In a recent article, we analyzed the states where real estate agents make the most money. Now, we’re going to turn to another immensely popular occupation in the United States: Nursing assistants.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are an estimated 1,310,090 people employed as nursing assistants in the U.S. Indeed, nursing assistants form a high proportion of total employment in America, accounting for approximately 8.859 per 1,000 jobs in the nation overall.

Read on for a full breakdown of where nursing assistants make the least money and where they make the most.

10 States Where Nursing Assistants Earn the Most Money

The national average annual wage of a nursing assistant is $36,220, according to the BLS. That makes the average nursing assistant salary substantially lower than the average annual wage for All Occupations, $61,900. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 states in which nursing assistants earn the most:

1. Alaska

Nursing assistant average salary: $44,420

2. California

Nursing assistant average salary: $43,570

3. New York

Nursing assistant average salary: $43,450

4. Oregon

Nursing assistant average salary: $42,960

5. Minnesota

Nursing assistant average salary: $42,480

6. Washington

Nursing assistant average salary: $42,430

7. Massachusetts

Nursing assistant average salary: $41,390

8. Nevada

Nursing assistant average salary: $41,110

9. Hawaii

Nursing assistant average salary: $39,870

10. Rhode Island

Nursing assistant average salary: $39,490

The states that pay nursing assistants the most on average are geographically located in the Northeast and West, with three states and six states in each Census-designated region, respectively. Minnesota is the lone exception, residing in the Midwest region. It’s unsurprising that Alaska ranks No. 1 in terms of having the highest average nursing assistant salary as the state often has above-average wages due to its high cost of living.

10 States Where Nursing Assistants Earn the Least Money

In four out of the 10 states where nursing assistant salaries are the lowest, the average annual wage is less than $30,000 per year. For such an essential, not to mention popular, occupation, this is unfortunate. Below is a breakdown of the 10 states where nursing assistants make the least money on average:

1. Mississippi

Nursing assistant average salary: $27,140

2. Louisiana

Nursing assistant average salary: $28,190

3. Alabama

Nursing assistant average salary: $28,550

4. Arkansas

Nursing assistant average salary: $29,970

5. Oklahoma

Nursing assistant average salary: $30,210

6. Tennessee

Nursing assistant average salary: $31,600

7. North Carolina

Nursing assistant average salary: $31,780

8. Texas

Nursing assistant average salary: $32,150

9. Kentucky

Nursing assistant average salary: $32,180

10. South Dakota

Nursing assistant average salary: $32,330

With the sole exception of South Dakota, the 10 states that pay nursing assistants the least money are all located in the U.S. South region. Mississippi, which also has the lowest median household income in the U.S., has the lowest average nursing assistant salary, at $27,140 per year. Its next-door neighbors, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas, aren’t much better.

How Much Nursing Assistants Make In Each State

Over the last five years, 12 states have witnessed their average nursing assistant salaries increase by 30% or more:

• Maine nursing assistant salary growth: 40.1%
• Washington nursing assistant salary growth: 39.5%
• Montana nursing assistant salary growth: 39.3%
• Idaho nursing assistant salary growth: 34.4%
• New Jersey nursing assistant salary growth: 34.3%
• Oregon nursing assistant salary growth: 33.5%
• Kansas nursing assistant salary growth: 32.4%
• Illinois nursing assistant salary growth: 32.3%
• Georgia nursing assistant salary growth: 32.2%
• Indiana nursing assistant salary growth: 31.4%
• South Carolina nursing assistant salary growth: 31%
• Minnesota nursing assistant salary growth: 30.5%

Below are all 50 states and their respective average nursing assistant salaries per year. The states are listed in alphabetical order, but their ranking from 1 to 50 (1 being the highest-paying, 50 the lowest-paying) is included: