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Best states for an academic instructor
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for academic instructors in the United States. Academic instructor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for academic instructors.In fact, our research shows that Maine is the best state for academic instructors in America. The best city in America for academic instructors with the highest pay is Foster City, CA.
The median salary for academic instructors in Maine is $56,207. Compare that to the median salary in Missouri of $34,849, which ranked worst for academic instructors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for academic instructors, and the Northeast is the worst. Foster City, CA is the best city in the country for academic instructor jobs, where as Maine is the best state in the country.
10 best states for academic instructors in 2025
1. Maine
Total academic instructor jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $56,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.062. New York
Total academic instructor jobs: 1,479 Average annual salary: $63,433 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.973. California
Total academic instructor jobs: 3,548 Average annual salary: $61,647 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.024. Idaho
Total academic instructor jobs: 237 Average annual salary: $50,097 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.215. Montana
Total academic instructor jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $48,152 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.656. Maryland
Total academic instructor jobs: 958 Average annual salary: $53,889 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.277. North Dakota
Total academic instructor jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $53,814 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.918. South Carolina
Total academic instructor jobs: 651 Average annual salary: $47,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.229. Pennsylvania
Total academic instructor jobs: 1,071 Average annual salary: $53,931 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 0.7710. Washington
Total academic instructor jobs: 677 Average annual salary: $54,701 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
Academic instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an academic instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an academic instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,207 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 167 |
| 2 | New York | $63,433 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,479 |
| 3 | California | $61,647 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,548 |
| 4 | Idaho | $50,097 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 237 |
| 5 | Montana | $48,152 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 227 |
| 6 | Maryland | $53,889 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 958 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $53,814 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 101 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $47,265 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 651 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,931 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,071 |
| 10 | Washington | $54,701 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 677 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $45,169 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 128 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $48,071 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,245 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $51,306 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 889 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $46,908 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 111 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $47,620 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 739 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $46,953 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 351 |
| 17 | Kansas | $46,709 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 323 |
| 18 | Indiana | $48,689 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 518 |
| 19 | Arizona | $43,825 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 985 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $52,055 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 119 |
| 21 | Oregon | $45,694 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 522 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $46,976 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 448 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $43,896 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,230 |
| 24 | Illinois | $45,054 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,486 |
| 25 | Alaska | $43,594 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 126 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $41,873 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 272 |
| 27 | Ohio | $44,612 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 884 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $42,531 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 542 |
| 29 | Alabama | $45,259 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 367 |
| 30 | Vermont | $40,847 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 143 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $41,709 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 173 |
| 32 | Nevada | $40,059 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 505 |
| 33 | Virginia | $42,598 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,333 |
| 34 | Delaware | $41,614 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 198 |
| 35 | Texas | $43,290 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,133 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $42,567 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 135 |
| 37 | Michigan | $39,691 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,179 |
| 38 | Iowa | $40,169 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 425 |
| 39 | Florida | $40,551 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,972 |
| 40 | Colorado | $36,391 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,160 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $37,299 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 283 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $39,090 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 341 |
| 43 | Georgia | $37,561 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,154 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $35,259 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 252 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $40,448 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 145 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,566 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 541 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $34,841 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 240 |
| 48 | Utah | $36,607 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 284 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $35,166 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 191 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,066 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 325 |
| 51 | Missouri | $34,849 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 537 |
Highest paying states for academic instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Academic Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,207 |
| 2 | New York | $63,433 |
| 3 | California | $61,647 |
| 4 | Idaho | $50,097 |
| 5 | Montana | $48,152 |
| 6 | Maryland | $53,889 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $53,814 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $47,265 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,931 |
| 10 | Washington | $54,701 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $45,169 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $48,071 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $51,306 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $46,908 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $47,620 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $46,953 |
| 17 | Kansas | $46,709 |
| 18 | Indiana | $48,689 |
| 19 | Arizona | $43,825 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $52,055 |
| 21 | Oregon | $45,694 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $46,976 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $43,896 |
| 24 | Illinois | $45,054 |
| 25 | Alaska | $43,594 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $41,873 |
| 27 | Ohio | $44,612 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $42,531 |
| 29 | Alabama | $45,259 |
| 30 | Vermont | $40,847 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $41,709 |
| 32 | Nevada | $40,059 |
| 33 | Virginia | $42,598 |
| 34 | Delaware | $41,614 |
| 35 | Texas | $43,290 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | $42,567 |
| 37 | Michigan | $39,691 |
| 38 | Iowa | $40,169 |
| 39 | Florida | $40,551 |
| 40 | Colorado | $36,391 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $37,299 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $39,090 |
| 43 | Georgia | $37,561 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $35,259 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $40,448 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $35,566 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $34,841 |
| 48 | Utah | $36,607 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $35,166 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,066 |
| 51 | Missouri | $34,849 |
Expert opinions on the best states for academic instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for academic instructors 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