.S.	178,010	$43,914	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 30, 2026

Physical Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

The most current occupational statistical data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, as of May 2024, nearly 249,000 physical therapists (PTs) were working in the United States.  Just over 18,900 physical therapists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region at that time.  The Great Plains region was one of the weakest in the nation for PT pay, as the annual mean wage for physical therapists was below the national average in all states in the region.  Moreover, four Great Plains states ranked among the ten states with the lowest annual mean wage levels in the nation for PTs.  A closer examination of BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following state-level details about physical therapist pay in the Great Plains region:

Physical Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	2,800	$92,630	48th
KS	2,640	$96,250	37th
MN	5,220	$98,700	27th
MO	4,090	$94,760	40th
NE	2,380	$93,510	44th
ND	860	$89,870	51st
SD	940	$90,270	50th
U.S.	248,620	$99,913	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 29, 2026

From time to time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) surveys adults who recently received inpatient care at a hospital that services Medicaid and Medicare plan enrollees.  The goal of this exercise is to assess the amount of satisfaction patients had with their recent inpatient hospital experience. The ratings methodology used by the CMS involves consolidating patient questionnaire responses into an all-encompassing patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with five stars being the top score on the scale.  As of June 24, 2026, CMS data shows only three hospitals in Kentucky earning five-stars on patient surveys.  Listed alphabetically, here are the three Kentucky hospitals that rated as five-stars for adult patient experience in the latest CMS surveys:

Kentucky Hospitals with Five-Star CMS Patient Survey Ratings

1. CHI Saint Joseph Berea
   

   Location:  Berea

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2. Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital
   Location:  Stanford
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3. Harrison Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Cynthiana
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Over 1,388,000 nursing assistants were employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to the most current occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The New England region was home to more than 87,000 of those nursing assistant jobs.  Per BLS data, New England was an above-average region for nursing assistant pay as every state in the region had an annual mean wage level for nursing assistants that topped the national average.  Moreover, about 45% of the region's nursing assistants worked in Massachusetts, which ranked among the ten best states in the nation for nursing assistant annual mean wage levels.  A further examination of BLS data from May 2024 provides the following state-level details about nursing assistant pay in New England:

Nursing Assistant Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	21,390	$40,120	13th
MA	38,280	$46,130	8th
ME	8,590	$45,500	9th
NH	7,190	$47,190	7th
RI	8,450	$43,740	17th
VT	3,140	$43,610	18th
U.S.	1,388,510	$41,173	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 27, 2026

Patient surveys conducted from time to time by the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) aim to gauge user satisfaction with recent inpatient stays at hospitals that service Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS survey solicits feedback from recent patients about their inpatient stays, then aggregates that information into a unified patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with the scale's best score being 5-stars.  Based on the most current CMS patient surveys, only five Maine hospitals earned a five-star rating from patients.  Listed alphabetically, here are the hospitals in Maine that rated as five-stars for patient experience per CMS surveys (as of June 24, 2026):

Maine Hospitals Rated Five-Star in CMS Patient Surveys

1. MaineHealth Stephens Hospital
   Location:  Norway
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2. Mount Desert Island Hospital
   Location:  Bar Harbor
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3. Redington Fairview General Hospital
   Location:  Skowhegan
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4. Togus VA Medical Center
   Location:  Augusta
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5. York Hospital
   Location:  York
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In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, more than 800 hospitals were examined for their proficiency in delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study scored hospitals on various measures related to their cancer patient outcomes, the scale and scope of their cancer care services and programs, and the level of professional recognition received by a hospital from their peers within the cancer care community.  The five-state Rocky Mountain region is not a good one for patients needing cancer treatment, as the region has only a single hospital that ranked among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 25-26 survey:

The Top Cancer Hospitals in the Rocky Mountain Region

University of Colorado Cancer Center
Location:  Aurora, CO

National Rank:  #40 (See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other Rocky Mountain region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

As of May 2024, more than 41,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the United States according to the latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, nearly 11,100 MRI technologists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country.  BLS data revealed the Southeastern U.S. to be the worst region of the country for MRI technologist pay. Not only did every Southeastern state have an average annual mean wage level for MRI technologists that was below the national average for the profession, but eight states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for MRI technologist annual mean wages.  A closer study of May 2024 BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	530	$73,070	48th
AR	370	$74,110	47th
FL	3,220	$79,610	40th
GA	1,430	$85,380	29th
KY	680	$79,560	42nd
LA	510	$71,420	49th
MS	230	$71,410	50th
NC	1,160	$82,280	34th
SC	670	$81,100	36th
TN	950	$76,890	46th
VA	1,140	$94,080	21st
WV	180	$80,970	37th
U.S.	41,560	$89,999	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on June 9, 2026

EMT Pay in the Far Western U.S.

In its most recent release of occupational statistical data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that more than 257,000 Americans were working as EMTs (emergency medical technicians) as of May 2024. The six-state Far Western U.S. accounted for a bit less than 26,300 of those EMT jobs. BLS data revealed the Far West to be the best region in the nation for EMT pay, as nearly every state in the region had an annual mean wage level for EMTs that exceeded the national average.  Moreover, four states in the region ranked among the top ten states in the nation for EMT annual mean wages.  A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data shows the following about EMT pay in the Far Western U.S.:

EMT Pay in the U.S. Far West

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	290	$59,870	2nd
CA	19,020	$51,830	5th
HI	550	$64,670	1st
NV	1,390	$42,350	26th
OR	1,760	$48,780	12th
WA	3,280	$49,760	9th
U.S.	178,010	$43,914	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 1, 2026

In the 25-26 USNWR (U.S. News & World Report) ratings of American hospitals, over 800 hospitals were surveyed for their proficiency in delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study scored hospitals on multiple data points related to their adult cancer programs, including patient outcomes, the scale of their adult cancer care services, and the level of professional recognition a hospital received from the wider cancer care community.  Seven hospitals in the five-state Great Lakes region rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 25-26 survey.  Here's a quick view of where these seven Great Lakes region hospitals rated nationally in the 25-26 U.S. News survey for cancer care:

Top Cancer Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

1. Cleveland Clinic
   Location:  Cleveland
   National Rank:  #14 (See ranking details)
   
   
2. UChicago Cancer Center
   Location:  Chicago
   National Rank:  #12 (See ranking details)
   
   
3. Northwestern Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Chicago
   National Rank:  #17 (See ranking details)
   
   
4. Rush University Medical Center
   Location:  Chicago

   National Rank:  #29 (See ranking details)
   
   
5. University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
   Location:  Ann Arbor, MI 
   National Rank:  #32 (See ranking details)
   
   
6. Ohio State University Cancer Center

   Location:  Columbus, OH

   National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)
   
   
7. University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
   Location:  Cleveland
   National Rank:  #48 (See ranking details)
   
   For a closer look into the metrics used to rate adult cancer care hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Great Lakes Region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.