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Best states for an associate instructor
Quoted expert
Dr. Kathleen Hohenleitner
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to associate instructor jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for associate instructors.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of associate instructors in America is $79,000.
The median salary for associate instructors in California is $61,913. Compare that to the median salary in Indiana of $31,769, which ranked worst for associate instructors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for associate instructor jobs, whereas Indiana is the worst.
10 best states for associate instructors in 2025
1. California
Total associate instructor jobs: 1,686 Average annual salary: $61,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
2. Oregon
Total associate instructor jobs: 282 Average annual salary: $53,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
3. Nevada
Total associate instructor jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $50,164 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
4. Mississippi
Total associate instructor jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $55,024 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
5. North Carolina
Total associate instructor jobs: 671 Average annual salary: $45,428 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
6. Wyoming
Total associate instructor jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $46,179 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
7. South Carolina
Total associate instructor jobs: 388 Average annual salary: $44,182 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
8. New York
Total associate instructor jobs: 652 Average annual salary: $49,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
9. New Mexico
Total associate instructor jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $47,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
10. Alaska
Total associate instructor jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $49,645 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
Associate instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an associate instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $61,913 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,686 |
| 2 | Oregon | $53,976 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 282 |
| 3 | Nevada | $50,164 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 133 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $55,024 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 88 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $45,428 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 671 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $46,179 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 43 |
| 7 | South Carolina | $44,182 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 388 |
| 8 | New York | $49,870 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 652 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $47,170 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 80 |
| 10 | Alaska | $49,645 | $41,000 | 739,795 | 51 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $49,182 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 37 |
| 12 | Delaware | $43,870 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 66 |
| 13 | Utah | $45,221 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 122 |
| 14 | Arizona | $45,779 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 224 |
| 15 | Texas | $44,054 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 788 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $43,373 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 415 |
| 17 | Florida | $41,958 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 714 |
| 18 | Illinois | $44,087 | $29,000 | 12,802,023 | 434 |
| 19 | Michigan | $39,623 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 419 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $41,375 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 209 |
| 21 | Virginia | $41,532 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 580 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $42,083 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 476 |
| 23 | Colorado | $39,839 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 492 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,157 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 58 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $43,988 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 314 |
| 26 | Montana | $37,798 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 80 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $41,351 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 46 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $41,498 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 238 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $40,773 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 75 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $46,280 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 34 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $38,765 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 131 |
| 32 | Alabama | $39,597 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 145 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $42,525 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 92 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $40,088 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 37 |
| 35 | Maryland | $40,780 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 281 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $39,020 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 91 |
| 37 | Vermont | $38,521 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 38 | Ohio | $37,062 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 373 |
| 39 | Iowa | $35,759 | $24,000 | 3,145,711 | 161 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $36,848 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 183 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $36,028 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $34,098 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 150 |
| 43 | Idaho | $36,462 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 51 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,235 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 690 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $32,418 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 55 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $34,488 | $20,000 | 1,342,795 | 59 |
| 47 | Maine | $34,545 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 41 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,048 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 146 |
| 49 | Washington | $34,012 | $22,000 | 7,405,743 | 224 |
| 50 | Kansas | $31,034 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 98 |
| 51 | Indiana | $31,769 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 125 |
Highest paying states for associate instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Associate Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $61,913 |
| 2 | Oregon | $53,976 |
| 3 | Nevada | $50,164 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $55,024 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $45,428 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $46,179 |
| 7 | South Carolina | $44,182 |
| 8 | New York | $49,870 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $47,170 |
| 10 | Alaska | $49,645 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $49,182 |
| 12 | Delaware | $43,870 |
| 13 | Utah | $45,221 |
| 14 | Arizona | $45,779 |
| 15 | Texas | $44,054 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $43,373 |
| 17 | Florida | $41,958 |
| 18 | Illinois | $44,087 |
| 19 | Michigan | $39,623 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $41,375 |
| 21 | Virginia | $41,532 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $42,083 |
| 23 | Colorado | $39,839 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,157 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $43,988 |
| 26 | Montana | $37,798 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $41,351 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $41,498 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $40,773 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $46,280 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $38,765 |
| 32 | Alabama | $39,597 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $42,525 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $40,088 |
| 35 | Maryland | $40,780 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $39,020 |
| 37 | Vermont | $38,521 |
| 38 | Ohio | $37,062 |
| 39 | Iowa | $35,759 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $36,848 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $36,028 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $34,098 |
| 43 | Idaho | $36,462 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,235 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $32,418 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $34,488 |
| 47 | Maine | $34,545 |
| 48 | Missouri | $35,048 |
| 49 | Washington | $34,012 |
| 50 | Kansas | $31,034 |
| 51 | Indiana | $31,769 |
Expert opinions on the best states for associate instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for associate instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Kathleen Hohenleitner
Senior Lecturer, University of Central Florida
Well, many students come to school intending to work in "book publishing," which I think means they want to read manuscripts at Penguin. That's not a super realistic goal for anyone unless they are in New York City, are independently wealthy, and are willing to start at the very bottom of the ladder. But there are nonetheless many other jobs for good writers, editors, and researchers all around the country. We were seeing more writers telecommuting even before the pandemic too, so I hope that indicates that such jobs are more about performance than about location.
There were also many jobs being advertised for English teachers in local public schools before the pandemic. I hope that continues.
Associate instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025