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Best states for a 5th grade teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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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 5th grade teacher jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for 5th grade teachers.Our research found that Connecticut is the best state for 5th grade teachers, while New Jersey and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Connecticut has a median salary of $60,413 and New Jersey has the highest median salary among all 50 states for 5th grade teachers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for 5th grade teachers.We found that the South is best for 5th grade teachers, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for 5th grade teacher jobs, where as Connecticut is the best state in the country.
10 best states for 5th grade teachers in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 458 Average annual salary: $60,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
2. New Jersey
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 1,095 Average annual salary: $61,192 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
3. Maryland
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 854 Average annual salary: $57,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
4. District of Columbia
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $61,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
5. Massachusetts
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 753 Average annual salary: $60,656 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
6. Michigan
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 866 Average annual salary: $53,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
7. Pennsylvania
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 936 Average annual salary: $55,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
8. New York
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 1,106 Average annual salary: $55,011 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Minnesota
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 631 Average annual salary: $49,507 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
10. Nebraska
Total 5th grade teacher jobs: 199 Average annual salary: $48,483 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5th grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a 5th grade teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a 5th grade teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,413 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 458 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $61,192 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,095 |
| 3 | Maryland | $57,179 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 854 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $61,026 | $40,000 | 693,972 | 168 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $60,656 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 753 |
| 6 | Michigan | $53,009 | $36,000 | 9,962,311 | 866 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $55,377 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 936 |
| 8 | New York | $55,011 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,106 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $49,507 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 631 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $48,483 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 199 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $46,923 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 267 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,493 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,511 |
| 13 | California | $55,056 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,011 |
| 14 | Oregon | $51,393 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 269 |
| 15 | Texas | $45,895 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,688 |
| 16 | Washington | $49,732 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 510 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $42,834 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 258 |
| 18 | Montana | $44,334 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 145 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $50,503 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 52 |
| 20 | Alaska | $51,754 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 21 | Delaware | $45,129 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 110 |
| 22 | Iowa | $42,203 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 273 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $43,696 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 40 |
| 24 | Ohio | $43,070 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 658 |
| 25 | Virginia | $44,828 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 738 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $43,354 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 182 |
| 27 | Florida | $41,563 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,404 |
| 28 | Nevada | $39,198 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 411 |
| 29 | Alabama | $42,900 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 207 |
| 30 | Utah | $42,321 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 162 |
| 31 | Arizona | $38,714 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 834 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,111 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 738 |
| 33 | Colorado | $39,634 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 769 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $41,244 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 54 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $49,380 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 36 | Vermont | $41,631 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 47 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $40,655 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 378 |
| 38 | Indiana | $39,113 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 463 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $38,370 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 376 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $38,120 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 430 |
| 41 | Kansas | $37,440 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 262 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $39,760 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 58 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $38,742 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 219 |
| 44 | Georgia | $38,452 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 722 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $36,651 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 148 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $33,210 | $23,000 | 3,930,864 | 292 |
| 47 | Missouri | $35,379 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 444 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $33,956 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 182 |
| 49 | Idaho | $36,492 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 88 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,828 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 52 |
| 51 | Maine | $33,710 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 48 |
Highest paying states for 5th grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. 5th Grade Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,413 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $61,192 |
| 3 | Maryland | $57,179 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $61,026 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $60,656 |
| 6 | Michigan | $53,009 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $55,377 |
| 8 | New York | $55,011 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $49,507 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $48,483 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $46,923 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,493 |
| 13 | California | $55,056 |
| 14 | Oregon | $51,393 |
| 15 | Texas | $45,895 |
| 16 | Washington | $49,732 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $42,834 |
| 18 | Montana | $44,334 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $50,503 |
| 20 | Alaska | $51,754 |
| 21 | Delaware | $45,129 |
| 22 | Iowa | $42,203 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $43,696 |
| 24 | Ohio | $43,070 |
| 25 | Virginia | $44,828 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $43,354 |
| 27 | Florida | $41,563 |
| 28 | Nevada | $39,198 |
| 29 | Alabama | $42,900 |
| 30 | Utah | $42,321 |
| 31 | Arizona | $38,714 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,111 |
| 33 | Colorado | $39,634 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $41,244 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $49,380 |
| 36 | Vermont | $41,631 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $40,655 |
| 38 | Indiana | $39,113 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $38,370 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $38,120 |
| 41 | Kansas | $37,440 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $39,760 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $38,742 |
| 44 | Georgia | $38,452 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $36,651 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $33,210 |
| 47 | Missouri | $35,379 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $33,956 |
| 49 | Idaho | $36,492 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,828 |
| 51 | Maine | $33,710 |
Expert opinions on the best states for 5th grade teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 5th grade teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
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Updated January 8, 2025