The highest-paying occupations by state are in healthcare in 49 of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to an Aug. 21 LinkedIn post from WalletHub.
The ranking uses May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
A healthcare job was the highest-paying occupation in each state and Washington, D.C., aside from Georgia and Idaho, where pilots took the spot, at a median annual wage of $618,000 and $508,000, respectively.
The healthcare jobs included those in surgery, emergency medicine, cardiology, anesthesiology, specialized medicine, general medicine and radiology.
Here are the states where the highest-paying occupation is in healthcare, along with the job title and median annual wage for that state as of May 2025:
1. Missouri: Orthopedic surgeons ($843,000)
2. Minnesota: Radiologists ($708,000)
3. Washington: Cardiologists ($656,000)
4. Nebraska: Cardiologists ($646,000)
5. Wisconsin: Cardiologists ($637,000)
6. Tennessee: Cardiologists ($610,000)
7. North Dakota: Surgeons ($605,000)
8. West Virginia: Orthopedic surgeons ($598,000)
9. Indiana: Cardiologists ($589,000)
10. South Dakota: Radiologists ($586,000)
11. Maryland: Radiologists ($582,000)
12. Pennsylvania: Cardiologists ($579,000)
13. Montana: Orthopedic surgeons ($561,000)
14. Arizona: Orthopedic surgeons ($559,000)
15. Kentucky: Cardiologists ($558,000)
16. Maine: Radiologists ($556,000)
17. New Hampshire: Orthopedic surgeons ($556,000)
18. Ohio: Surgeons ($554,000)
19. Oklahoma: Surgeons ($554,000)
20. Mississippi: Orthopedic surgeons ($544,000)
21. Alabama: Cardiologists ($519,000)
22. Illinois: Cardiologists ($518,000)
23. Rhode Island: Emergency room physicians ($513,000)
24. Louisiana: Pediatricians ($503,000)
25. New York: Cardiologists ($492,000)
26. Connecticut: Cardiologists ($489,000)
27. Virginia: Anesthesiologists ($488,000)
28. Michigan: Radiologists ($486,000)
29. New Jersey: Radiologists ($483,000)
30. Florida: Orthopedic surgeons ($474,000)
31. Alaska: Emergency room physicians ($453,000)
32. Delaware: Dermatologists ($442,000)
33. Vermont: Surgeons ($439,000)
34. Utah: OB-GYNs ($437,000)
35. Kansas: Anesthesiologists ($437,000)
36. Iowa: Emergency room physicians ($429,000)
37. Massachusetts: Radiologists ($427,000)
38. Arkansas: Dermatologists ($422,000)
39. Nevada: Dermatologists ($419,000)
40. Colorado: Orthodontists ($416,000)
41. Texas: Cardiologists ($410,000)
42. New Mexico: Emergency room physicians ($405,000)
43. California: Ophthalmologists ($400,000)
44. North Carolina: Surgeons ($398,000)
45. Oregon: OB-GYNs ($395,000)
46. Wyoming: Surgeons ($388,000)
47. South Carolina: Internal medicine physicians ($360,000)
48. Hawaii: Physicians ($339,000)
49. Washington, D.C.: Neurologists ($332,000)
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
