Best states for a 2nd grade teacher

Q: What is the best state for 2nd grade teachers?

The best state to be a 2nd grade teacher is Maryland based on 2nd grade teacher salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for 2nd grade teachers?

The highest paying state for 2nd grade teachers is Missouri based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for 2nd grade teachers?

The worst state for 2nd grade teachers is Maine, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to 2nd grade teacher jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for 2nd grade teachers.Our research shows that Maryland is the best state in the country for 2nd grade teachers.

The median salary for 2nd grade teachers in Maryland is $58,590. Compare that to the median salary in Maine of $32,310, which ranked worst for 2nd grade teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for 2nd grade teachers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Pablo, CA is the best city in the country for 2nd grade teacher jobs, where as Maryland is the best state in the country.

10 best states for 2nd grade teachers in 2026

1. Maryland
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 876
Average annual salary: $58,590
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
2nd grade teacher jobs in Maryland
2. Connecticut
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 449
Average annual salary: $57,437
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000
Location Quotient:
1.5
2nd grade teacher jobs in Connecticut
3. District of Columbia
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 171
Average annual salary: $62,857
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
2nd grade teacher jobs in District of Columbia
4. New Jersey
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 1,125
Average annual salary: $55,341
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.57
2nd grade teacher jobs in New Jersey
5. New York
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 1,127
Average annual salary: $58,330
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
2nd grade teacher jobs in New York
6. Pennsylvania
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 981
Average annual salary: $50,337
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
2nd grade teacher jobs in Pennsylvania
7. Michigan
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 901
Average annual salary: $46,388
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
2nd grade teacher jobs in Michigan
8. Massachusetts
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 772
Average annual salary: $52,176
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
2nd grade teacher jobs in Massachusetts
9. California
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 2,053
Average annual salary: $57,638
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
2nd grade teacher jobs in California
10. Virginia
Total 2nd grade teacher jobs: 761
Average annual salary: $52,001
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
2nd grade teacher jobs in Virginia

2nd grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a 2nd grade teacher

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a 2nd grade teacher

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maryland	$58,590	$38,000	6,052,177	876
2	Connecticut	$57,437	$38,000	3,588,184	449
3	District of Columbia	$62,857	$41,000	693,972	171
4	New Jersey	$55,341	$36,000	9,005,644	1,125
5	New York	$58,330	$38,000	19,849,399	1,127
6	Pennsylvania	$50,337	$33,000	12,805,537	981
7	Michigan	$46,388	$31,000	9,962,311	901
8	Massachusetts	$52,176	$36,000	6,859,819	772
9	California	$57,638	$36,000	39,536,653	2,053
10	Virginia	$52,001	$33,000	8,470,020	761
11	Illinois	$46,222	$31,000	12,802,023	1,584
12	New Mexico	$44,699	$29,000	2,088,070	271
13	Nebraska	$45,845	$32,000	1,920,076	215
14	Rhode Island	$49,376	$33,000	1,059,639	88
15	Washington	$51,243	$34,000	7,405,743	525
16	Delaware	$45,727	$30,000	961,939	160
17	Ohio	$47,117	$31,000	11,658,609	704
18	Minnesota	$44,372	$31,000	5,576,606	662
19	Texas	$44,131	$29,000	28,304,596	1,710
20	New Hampshire	$40,946	$29,000	1,342,795	260
21	Florida	$43,519	$30,000	20,984,400	1,487
22	Alaska	$48,482	$38,000	739,795	19
23	Iowa	$41,463	$28,000	3,145,711	322
24	Oregon	$46,122	$30,000	4,142,776	284
25	Hawaii	$54,950	$47,000	1,427,538	16
26	Kentucky	$42,607	$29,000	4,454,189	195
27	Nevada	$38,801	$25,000	2,998,039	404
28	Wisconsin	$40,558	$27,000	5,795,483	438
29	Indiana	$39,537	$26,000	6,666,818	553
30	Arizona	$37,772	$24,000	7,016,270	822
31	West Virginia	$40,842	$26,000	1,815,857	58
32	Alabama	$41,330	$28,000	4,874,747	211
33	North Carolina	$39,803	$26,000	10,273,419	767
34	South Carolina	$38,144	$26,000	5,024,369	384
35	Wyoming	$39,712	$28,000	579,315	42
36	Utah	$40,724	$28,000	3,101,833	164
37	Colorado	$36,980	$26,000	5,607,154	776
38	Montana	$36,275	$26,000	1,050,493	152
39	Tennessee	$37,026	$25,000	6,715,984	477
40	Vermont	$39,541	$29,000	623,657	49
41	Kansas	$35,303	$24,000	2,913,123	299
42	Louisiana	$37,218	$25,000	4,684,333	225
43	Georgia	$37,269	$25,000	10,429,379	808
44	North Dakota	$37,982	$27,000	755,393	55
45	Idaho	$34,334	$23,000	1,716,943	159
46	Mississippi	$35,222	$24,000	2,984,100	159
47	Oklahoma	$31,836	$22,000	3,930,864	299
48	South Dakota	$33,912	$24,000	869,666	55
49	Missouri	$31,649	$22,000	6,113,532	457
50	Arkansas	$32,392	$22,000	3,004,279	182
51	Maine	$32,310	$24,000	1,335,907	60

Highest paying states for 2nd grade teachers

Rank	State	Avg. 2nd Grade Teacher Salary
1	Maryland	$58,590
2	Connecticut	$57,437
3	District of Columbia	$62,857
4	New Jersey	$55,341
5	New York	$58,330
6	Pennsylvania	$50,337
7	Michigan	$46,388
8	Massachusetts	$52,176
9	California	$57,638
10	Virginia	$52,001
11	Illinois	$46,222
12	New Mexico	$44,699
13	Nebraska	$45,845
14	Rhode Island	$49,376
15	Washington	$51,243
16	Delaware	$45,727
17	Ohio	$47,117
18	Minnesota	$44,372
19	Texas	$44,131
20	New Hampshire	$40,946
21	Florida	$43,519
22	Alaska	$48,482
23	Iowa	$41,463
24	Oregon	$46,122
25	Hawaii	$54,950
26	Kentucky	$42,607
27	Nevada	$38,801
28	Wisconsin	$40,558
29	Indiana	$39,537
30	Arizona	$37,772
31	West Virginia	$40,842
32	Alabama	$41,330
33	North Carolina	$39,803
34	South Carolina	$38,144
35	Wyoming	$39,712
36	Utah	$40,724
37	Colorado	$36,980
38	Montana	$36,275
39	Tennessee	$37,026
40	Vermont	$39,541
41	Kansas	$35,303
42	Louisiana	$37,218
43	Georgia	$37,269
44	North Dakota	$37,982
45	Idaho	$34,334
46	Mississippi	$35,222
47	Oklahoma	$31,836
48	South Dakota	$33,912
49	Missouri	$31,649
50	Arkansas	$32,392
51	Maine	$32,310

2nd grade teacher best states FAQs

What is the best state for 2nd grade teachers?

What is the highest paying state for 2nd grade teachers?

What is the worst state for 2nd grade teachers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

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2nd Grade Teacher
Best states for 2nd Grade Teachers

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs

Total 2nd grade teacher jobs:	876
Average annual salary:	$58,590
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$38,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$89,000
Location Quotient:	1.53

Best states for a 2nd grade teacher

10 best states for 2nd grade teachers in 2026

1. Maryland

2. Connecticut

3. District of Columbia

4. New Jersey

5. New York

6. Pennsylvania

7. Michigan

8. Massachusetts

9. California

10. Virginia