As of May 2024, over 41,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were employed in the U.S. according to the most current occupational employment figures available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the five-state Great Lakes region accounted for an estimated 7,130 MRI technologist jobs, or about 17% of the national total.  BLS data revealed the Great Lakes region to be a modestly weak one for MRI technologist pay, with all states in the region registering an annual mean wage level for MRI technologists that was beneath the national average for the profession. This included three states where MRI technologist annual mean wage levels trailed the national average by about 10%.  Further study of May 2024 BLS data provides the following state-level details about MRI technologist pay in the Great Lakes region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	2,790	$89,040	24th
IN	760	$81,590	35th
MI	1,360	$79,590	41st
OH	1,610	$83,580	31st
WI	610	$87,780	27th
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 July 30, 2026

EMT Pay in the Great Plains Region

Data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put emergency medical technician (EMT) employment at more than 178,000 Americans as of May 2024. The seven-state Great Plains region accounted for over 11,600 U.S. EMT jobs. In general, the Great Plains region was not a good one for EMT pay, as only two states in the region had an annual mean wage level for EMTs that was above the national average. Nearly three-quarters of the region's EMTs lived in a state where the annual mean wage was below the national average for the profession. This included two states in the region, Kansas and South Dakota, that ranked among the ten worst states nationally for EMT annual mean wages. According to May 2024 BLS data, emergency medical technician (EMT) pay in the Great Plains region looked as follows:

EMT Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	1,210	$44,850	20th
KS	1,770	$35,780	46th
MN	2,840	$46,350	15th
MO	3,320	$40,800	32nd
NE	540	$45,460	16th
ND	1,270	$41,620	29th
SD	710	$39,520	41st
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 July 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data put the number of physical therapists (PTs) employed in the U.S. at more than 248,000 as of May 2024.  The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for about 10,200 physical therapist jobs at that time according to the BLS data.  The Rocky Mountain region presents a mixed picture for physical therapist pay. Only one state in the region have annual mean wages above the national average, while three rank among the ten lowest-paying states in the nation for physical therapists. A deeper look at BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about physical therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Physical Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	5,430	$100,430	20th
ID	1,170	$93,470	45th
MT	1,230	$91,290	49th
UT	2,330	$96,920	33rd
WY	510	$100,100	21st
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 July 24, 2026

The Ten Largest General Hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.

According to certified bed count data in the First Quarter 2026 Medicare Provider of Services file, the ten largest general hospital providers in the Southeastern U.S. were:

1. AdventHealth Orlando
   Location:  Orlando, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  3,289
   
   
2. Jackson Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Miami, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  2,255
   
   
3. Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center
   Location:  Orlando, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  2,024
   
   
4. North Healthcare / Norton Hospital
   Location:  Louisville, KY
   Certified Bed Count:  1,730
   
   
5. Methodist University Hospital
   Location:  Memphis, TN
   Certified Bed Count:  1,593
   
   
6. Baycare St. Joseph's Hospital
   Location:  Tampa, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  1,367
   
   
7. UofL Health - Jewish Hospital
   Location:  Louisville, KY
   Certified Bed Count:  1,261
   
   
8. Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville
   Location:  Jacksonville, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  1,229
   
   
9. UAB Hospital
   Location:  Birmingham, AL
   Certified Bed Count:  1,157
   
   
10. Cone Health Moses Cone Hospital
    Location:  Greensboro, NC
    Certified Bed Count:  1,122

Supplemental resource:  The Top Cancer Hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.

Over 1,388,000 nursing assistants were working in the USA as of May 2024 according to data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The twelve-state Southeastern U.S. was home to more than 389,000 of those nursing assistant jobs.  Per BLS data, the Southeast was the worst region in the country for nursing assistant pay as every state in the region had an annual mean wage level for nursing assistants that fell below the national average.  Moreover, eight of the ten states in the country with the lowest nursing assistant annual mean wage levels were in the Southeast.  A further examination of BLS data from May 2024 details the following about nursing assistant pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Nursing Assistant Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	24,560	$32,670	49th
AR	17,620	$33,350	48th
FL	91,280	$38,320	35th
GA	42,460	$37,090	42nd
KY	22,910	$37,960	39th
LA	20,550	$31,700	51st
MS	13,130	$31,750	50th
NC	61,280	$37,980	38th
SC	21,000	$35,970	46th
TN	23,030	$37,040	43rd
VA	42,760	$40,160	29th
WV	8,860	$36,320	45th
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 July 15, 2026

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational employment data put the number of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists employed in the United States at more than 41,000 as of May 2024.  At that time, 3,300 MRI technologists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region according to BLS figures.  In general, the Great Plains region was a rather poor one for MRI technologist pay, as six of the regions' seven states recorded annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession.  A closer look at May 2024 BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Great Plains region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	240	$77,000	45th
KS	320	$79,870	39th
MN	750	$95,100	20th
MO	1,360	$80,150	38th
NE	370	$78,660	44th
ND	90	$79,520	43rd
SD	170	$70,210	51st
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 July 13, 2026

The Ten Largest General Hospitals in Florida

Certified bed count data from the First Quarter 2026 Medicare Provider of Services file reveal the following to be the ten largest general hospital providers in Florida:

1. AdventHealth Orlando
   Location:  Orlando, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  3,289
   
   
2. Jackson Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Miami, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  2,255
   
   
3. Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center
   Location:  Orlando, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  2,024
   
   
4. Baycare St. Joseph's Hospital
   Location:  Tampa
   Certified Bed Count:  1,367
   
   
5. Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville
   Location:  Jacksonville, FL
   Certified Bed Count:  1,229
   
   
6. Tampa General Hospital
   Location:  Tampa
   Certified Bed Count:  1,096
   
   
7. Memorial Regional Hospital
   Location:  Hollywood
   Certified Bed Count:  1,079
   
   
8. UF Health Shands Hospital
   Location:  Gainesville
   Certified Bed Count:  1,054
   
   
9. Baptist Hospital of Miami
   Location:  Miami
   Certified Bed Count:  948
   
   
10. Sarasota Memorial Hospital
    Location:  Sarasota
    Certified Bed Count:  897

Supplemental resource:  The Top Cancer Hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.

According to certified bed count data from the First Quarter, 2026 Medicare Provider of Services file, the ten largest general hospitals in the Far West region of the United States were:

The Ten Largest General Hospitals in the Far West

1. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
   Location:  San Jose, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  1,337
   
   
2. UCSF Medical Center
   Location:  San Francisco, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  1,019
   
   
3. Sharp Memorial Hospital
   Location:  San Diego, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  881
   
   
4. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
   Location:  Los Angeles, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  848
   
   
5. Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
   Location:  Las Vegas, NV
   Certified Bed Count:  834
   
   
6. Community Regional Medical Center
   Location:  Fresno, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  794
   
   
7. Scripps Mercy Hospital
   Location:  San Diego, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  700
   
   
8. Swedish Medical Center
   Location:  Seattle, WA
   Certified Bed Count:  697
   
   
9. Los Angeles General Medical Center
   Location:  Los Angeles, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  676
   
   
10. Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Zion
    Location:  San Diego, CA
    Certified Bed Count:  659

Supplemental resource:  Top Cancer Hospitals in the Western U.S.

The Ten Largest General Hospitals in Michigan

Certified bed count data in the First Quarter, 2026 Medicare Provider of Services file reveal the following to be the ten largest general hospitals in Michigan:

1. Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
   Location:  Grand Rapids, MI
   Certified Bed Count:  1,135
   
   
2. Corewell Health Beaumont University Hospital
   Location:  Royal Oak, MI
   Certified Bed Count:  1,031
   
   
3. DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital
   Location:  Detroit, MI
   Certified Bed Count:  991
   
   
4. Henry Ford Hospital
   Location:  Detroit
   Certified Bed Count:  903
   
   
5. University of Michigan Medicine
   Location:  Ann Arbor
   Certified Bed Count:  800
   
   
6. DMC Harper University Hospital
   Location:  Detroit
   Certified Bed Count:  712
   
   
7. Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
   Location:  Dearborn
   Certified Bed Count:  623
   
   
8. Covenant Medical Center
   Location:  Saginaw
   Certified Bed Count:  623
   
   
9. University of Michigan Health - Sparrow Hospital
   Location:  Lansing
   Certified Bed Count:  617
   
   
10. Henry Ford St. John Hospital
    Location:  Detroit
    Certified Bed Count:  572

Supplemental resource:  Top Cancer Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

The Ten Largest General Hospitals in California

From certified bed count data in the First Quarter, 2026 Medicare Provider of Services file, the ten largest general hospitals in California were:

1. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
   Location:  San Jose, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  1,337
   
   
2. UCSF Medical Center
   Location:  San Francisco
   Certified Bed Count:  1,019
   
   
3. Sharp Memorial Hospital
   Location:  San Diego
   Certified Bed Count:  881
   
   
4. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
   Location:  Los Angeles
   Certified Bed Count:  848
   
   
5. Community Regional Medical Center
   Location:  Fresno, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  794
   
   
6. Scripps Mercy Hospital
   Location:  San Diego
   Certified Bed Count:  700
   
   
7. Los Angeles General Medical Center
   Location:  Los Angeles
   Certified Bed Count:  676
   
   
8. Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Zion
   Location:  San Diego, CA
   Certified Bed Count:  659
   
   
9. UC Davis Medical Center
   Location:  Sacramento
   Certified Bed Count:  631
   
   
10. Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento
    Location:  Sacramento
    Certified Bed Count:  628

Supplemental resource:  Top Cancer Hospitals in the Western U.S.

Periodic patient surveys conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aim to measure user satisfaction with recent inpatient stays at hospitals that service Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS survey seeks feedback from patients about their recent inpatient stays, then combines that information into an all-encompassing patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the top score on the scale.  Based on current CMS patient surveys, only three Oregon hospitals earned a five-star rating from patients.  Listed alphabetically, here are the only hospitals in Oregon that rated as five-stars for patient experience per CMS surveys (as of July 1, 2026):

Oregon Hospitals Rated Five-Star in CMS Patient Surveys

1. Grande Ronde Hospital
   Location:  La Grande
   View Rating Details
   
   
2. Peace Harbor Medical Center
   Location:  Florence
   View Rating Details
   
   
3. St Charles Medical Center Prineville
   Location:  Prineville
   View Rating Details