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Best states for a 1st grade teacher
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for 1st grade teachers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for 1st grade teacher jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for 1st grade teachers. We found that New Jersey is the best state in the nation for 1st grade teachers, and people in Long Beach earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for 1st grade teachers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a 1st grade teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for 1st grade teachers in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 1,207 Average annual salary: $60,752 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
2. Connecticut
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 512 Average annual salary: $60,929 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
3. New York
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 1,243 Average annual salary: $64,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
4. Massachusetts
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 791 Average annual salary: $63,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
5. Michigan
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 904 Average annual salary: $53,609 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. Maryland
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 935 Average annual salary: $56,831 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
7. District of Columbia
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $61,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
8. Illinois
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 1,587 Average annual salary: $51,857 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
9. Pennsylvania
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 1,035 Average annual salary: $55,198 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
10. Minnesota
Total 1st grade teacher jobs: 694 Average annual salary: $50,273 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
1st grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a 1st grade teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a 1st grade teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,752 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,207 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,929 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 512 |
| 3 | New York | $64,640 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,243 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,477 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 791 |
| 5 | Michigan | $53,609 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 904 |
| 6 | Maryland | $56,831 | $38,000 | 6,052,177 | 935 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $61,099 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 165 |
| 8 | Illinois | $51,857 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,587 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $55,198 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,035 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $50,273 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 694 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $48,615 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 224 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,023 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 97 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $45,474 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 287 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $45,225 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 259 |
| 15 | California | $58,290 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,012 |
| 16 | Montana | $43,835 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 173 |
| 17 | Oregon | $51,053 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 304 |
| 18 | Ohio | $47,871 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 723 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $43,063 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 69 |
| 20 | Alaska | $53,623 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 21 | Delaware | $45,017 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 151 |
| 22 | Vermont | $43,588 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 91 |
| 23 | Washington | $48,440 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 537 |
| 24 | Iowa | $42,853 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 298 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $52,725 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 38 |
| 26 | Virginia | $44,360 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 786 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $42,830 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 195 |
| 28 | Texas | $40,560 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,897 |
| 29 | Nevada | $38,554 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 636 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $41,923 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 55 |
| 31 | Florida | $41,116 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,462 |
| 32 | Utah | $42,278 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 183 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,156 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 760 |
| 34 | Arizona | $38,331 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 866 |
| 35 | Indiana | $39,528 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 626 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $41,214 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 379 |
| 37 | Alabama | $40,980 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 208 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $39,977 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 238 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $38,910 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 879 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $39,742 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 61 |
| 41 | Kansas | $36,732 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 293 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $37,189 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 474 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $39,061 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 53 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $36,769 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 419 |
| 45 | Idaho | $36,075 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 167 |
| 46 | Georgia | $36,866 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 796 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,992 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 332 |
| 48 | Maine | $35,599 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 94 |
| 49 | Missouri | $35,028 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 485 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,846 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 156 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $32,699 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 183 |
Highest paying states for 1st grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. 1st Grade Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,752 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,929 |
| 3 | New York | $64,640 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $63,477 |
| 5 | Michigan | $53,609 |
| 6 | Maryland | $56,831 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $61,099 |
| 8 | Illinois | $51,857 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $55,198 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $50,273 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $48,615 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,023 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $45,474 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $45,225 |
| 15 | California | $58,290 |
| 16 | Montana | $43,835 |
| 17 | Oregon | $51,053 |
| 18 | Ohio | $47,871 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $43,063 |
| 20 | Alaska | $53,623 |
| 21 | Delaware | $45,017 |
| 22 | Vermont | $43,588 |
| 23 | Washington | $48,440 |
| 24 | Iowa | $42,853 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $52,725 |
| 26 | Virginia | $44,360 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $42,830 |
| 28 | Texas | $40,560 |
| 29 | Nevada | $38,554 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $41,923 |
| 31 | Florida | $41,116 |
| 32 | Utah | $42,278 |
| 33 | Colorado | $40,156 |
| 34 | Arizona | $38,331 |
| 35 | Indiana | $39,528 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $41,214 |
| 37 | Alabama | $40,980 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $39,977 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $38,910 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $39,742 |
| 41 | Kansas | $36,732 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $37,189 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $39,061 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $36,769 |
| 45 | Idaho | $36,075 |
| 46 | Georgia | $36,866 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,992 |
| 48 | Maine | $35,599 |
| 49 | Missouri | $35,028 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,846 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $32,699 |
1st grade teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025