Therapy roles are generally known to come with a decent wage, often ranking on lists of “Best Paying Jobs” both within and outside of healthcare.

Considering physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists are highly-skilled, in-demand healthcare workers, this should not be surprising. However, where they are paid the highest and the lowest salaries may surprise you.

Below are the 10 states where PTs, OTs, SLPs, and RTs make the most and the least, on average, according to 2020 salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Physical Therapists – Highest Paying States

1. Nevada – $108,580
2. California – $104,500
3. Alaska – $101,190
4. New Jersey – $100,740
5. Connecticut – $100,580
6. New Mexico – $98,580
7. Delaware – $97,260
8. Illinois – $97,060
9. District of Columbia – $96,090
10. Virginia – $94,370

Physical Therapists – Lowest Paying States

1. South Dakota – $78,850
2. Vermont – $81,580
3. Idaho – $82,470
4. Maine – $83,380
5. Iowa – $83,640
6. Arkansas – $84,410
7. Montana – $84,600
8. South Carolina – $84,640
9. Missouri – $84,660
10. North Dakota – $84,880

Occupational Therapists – Highest Paying States

1. Nevada – $111,270
2. California – $101,080
3. Arizona – $99,950
4. New Jersey – $98,750
5. District of Columbia – $96,330
6. Virginia – $95,170
7. Alaska – $93,980
8. Rhode Island – $93,330
9. Connecticut – $92,000
10. Colorado – $91,650

Occupational Therapists – Lowest Paying States

1. Maine – $72,500
2. North Dakota – $73,280
3. South Dakota – $74,580
4. Vermont – $75,330
5. Montana – $76,200
6. Wisconsin – $76,850
7. Michigan – $77,600
8. Minnesota – $77,790
9. Missouri – $78,660
10. South Carolina – $79,840

Speech-Language Pathologists – Highest Paying States

1. District of Columbia – $101,920
2. Connecticut – $100,590
3. New Jersey – $100,330
4. New York – $98,010
5. California – $95,570
6. Virginia – $92,520
7. Colorado – $91,200
8. Oregon – $87,850
9. Rhode Island – $87,270
10. Alaska – $87,250

Speech-Language Pathologists – Lowest Paying States

1. South Dakota – $59,270
2. Alabama – $66,400
3. West Virginia – $67,010
4. Mississippi – $67,250
5. North Dakota – $67,790
6. Maine – $69,250
7. South Carolina – $71,340
8. Nebraska – $71,940
9. Montana – $72,220
10. Idaho – $72,390

Respiratory Therapists – Highest Paying States

1. California – $87,190
2. District of Columbia – $82,940
3. New York – $79,840
4. Hawaii – $77,930
5. Nevada – $77,380
6. Massachusetts – $76,270
7. Washington – $75,380
8. New Jersey – $74,710
9. Alaska – $74,390
10. Oregon – $72,340

Respiratory Therapists – Lowest Paying States

1. Mississippi – $51,480
2. Kentucky – $51,800
3. Alabama – $51,820
4. West Virginia – $52,400
5. South Dakota – $53,610
6. Tennessee – $54,310
7. Louisiana – $55,720
8. Iowa – $56,260
9. Arkansas – $56,400
10. Georgia – $56,750

Ready to start your search for a higher paying therapy job? Click here.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.