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Best states for a driving instructor
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like driving instructors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for driving instructors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of driving instructors in America is $79,000.
The median salary for driving instructors in New Jersey is $57,941. Compare that to the median salary in Ohio of $34,835, which ranked worst for driving instructors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a driving instructor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for driving instructors in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total driving instructor jobs: 466 Average annual salary: $57,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. Georgia
Total driving instructor jobs: 655 Average annual salary: $54,008 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
3. South Carolina
Total driving instructor jobs: 378 Average annual salary: $52,654 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
4. Massachusetts
Total driving instructor jobs: 313 Average annual salary: $71,246 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
5. Louisiana
Total driving instructor jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $54,236 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. Michigan
Total driving instructor jobs: 419 Average annual salary: $52,708 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
7. West Virginia
Total driving instructor jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $56,324 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
8. New York
Total driving instructor jobs: 640 Average annual salary: $57,510 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
9. Arizona
Total driving instructor jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $55,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
10. New Hampshire
Total driving instructor jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $58,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
Driving instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a driving instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a driving instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $57,941 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 466 |
| 2 | Georgia | $54,008 | $35,000 | 10,429,379 | 655 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $52,654 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 378 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $71,246 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 313 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $54,236 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 131 |
| 6 | Michigan | $52,708 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 419 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $56,324 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 55 |
| 8 | New York | $57,510 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 640 |
| 9 | Arizona | $55,555 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 227 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $58,019 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 59 |
| 11 | Maine | $57,951 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 41 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $59,402 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 93 |
| 13 | Indiana | $55,347 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 123 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $52,272 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 181 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $51,150 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 46 |
| 16 | Illinois | $52,666 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 428 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $52,320 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 91 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $48,310 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 88 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $55,705 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 59 |
| 20 | Delaware | $49,567 | $30,000 | 961,939 | 66 |
| 21 | Nevada | $47,318 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 133 |
| 22 | Alabama | $50,320 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 145 |
| 23 | Idaho | $50,844 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 51 |
| 24 | Florida | $48,815 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 706 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $48,741 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 38 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $47,627 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 234 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $45,644 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 50 |
| 28 | Vermont | $49,146 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $49,495 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 235 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $45,378 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 661 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $46,765 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 37 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,367 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 79 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,121 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 146 |
| 34 | California | $46,367 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,672 |
| 35 | Oregon | $45,073 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 277 |
| 36 | Kansas | $46,249 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 98 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $45,790 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 428 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $44,851 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 148 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $45,393 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 80 |
| 40 | Washington | $48,470 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 234 |
| 41 | Virginia | $42,541 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 603 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $48,786 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 28 |
| 43 | Colorado | $40,878 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 489 |
| 44 | Maryland | $43,804 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 281 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $45,095 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 75 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $44,875 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 36 |
| 47 | Utah | $41,150 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 129 |
| 48 | Texas | $39,619 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 842 |
| 49 | Alaska | $32,093 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 51 |
| 50 | Iowa | $32,520 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 161 |
| 51 | Ohio | $34,835 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 379 |
Highest paying states for driving instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Driving Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $57,941 |
| 2 | Georgia | $54,008 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $52,654 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $71,246 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $54,236 |
| 6 | Michigan | $52,708 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $56,324 |
| 8 | New York | $57,510 |
| 9 | Arizona | $55,555 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $58,019 |
| 11 | Maine | $57,951 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $59,402 |
| 13 | Indiana | $55,347 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $52,272 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $51,150 |
| 16 | Illinois | $52,666 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $52,320 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $48,310 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $55,705 |
| 20 | Delaware | $49,567 |
| 21 | Nevada | $47,318 |
| 22 | Alabama | $50,320 |
| 23 | Idaho | $50,844 |
| 24 | Florida | $48,815 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $48,741 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $47,627 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $45,644 |
| 28 | Vermont | $49,146 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $49,495 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $45,378 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $46,765 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,367 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,121 |
| 34 | California | $46,367 |
| 35 | Oregon | $45,073 |
| 36 | Kansas | $46,249 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $45,790 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $44,851 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $45,393 |
| 40 | Washington | $48,470 |
| 41 | Virginia | $42,541 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $48,786 |
| 43 | Colorado | $40,878 |
| 44 | Maryland | $43,804 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $45,095 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $44,875 |
| 47 | Utah | $41,150 |
| 48 | Texas | $39,619 |
| 49 | Alaska | $32,093 |
| 50 | Iowa | $32,520 |
| 51 | Ohio | $34,835 |
Driving instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025