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Best states for an adult basic education teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like adult basic education teachers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for adult basic education teachers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of adult basic education teachers in America is $74,000.
We figured that the best places for adult basic education teacher jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Pennsylvania is the best state for adult basic education teacher jobs, whereas Georgia is the worst.
10 best states for adult basic education teachers in 2026
1. Pennsylvania
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 1,111 Average annual salary: $60,493 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
2. New Jersey
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 1,159 Average annual salary: $61,559 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
3. New York
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 1,217 Average annual salary: $65,867 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
4. Illinois
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 1,706 Average annual salary: $57,907 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
5. California
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 2,069 Average annual salary: $83,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
6. Montana
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $58,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
7. Minnesota
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $56,501 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. Washington
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 519 Average annual salary: $63,158 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
9. Maine
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $62,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
10. Idaho
Total adult basic education teacher jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $59,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
Adult basic education teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an adult basic education teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an adult basic education teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $60,493 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,111 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $61,559 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,159 |
| 3 | New York | $65,867 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,217 |
| 4 | Illinois | $57,907 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,706 |
| 5 | California | $83,596 | $57,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,069 |
| 6 | Montana | $58,645 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 129 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $56,501 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 760 |
| 8 | Washington | $63,158 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 519 |
| 9 | Maine | $62,099 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 79 |
| 10 | Idaho | $59,847 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 104 |
| 11 | Indiana | $55,934 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 584 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $63,932 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 30 |
| 13 | Kansas | $55,980 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 273 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $55,613 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 54 |
| 15 | Maryland | $55,114 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 834 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $53,795 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 443 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $56,747 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 26 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $54,880 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 804 |
| 19 | Virginia | $53,763 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 769 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $54,614 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 378 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $54,140 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 223 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $46,926 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 213 |
| 23 | Ohio | $50,810 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 748 |
| 24 | Nevada | $45,750 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 391 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $47,191 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 437 |
| 26 | Oregon | $51,979 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 288 |
| 27 | Alabama | $52,222 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 170 |
| 28 | Florida | $47,042 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,425 |
| 29 | Iowa | $48,094 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 278 |
| 30 | Michigan | $45,475 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 803 |
| 31 | Delaware | $46,727 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 135 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $45,481 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 876 |
| 33 | Colorado | $46,069 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 731 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $47,164 | $32,000 | 1,059,639 | 65 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $47,335 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 40 |
| 36 | Vermont | $46,806 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 58 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $45,903 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 190 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $43,188 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 266 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,684 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 19 |
| 40 | Arizona | $42,590 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 778 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $42,450 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 203 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $44,654 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 160 |
| 43 | Texas | $42,062 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,840 |
| 44 | Alaska | $45,894 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 34 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,147 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 418 |
| 46 | Utah | $44,291 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 155 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $37,780 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 308 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $41,246 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 159 |
| 49 | Missouri | $41,538 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 454 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,821 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 111 |
| 51 | Georgia | $32,592 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 812 |
Highest paying states for adult basic education teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Adult Basic Education Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $60,493 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $61,559 |
| 3 | New York | $65,867 |
| 4 | Illinois | $57,907 |
| 5 | California | $83,596 |
| 6 | Montana | $58,645 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $56,501 |
| 8 | Washington | $63,158 |
| 9 | Maine | $62,099 |
| 10 | Idaho | $59,847 |
| 11 | Indiana | $55,934 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $63,932 |
| 13 | Kansas | $55,980 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $55,613 |
| 15 | Maryland | $55,114 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $53,795 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $56,747 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $54,880 |
| 19 | Virginia | $53,763 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $54,614 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $54,140 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $46,926 |
| 23 | Ohio | $50,810 |
| 24 | Nevada | $45,750 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $47,191 |
| 26 | Oregon | $51,979 |
| 27 | Alabama | $52,222 |
| 28 | Florida | $47,042 |
| 29 | Iowa | $48,094 |
| 30 | Michigan | $45,475 |
| 31 | Delaware | $46,727 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $45,481 |
| 33 | Colorado | $46,069 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $47,164 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $47,335 |
| 36 | Vermont | $46,806 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $45,903 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $43,188 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,684 |
| 40 | Arizona | $42,590 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $42,450 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $44,654 |
| 43 | Texas | $42,062 |
| 44 | Alaska | $45,894 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $41,147 |
| 46 | Utah | $44,291 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $37,780 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $41,246 |
| 49 | Missouri | $41,538 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,821 |
| 51 | Georgia | $32,592 |
Expert opinions on the best states for adult basic education teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for adult basic education 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.
Adult basic education teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025