Find a Job You Really Want In
As we navigate through 2026, the landscape of the American public school system continues to evolve. Significant shifts in the education sector, including increased teacher turnover and rising vacancies, have prompted a closer look at where the demand for educators is most pressing.
Recent reports indicate that many states are grappling with a growing number of teaching vacancies, exacerbated by factors such as burnout and dissatisfaction among educators. For example, Arizona is facing a critical shortage, with over 2,000 teaching positions unfilled across its districts.
In New Mexico, nearly 3% of teaching roles remain vacant, a staggering 60% increase from previous years. This trend reflects a broader national issue affecting various regions.
To identify which major U.S. cities are currently struggling the most to fill teaching vacancies, we analyzed cities based on the number of teaching positions advertised relative to their populations.
Key Findings:
- Las Vegas, NV leads the nation with the highest number of teaching job ads per capita, boasting 7.16 postings for every 10,000 residents—nearly ten times the average for the cities we evaluated.
- The demand for teachers is widespread, with major urban centers across the country experiencing significant job openings.
- Conversely, East Los Angeles reports the fewest job postings for teachers, with only 1 position available for its 124,191 residents.
- Across the 301 cities analyzed, there are currently 6,558 job listings featuring “teacher” in the title, equating to 0.724 openings per 10,000 residents.
Methodology Overview
This ranking was compiled by examining job postings on Zippia that included the term “teacher” for cities with populations exceeding 100,000 as of January 8, 2026.
The analysis was conducted on a total of 301 cities. To normalize the data, we calculated the number of job postings per capita and expressed it per 10,000 residents for clarity, though the ranking remains unchanged on a per capita basis.
Population statistics were sourced from the latest American Community Survey, ensuring our data is current and relevant.
In conclusion, as teacher shortages persist in various regions across the United States, it is crucial for educators, policymakers, and communities to address these challenges to foster a stable and effective educational environment. Understanding where the demand is highest can help guide recruitment efforts and policy initiatives aimed at supporting the teaching workforce in 2026 and beyond.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
