As a large portion of the population ages and demand grows, caregiving can be a lucrative career — but the benefits in some states are better than in others.
Caredemy recently ranked the best and worst states for caregivers based on factors including salaries, job opportunities, disposable income and cost of living. With this analysis, it calculated a total score out of 100 to determine a ranking.
Minnesota is the best state for caregivers, with an average salary of $44,125, as well as a lower average cost of living at $41,498. The state has a strong caregiving job market with 3,000 positions available.
Other top states include Connecticut and Tennessee. Connecticut has a relatively higher average salary for caregivers at $40,795, as well as a good job market with 3,000 available caregiving positions. While Tennessee has a lower average caregiver salary at $35,804 than other top states, it also has a lower cost of living at $34,742, as well as a strong caregiver job market with 3,000 available positions.
Read more: The caregiving benefits employees need at every stage
Mississippi is the worst state for caregivers, with a low average caregiver salary at $25,449, as well as a lack of available caregiver jobs with 100 positions available.
Other states at the bottom of the list include Maryland and Louisiana. Maryland has a high cost of living at $48,235, with an average caregiver salary at only $38,287, as well as 1,000 caregiver positions available. Louisiana has a lower average caregiver salary at $29,746, with a cost of living at $35,576 and only 200 caregiver positions available.
"Caregiving is a pretty challenging and most emotionally demanding career," a spokesperson at Caredemy said in a release. "A well-trained, compassionate caregiver deserves a living wage that reflects the skill, dedication, and emotional resilience required for the job. No one should have to choose between caring for a loved one or their community and their own financial stability. We need policies that ensure caregivers are fairly compensated, have access to the right opportunities, and receive the respect they deserve. By investing in caregivers, we invest in the well-being of our entire society."
Read more about the best and worst states to work as a caregiver.
Worst states to work as a caregiver
| Rank | City | Total
score | Population | Salary | Positions
available | Cost of
living | Positions
per
capita |
| 10 | Alabama | 24 | 5,143,030 | $29,743 | 700 | $33,654 | 14 |
| 8 (tie) | Oklahoma | 23 | 4,088,380 | $30,973 | 200 | $33,966 | 5 |
| 8 (tie) | Alaska | 23 | 733,536 | $42,550 | 100 | $48,670 | 14 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 21 | 1,766,110 | $31,116 | 100 | $34,861 | 6 |
| 6 | Hawaii | 13 | 1,430,880 | $46,656 | 100 | $55,491 | 7 |
4 (tie)
| Texas
| 12
| 30,976,800
| $30,038
| 6,000
| $37,582
| 19
|
| 4 (tie) | Delaware | 12 | 1,044,320 | $36,629 | 100 | $44,389 | 10 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 10 | 4,559,480 | $29,746 | 200 | $35,576 | 4 |
| 2 | Maryland | 9 | 6,196,520 | $38,287 | 1,000 | $48,235 | 16 |
| 1 | Mississippi | 0 | 2,940,450 | $25,449 | 100 | $32,336 | 3 |
Best states to work as a caregiver
| Rank | City | Total
score | Population | Salary | Positions
available | Cost of
living | Positions
per
capita |
| 10 | Montana | 53 | 1,142,750 | $42,625 | 100 | $37,328 | 9 |
| 9 | South Dakota | 55 | 928,767 | $42,247 | 100 | $36,864 | 11 |
| 5 (tie) | Ohio | 57 | 11,812,200 | $37,060 | 4,000 | $35,932 | 34 |
| 5 (tie) | North Carolina | 57 | 10,975,000 | $39,231 | 3,000 | $36,702 | 27 |
| 5 (tie) | Pennsylvania | 57 | 12,951,300 | $32,955 | 11,000 | $40,066 | 85 |
| 5 (tie) | Wisconsin | 57 | 5,931,370 | $38,780 | 2,000 | $37,374 | 34 |
| 4 | Michigan | 60 | 10,041,200 | $36,267 | 5,000 | $37,111 | 50 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 62 | 7,204,000 | $35,804 | 3,000 | $34,742 | 42 |
| 2 | Connecticut | 64 | 3,625,650 | $40,795 | 3,000 | $46,912 | 83 |
| 1 | Minnesota | 71 | 5,761,530 | $44,125 | 3,000 | $41,498 | 52 |
