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Best states for an adjunct instructor
Quoted expert
Marlene McCarty
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Adjunct instructor opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for adjunct instructors, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for adjunct instructors.Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for adjunct instructors.
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 adjunct instructors.If you are currently seeking employment as an adjunct instructor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for adjunct instructors in 2025
1. New York
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 1,573 Average annual salary: $66,246 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.582. Vermont
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $63,710 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.163. New Jersey
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 753 Average annual salary: $66,135 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.224. California
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 2,564 Average annual salary: $69,711 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.135. West Virginia
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $55,702 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.316. Michigan
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 579 Average annual salary: $59,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.967. Washington
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 366 Average annual salary: $66,832 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0.658. Pennsylvania
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 773 Average annual salary: $56,575 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.869. Iowa
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $53,145 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.0210. Massachusetts
Total adjunct instructor jobs: 568 Average annual salary: $58,722 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
Adjunct instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an adjunct instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an adjunct instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $66,246 | $39,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,573 |
| 2 | Vermont | $63,710 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 69 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $66,135 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 753 |
| 4 | California | $69,711 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,564 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $55,702 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 155 |
| 6 | Michigan | $59,233 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 579 |
| 7 | Washington | $66,832 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 366 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $56,575 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 773 |
| 9 | Iowa | $53,145 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 287 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $58,722 | $34,000 | 6,859,819 | 568 |
| 11 | Oregon | $52,661 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 488 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $55,730 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 331 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $58,939 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 80 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $54,365 | $32,000 | 1,059,639 | 83 |
| 15 | Alaska | $51,678 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 122 |
| 16 | Nevada | $52,395 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 136 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $58,006 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 148 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $57,462 | $34,000 | 693,972 | 129 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $48,715 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 315 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,316 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 73 |
| 21 | Virginia | $49,615 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,259 |
| 22 | Alabama | $48,523 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 288 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $48,191 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 265 |
| 24 | Ohio | $49,243 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 611 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $55,158 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 54 |
| 26 | Indiana | $47,002 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 519 |
| 27 | Utah | $48,653 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 242 |
| 28 | Montana | $49,086 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 90 |
| 29 | Colorado | $47,611 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 929 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,403 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 778 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $47,228 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 47 |
| 32 | Maryland | $49,456 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 544 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $50,971 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 335 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $45,266 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 182 |
| 35 | Idaho | $49,542 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 59 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $47,807 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 41 |
| 37 | Maine | $48,073 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 61 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $45,280 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 145 |
| 39 | Arizona | $47,163 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 308 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $45,691 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 119 |
| 41 | Texas | $42,804 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,701 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $41,308 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 487 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,645 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 66 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,800 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 66 |
| 45 | Georgia | $40,410 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 862 |
| 46 | Florida | $42,987 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,001 |
| 47 | Kansas | $43,414 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 127 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $41,632 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 274 |
| 49 | Missouri | $42,685 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 306 |
| 50 | Illinois | $42,057 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 648 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $40,635 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 130 |
Highest paying states for adjunct instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Adjunct Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $66,246 |
| 2 | Vermont | $63,710 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $66,135 |
| 4 | California | $69,711 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $55,702 |
| 6 | Michigan | $59,233 |
| 7 | Washington | $66,832 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $56,575 |
| 9 | Iowa | $53,145 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $58,722 |
| 11 | Oregon | $52,661 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $55,730 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $58,939 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $54,365 |
| 15 | Alaska | $51,678 |
| 16 | Nevada | $52,395 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $58,006 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $57,462 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $48,715 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,316 |
| 21 | Virginia | $49,615 |
| 22 | Alabama | $48,523 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $48,191 |
| 24 | Ohio | $49,243 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $55,158 |
| 26 | Indiana | $47,002 |
| 27 | Utah | $48,653 |
| 28 | Montana | $49,086 |
| 29 | Colorado | $47,611 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,403 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $47,228 |
| 32 | Maryland | $49,456 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $50,971 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $45,266 |
| 35 | Idaho | $49,542 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $47,807 |
| 37 | Maine | $48,073 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $45,280 |
| 39 | Arizona | $47,163 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $45,691 |
| 41 | Texas | $42,804 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $41,308 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $45,645 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,800 |
| 45 | Georgia | $40,410 |
| 46 | Florida | $42,987 |
| 47 | Kansas | $43,414 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $41,632 |
| 49 | Missouri | $42,685 |
| 50 | Illinois | $42,057 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $40,635 |
Expert opinions on the best states for adjunct instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for adjunct instructors to find work opportunities?
Marlene McCarty
Clinical Professor of Visual Arts, New York University
Large universalized geographic hubs of creativity (such as NYC used to be) will not play the same importance as in the past. Anywhere that is local will offer opportunities, if someone is imaginative enough to see them. Participatory placemaking requires critical and holistic thought concerning the world around us. Communities of friends, acquaintances, and cross-disciplinary associates, some formed online - some in person, will be more important than actual geographical areas.
Adjunct instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025