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Top 10 Cities for Teachers in 2026
In today’s competitive job market, knowing the best locations to advance your teaching career is essential, whether you’re just starting out or considering a change. Regional disparities can significantly influence salary, job availability, and overall career satisfaction for teachers.
To guide you in making an informed decision, we analyzed various cities across the United States to identify those that provide the best opportunities for educators. Our research focuses on locations where teachers are well-compensated, jobs are abundant, and the cost of living is manageable.
Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other reliable sources, we’ve compiled a list of the top cities for teachers in 2026. Here are the best locations based on salary, job availability, and living conditions:
- East Stroudsburg, PA
- Waterbury, CT
- Merced, CA
- Hinesville, GA
- Kingston, NY
- Redding, CA
- Modesto, CA
- Brunswick, GA
- Chambersburg, PA
- Riverside, CA
East Stroudsburg tops our list as the best city for teachers, offering an excellent balance of salary and job availability.
Conversely, teachers might want to steer clear of Asheville, NC, which presents fewer opportunities.
Continue reading to discover how we determined these rankings and to delve into the details of each top city.
How We Identified the Best Cities for Teachers
At Zippia, we engage with a diverse range of job seekers and understand their priorities. Our research consistently reveals two key factors that matter most to job seekers:
- Job availability
- Competitive salaries
To uncover the best cities for teachers nationally, we assessed where teaching jobs are plentiful and where compensation is favorable. Our criteria, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics, includes:
- Location quotient: This indicates the concentration of teaching jobs in a specific area.
- Average annual salary: We analyzed the typical earnings for teachers.
- Average entry-level salary: We looked at what new teachers can expect to earn.
To ensure a fair comparison, we adjusted salary figures based on the cost of living, utilizing the MIT Living Wage Index.
This analysis encompassed 380 metro areas across the country, simplifying city names for clarity. For example, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” is referred to simply as Boston.
We ranked each city on the three criteria from 1 to 380, with 1 being the most favorable. The cities were then averaged into a Job Score, with the lowest score identifying the top city for teachers in America.
Now, let’s explore the highlights of each city that made the list.
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1. East Stroudsburg, PA
Total Jobs: 1,170
Average Annual Salary: $68,960
Average Entry-Level Salary: $49,810
Location Quotient: 2.13
2. Waterbury, CT
Total Jobs: 1,040
Average Annual Salary: $82,290
Average Entry-Level Salary: $55,950
Location Quotient: 1.54
3. Merced, CA
Total Jobs: 1,430
Average Annual Salary: $73,510
Average Entry-Level Salary: $49,990
Location Quotient: 2.24
4. Hinesville, GA
Total Jobs: 360
Average Annual Salary: $65,070
Average Entry-Level Salary: $40,380
Location Quotient: 2.16
5. Kingston, NY
Total Jobs: 770
Average Annual Salary: $89,290
Average Entry-Level Salary: $53,250
Location Quotient: 1.32
6. Redding, CA
Total Jobs: 900
Average Annual Salary: $74,460
Average Entry-Level Salary: $50,010
Location Quotient: 1.53
7. Modesto, CA
Total Jobs: 2,120
Average Annual Salary: $77,360
Average Entry-Level Salary: $53,540
Location Quotient: 1.28
8. Brunswick, GA
Total Jobs: 490
Average Annual Salary: $66,810
Average Entry-Level Salary: $44,710
Location Quotient: 1.25
9. Chambersburg, PA
Total Jobs: 1,180
Average Annual Salary: $60,940
Average Entry-Level Salary: $44,170
Location Quotient: 2.07
10. Riverside, CA
Total Jobs: 16,690
Average Annual Salary: $75,950
Average Entry-Level Salary: $52,420
Location Quotient: 1.27
Conclusion: The Best Cities for Teachers
If you are embarking on a teaching career, consider these cities as your top choices. They offer competitive salaries, ample job opportunities, and room for professional growth.
On the other hand, here are the cities you might want to avoid if you are a teacher:
- Asheville, NC
- Billings, MT
- Wilmington, DE
Detailed List of the Best Cities for Teachers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Stroudsburg, PA | $68,960 |
| 2 | Waterbury, CT | $82,290 |
| 3 | Merced, CA | $73,510 |
| 4 | Hinesville, GA | $65,070 |
| 5 | Kingston, NY | $89,290 |
| 6 | Redding, CA | $74,460 |
| 7 | Modesto, CA | $77,360 |
| 8 | Brunswick, GA | $66,810 |
| 9 | Chambersburg, PA | $60,940 |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $75,950 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
