Best states for a Driving Instructor

Q: What is the best state for driving instructors?

The best state to be a driving instructor is New Jersey based on driving instructor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for driving instructors?

The highest paying state for driving instructors is Alaska based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for driving instructors?

The worst state for driving instructors is Ohio, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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
Driving Instructor Jobs in New Jersey
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in Georgia
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in South Carolina
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in Massachusetts
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in Louisiana
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in Michigan
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in West Virginia
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in New York
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
Driving Instructor Jobs in Arizona
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 Jobs in New Hampshire

Driving Instructor JobsNear Ashburn, VA

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

What is the best state for driving instructors?

What is the highest paying state for driving instructors?

What is the worst state for driving instructors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

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Driving Instructor
Best states for Driving Instructors

Updated January 8, 2025

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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

Best states for a Driving Instructor

10 best states for driving instructors in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. Georgia

3. South Carolina

4. Massachusetts

5. Louisiana

6. Michigan

7. West Virginia

8. New York

9. Arizona

10. New Hampshire