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Best states for a 6th grade teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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It seems like 6th grade teachers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for 6th grade teachers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research found that New Jersey is the best state for 6th grade teachers, while New York and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. New Jersey has a median salary of $59,335 and New York has the highest median salary among all 50 states for 6th grade teachers.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for 6th grade teachers. New Jersey is the best state for 6th grade teachers, where the median salary is $59,335.If you are currently seeking employment as a 6th grade teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for 6th grade teachers in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 1,043 Average annual salary: $59,335 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
2. District of Columbia
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $62,375 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Maryland
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 782 Average annual salary: $57,697 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
4. Connecticut
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 353 Average annual salary: $56,371 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
5. New York
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 974 Average annual salary: $62,182 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6. Michigan
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 762 Average annual salary: $52,695 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
7. Massachusetts
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 700 Average annual salary: $55,785 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
8. Pennsylvania
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 848 Average annual salary: $54,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
9. Minnesota
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 573 Average annual salary: $48,133 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
10. Nebraska
Total 6th grade teacher jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $47,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
6th grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a 6th grade teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a 6th grade teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,335 | $40,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,043 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $62,375 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 165 |
| 3 | Maryland | $57,697 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 782 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $56,371 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 353 |
| 5 | New York | $62,182 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 974 |
| 6 | Michigan | $52,695 | $36,000 | 9,962,311 | 762 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $55,785 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 700 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $54,817 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 848 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $48,133 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 573 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $47,870 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 169 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $45,134 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 226 |
| 12 | Illinois | $45,420 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,479 |
| 13 | Oregon | $49,909 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 214 |
| 14 | Delaware | $45,125 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 110 |
| 15 | California | $51,559 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,840 |
| 16 | Texas | $44,285 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,529 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $46,559 | $33,000 | 1,059,639 | 57 |
| 18 | Washington | $47,417 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 429 |
| 19 | Florida | $43,088 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,364 |
| 20 | Ohio | $43,935 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 601 |
| 21 | Alaska | $48,090 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 22 | Virginia | $45,869 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 656 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $42,138 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 45 |
| 24 | Montana | $41,612 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 118 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $43,448 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 144 |
| 26 | Iowa | $41,995 | $30,000 | 3,145,711 | 251 |
| 27 | Indiana | $39,681 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 561 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $39,344 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 220 |
| 29 | Colorado | $40,377 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 688 |
| 30 | Alabama | $42,090 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 167 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $41,424 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 194 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,104 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 678 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $40,277 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 339 |
| 34 | Nevada | $37,139 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 383 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $40,757 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 32 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $46,873 | $41,000 | 1,427,538 | 18 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $37,918 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 340 |
| 38 | Utah | $40,417 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 126 |
| 39 | Arizona | $36,263 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 697 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,821 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 379 |
| 41 | Kansas | $36,905 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 255 |
| 42 | Georgia | $37,916 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 736 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $39,163 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 28 |
| 44 | Vermont | $38,264 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 53 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $32,579 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 260 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $35,831 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 108 |
| 47 | Idaho | $35,103 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 112 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,095 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 386 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $35,073 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 24 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $33,445 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 144 |
| 51 | Maine | $31,220 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 55 |
Highest paying states for 6th grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. 6th Grade Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,335 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $62,375 |
| 3 | Maryland | $57,697 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $56,371 |
| 5 | New York | $62,182 |
| 6 | Michigan | $52,695 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $55,785 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $54,817 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $48,133 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $47,870 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $45,134 |
| 12 | Illinois | $45,420 |
| 13 | Oregon | $49,909 |
| 14 | Delaware | $45,125 |
| 15 | California | $51,559 |
| 16 | Texas | $44,285 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $46,559 |
| 18 | Washington | $47,417 |
| 19 | Florida | $43,088 |
| 20 | Ohio | $43,935 |
| 21 | Alaska | $48,090 |
| 22 | Virginia | $45,869 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $42,138 |
| 24 | Montana | $41,612 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $43,448 |
| 26 | Iowa | $41,995 |
| 27 | Indiana | $39,681 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $39,344 |
| 29 | Colorado | $40,377 |
| 30 | Alabama | $42,090 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $41,424 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,104 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $40,277 |
| 34 | Nevada | $37,139 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $40,757 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $46,873 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $37,918 |
| 38 | Utah | $40,417 |
| 39 | Arizona | $36,263 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,821 |
| 41 | Kansas | $36,905 |
| 42 | Georgia | $37,916 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $39,163 |
| 44 | Vermont | $38,264 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $32,579 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $35,831 |
| 47 | Idaho | $35,103 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,095 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $35,073 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $33,445 |
| 51 | Maine | $31,220 |
Expert opinions on the best states for 6th grade teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 6th 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.
6th grade teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025