Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Far West

Recently released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put family medicine physician employment in the United States at just over 104,700 as of May 2024. More than 22,840 family medicine physicians were working in the six-state Far West region. A look at BLS data reveals a wide pay disparity for family medicine physicians across the region. Two states in the Far West reported annual mean wages for family medicine physicians that fell below the national average, while three states came in above. Notably, Alaska ranked among the top ten states nationwide for annual mean wages in the field. Data for Nevada & Hawaii was incomplete due to a reporting error. A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data provides the following details about family medicine physician pay in the Far West region:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Far West

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	650	$286,990	9st
CA	18,640	$257,060	22nd
HI	N/A	$209,870	47th
NV	360	N/A	N/A
OR	1,770	$250,080	24th
WA	1,420	$226,040	39th
U.S.	104,780	$253,047	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on September 8, 2025

As of May 2024, the most current date of occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the BLS reported dental assistant employment in the United States at nearly 287,800. The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for over 11,400 of those dental assistant jobs. However, due to a statewide reporting error, Colorado’s employment and wage data were not available in the May 2024 BLS release. Historically, Colorado has been home to approximately 40% of the region’s dental assistants and has consistently recorded wage levels above the national average for the occupation.

In contrast, the available data show that Idaho and Utah—home to another 49% of the region’s dental assistants—ranked in the bottom ten nationally for dental assistant annual mean wages. A closer look at the May 2024 BLS data reveals the following details about dental assistant pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	N/A	N/A	N/A
ID	2,860	$42,710	40th
MT	1,540	$45,930	33rd
UT	6,310	$40,260	47th
WY	700	$43,160	38th
U.S.	287,780	$48,225	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on September 2, 2025

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) latest occupational employment figures put optometrist employment at over 40,900 nationally as of May 2024.  At that time, an estimated 8,940 optometrists were working in the six-state Far Western U.S. region. BLS data shows the region to be a relatively good one for optometrist pay, with only one state in the region recording an annual mean wage level for optometrists that was below the national average for the profession.  The region's two smallest population states, Alaska and Hawaii, ranked among the fifteen best states in the nation for optometrist annual mean wage levels. A deeper review of BLS data from May 2024 provides the following state-level details about optometrist pay in the Far Western U.S. region:

Optometrist Pay in the Far Western U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	70	$154,110	10th
CA	6,790	$142,850	17th
HI	230	$145,060	14th
NV	360	$138,650	23rd
OR	560	$122,340	43rd
WA	930	$159,450	2nd
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 August 30, 2025

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Earlier this year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released May 2024 data showing that nurse practitioner (NP) employment in the United States had surpassed 303,400. The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for just over 3% of those NP jobs. Nurse practitioner pay across the region was moderate, with all states except Wyoming meeting or exceeding the national average. However, it's important to note that due to a statewide data reporting error, employment and wage data for Colorado was unavailable. A closer look at the available BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	N/A	N/A	N/A
ID	1,570	$131,380	18th
MT	1,050	$131,560	17th
UT	2,860	$131,680	16th
WY	440	$126,060	34th
U.S.	303,410	$130,077	-------

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

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

The most recent occupational employment statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, as of May 2024, there were almost 288,000 dental assistants employed in the United States.  More than 86,000 dental assistants working in May 2024 lived in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. region.  BLS data reveals the Southeast to be one of the weakest regions of the country for dental assistant pay.  In only one Southeastern states was the average annual mean wage for dental assistants above the profession's national average of $48,225.  Moreover, five states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for dental assistant annual mean wages, and three other Southeastern states ranked in the bottom third.  A deeper examination of May 2024 BLS data details the following about dental assistant pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Southeastern U.S

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	4,450	$39,600	49th
AR	3,020	$40,730	46th
FL	23,020	$46,670	30th
GA	9,730	$45,510	36th
KY	4,250	$45,720	35th
LA	4,420	$41,450	45th
MS	2,690	$40,160	48th
NC	11,100	$49,270	21st
SC	5,380	$45,890	34th
TN	6,370	$46,680	29th
VA	11,040	$47,900	25th
WV	1,380	$39,280	50th
U.S.	287,780	$48,225	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 27, 2025

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the U.S. Mid-East Region

Over 337,000 clinical laboratory technicians and technologists were working in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data released earlier this summer by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, just under 47,000 of the nation's clinical lab techs were working in the U.S. Mid-East region, an area which encompasses five states and the District of Columbia.  For clinical lab techs, the Mid-East is one of the better paying regions in the nation.  The average annual mean wage for clinical lab techs in every state in the region, except for Pennsylvania & Maryland, was higher than the national average. Moreover, two states in the region ranked among the ten best states in the country for clinical lab tech annual mean wages.  Further examination of BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about clinical lab tech pay in the U.S. Mid-East region:

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the U.S. Mid-East Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	970	$81,630	3rd
DE	590	$70,570	13th
MD	7,150	$63,210	26th
NJ	7,660	$69,350	15th
NY	18,500	$86,300	1st
PA	11,670	$62,120	29th
U.S.	337,740	$65,012	-------

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

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

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Per the most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of family medicine physicians employed in the United States came in at more than 104,000 as of May 2024.  Over 2,250 family medicine physicians were employed at that time in the five-state Rocky Mountain region.  BLS data indicates that the region performed relatively well in terms of family physician compensation. Idaho ranked first nationally for annual mean wages among family medicine physicians, while all other states in the region with available data reported wage levels at or above the national average. However, due to technical issues during data collection, Colorado’s data could not be reported. A closer examination of BLS May 2024 data provides the following details about family medicine physician pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	N/A	N/A	N/A
ID	1040	$322,630	1st
MT	440	$275,990	14th
UT	650	$269,090	17th
WY	120	$271,290	15th
U.S.	104,780	$253,047	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 19, 2025

Nearly 288,800 dental assistants were employed in the United States as of May 2024 per the latest available occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Over 17,600 dental assistants at work in May 2024 lived in the six-state New England region of the country.  BLS data reveals New England to be one of the better regions of the country for dental assistant pay.  Every state in New England, except Rhode Island, recorded an annual mean wage level for dental assistants that was above the national average for the profession, with three states in the region, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont, ranked among the top ten states nationally for that pay metric.  A deeper dive into May 2024 BLS data details the following about dental assistant pay in New England:

Dental Assistant Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	3,740	$51,540	13th
MA	9,250	$56,790	4th
ME	1,450	$54,190	9th
NH	1,400	$52,850	11th
RI	1,120	$51,700	12th
VT	650	$54,570	8th
U.S.	287,780	$48,225	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 11, 2025

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Nearly 174,000 speech language pathologists (SLPs) were employed in the United States as of May 2024 according to the latest occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  More than 27,460 employed SLPs were living in the five-state Great Lakes region at that time.  BLS data revealed the region to be a subpar one for speech language pathologist pay, as no Great Lakes state recorded a SLP annual mean wage level that topped the national average for the profession.  A further examination of May 2024 BLS data reveals the following state-level details about speech language pathologist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	9,100	$87,940	27th
IN	3,080	$90,180	22nd
MI	4,410	$84,330	35th
OH	7,660	$89,740	24th
WI	3,210	$84,090	37th
U.S.	173,910	$91,089	-------

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

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

Nurse Practitioner Pay in New England

May 2020 data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put nurse practitioner (NP) employment in the United States at more than 303,000.  The six-state New England region held more than 17,900 nurse practitioner jobs at that time.  BLS data indicated New England to be a moderately good one for nurse practitioner pay, despite the fact that two states in the region had a NP annual mean wage level that was below the national average. The other four states in the region, all of whom had NP annual mean wage levels higher than the national average, were home to over three-quarters of the region's NPs. Moreover, half the NPs in the region lived in Massachusetts, a state that ranked among the ten best states in the country for nurse practitioner annual mean wages. A closer examination of BLS data from May 2024 shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in New England:

Nurse Practitioner Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	3,680	$141,140	7th
MA	8,920	$145,140	4th
ME	1,630	$127,750	28th
NH	1,790	$133,660	13th
RI	1,200	$139,600	9th
VT	680	$130,580	20th
U.S.	303,410	$130,077	-------

(*) 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 23, 2025

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Southeast

The most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of family medicine physicians employed in the United States at more than 104,000 as of May 20204 More than 24,700 family medicine physicians were employed at that time in the twelve-state Southeast region of the country.  BLS data reveals the region to have much disparity in family physician pay.  Four states in the region ranked among the top third of all states for family medicine physician annual mean wages, while at the same time seven other Southeastern states ranked among the bottom third of states on the same metric.  Overall, however, the region was a subpar one for family physician pay as the data showed about 67% of the region's practitioners lived in a state where the annual mean wage for family medicine physicians was below the national average.  A closer examination of May 2024 data from the BLS details the following about family medicine physician pay in the Southeast:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	380	$212,590	46th
AR	1,070	$117,030	49th
FL	7,580	$243,800	31st
GA	3,250	$286,050	10th
KY	1,520	$277,570	12th
LA	910	$238,000	34th
MS	780	$261,520	20th
NC	1,940	$226,820	38th
SC	1,060	$253,640	25th
TN	2,520	$256,650	23rd
VA	3,480	$220,010	43rd
WV	230	$249,170	27th
U.S.	104,780	$253,047	-------

(*) 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 21, 2025

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

Data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the United States at more than 303,000 as of May 2024.  More than 49,500 of the nation's nurse practitioner jobs at that time were in the Mid-Eastern region, an area which includes five states and the District of Columbia.  The Mid-Eastern U.S. was one of the best regions of the country for nurse practitioner pay.  Moreover, over 60% of employed NPs in the region lived in New York, New Jersey or DC, three states that ranked among the ten best states in the country for nurse practitioner annual mean wages. A closer examination of BLS employment data from May 2024 shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

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

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	1210	$130,190	22nd
DE	790	$137,600	10th
MD	6,640	$127,100	31st
NJ	9,590	$140,470	8th
NY	20,430	$148,410	2nd
PA	10,860	$126,730	32nd
U.S.	303,410	$130,077	-------

(*) 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 7, 2025

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Information published recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of family medicine physicians employed in the United States at more than 104,000 as of May 2024.  Almost 10,000 family medicine physicians were employed at that time in the five-state Great Lakes region.  BLS data reveals the region to have much disparity in family physician pay.  Indiana and Wisconsin are both top ten states nationally for family medicine physician annual mean wages.  However, more than 70% of Great Lakes region family medicine physicians live in other states in the region, all of which register family physician annual mean wage levels below the national average.  A closer examination of May 2024 data from the BLS details the following about family medicine physician pay in the Great Lakes region:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	1,540	$206,010	48th
IN	1,700	$295,310	5th
MI	4,400	$222,500	41st
OH	1,780	$230,400	36th
WI	1,510	$293,630	6th
U.S.	98,590	$214,370	-------

(*) 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 3, 2025

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year indicated that over 287,000 dental assistants were employed in the United States as of May 2024.  At that time, roughly 79,970 dental assistants were working in the six-state Far West region of the country.  Although dental assistant annual mean wage levels were poor in Hawaii and Nevada, BLS data revealed the Far West U.S. to be a modestly good one for dental assistant pay.  Over 93% of the region's dental assistants lived in a state where the annual mean wage level for dental assistants was above the national average.  Moreover, this included four states that ranked among the ten best states in the nation for dental assistant annual mean wages.  A closer review of May 2024 BLS data reveals the following about dental assistant pay in the Far West U.S.:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	1,080	$54,720	6th
CA	54,580	$53,570	10th
HI	1,610	$42,130	44th
NV	3,890	$47,320	26nd
OR	5,480	$57,690	2nd
WA	13,330	$56,140	5th
U.S.	387,780	$48,225	-------

(*) 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 24, 2025

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the Great Plains States

There were over 337,700 clinical laboratory technicians and technologists at work in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data published earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The seven-state Great Plains region accounted for about 26,570 of those clinical lab tech jobs, or about 7.8% of U.S. clinical lab technician employment.  For clinical lab techs, the Great Plains region is one of the weakest ones in the nation for pay.  The clinical lab tech annual mean wage level in six of the seven states in the region fell below the national average, and four Great Plains states ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for clinical lab tech annual mean wages.  BLS data from May 2024 details the following about clinical lab tech pay in the Great Plains states:

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the Great Plains States

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	3,020	$57,110	43rd
KS	4,510	$61,770	30th
MN	6,010	$73,840	9th
MO	8,830	$60,210	33rd
NE	1,750	$63,270	25th
ND	1,160	$62,700	28th
SD	1,290	$58,220	40th
U.S.	337,740	$65,012	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 13, 2025

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

Data published earlier this summer by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were over 303,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the United States as of May 2024.  More than 34,000 nurse practitioner jobs in the U.S. were in the four-state Southwestern region of the country.  The Southwestern region is a relatively good one for nurse practitioner pay.  Nearly 90% of NPs in the Southwestern U.S. live in one of the three states in the region where NP annual mean wages exceed the national average of $130,077. A closer look at BLS data from May 2024 shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Southwestern U.S.:

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	7,540	$132,920	15th
NM	1,870	$136,620	11th
OK	3,020	$127,120	30th
TX	21,690	$130,930	19th
U.S.	303,410	$130,077	-------

(*) 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 12, 2025

Family Medicine Physician Pay in New England

According to recently published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2024, there were just over 104,000 family medicine physicians employed across the United States. Of these, 6,120 were practicing in the six-state New England region.

BLS data highlights a significant pay disparity among family medicine physicians in New England. Massachusetts stands out, accounting for more than half of the region’s family medicine employment and ranking in the top 10 nationally for annual mean wages. In contrast, the other five New England states report average salaries below the national average.

The May 2024 BLS data provides the following insights into family medicine physician compensation across New England:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	900	$213,400	45th
MA	3,550	$301,270	4th
ME	630	$221,190	42nd
NH	410	$248,550	28th
RI	280	$244,270	30th
VT	350	$238,710	32nd
U.S.	104,780	$253,047	-------

(*) 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 5, 2025

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most current occupational employment data indicated that nearly 174,000 speech language pathologists (SLPs) were working in the United States as of May 2024.  More than 12,000 of those employed in the U.S. as SLPs resided in the seven-state Great Plains region.  BLS data indicated that the region is one of the weakest in the country for speech language pathologist pay, as no state in the region registered a SLP annual mean wage level above the national average.  Moreover, three Great Plains states ranked among the ten worst states in the country for SLP annual mean wages.  More examination of BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about speech language pathologist pay in the Great Plains region:

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	1,390	$85,230	32nd
KS	1,790	$84,230	36th
MN	3,730	$82,020	42nd
MO	2,700	$84,930	33rd
NE	1,230	$83,880	38th
ND	670	$73,950	48th
SD	510	$69,230	50th
U.S.	173,910	$91,089	-------

(*) 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 3, 2025