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Best states for an early childhood teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 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 early childhood teacher jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for early childhood teachers.Our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state in the country for early childhood teachers.
We figured that the best places for early childhood teacher jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for early childhood teacher jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for early childhood teachers in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $50,952 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
2. Maryland
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 718 Average annual salary: $45,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
3. New York
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 970 Average annual salary: $47,213 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. Massachusetts
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 690 Average annual salary: $45,487 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. Michigan
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 693 Average annual salary: $37,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
6. New Jersey
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 972 Average annual salary: $39,524 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
7. Vermont
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 48 Average annual salary: $44,245 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Minnesota
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 558 Average annual salary: $37,110 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
9. New Hampshire
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $35,552 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
10. Wyoming
Total early childhood teacher jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $36,997 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
Early childhood teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an early childhood teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an early childhood teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $50,952 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 140 |
| 2 | Maryland | $45,228 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 718 |
| 3 | New York | $47,213 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 970 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $45,487 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 690 |
| 5 | Michigan | $37,492 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 693 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $39,524 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 972 |
| 7 | Vermont | $44,245 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 48 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $37,110 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 558 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $35,552 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 175 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $36,997 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 42 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $37,293 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 295 |
| 12 | California | $42,734 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,780 |
| 13 | Arizona | $35,039 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 617 |
| 14 | Texas | $35,906 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,499 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $35,388 | $23,000 | 12,805,537 | 849 |
| 16 | Illinois | $34,824 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,460 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $38,007 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 28 |
| 18 | Maine | $37,330 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 44 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $33,023 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 211 |
| 20 | Washington | $36,248 | $26,000 | 7,405,743 | 424 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $34,824 | $25,000 | 755,393 | 26 |
| 22 | Colorado | $32,893 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 685 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $33,257 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 323 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $32,944 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 153 |
| 25 | Iowa | $32,825 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 235 |
| 26 | Kansas | $32,022 | $22,000 | 2,913,123 | 244 |
| 27 | Nevada | $30,579 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 284 |
| 28 | Oregon | $34,748 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 209 |
| 29 | Montana | $32,200 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 102 |
| 30 | Virginia | $34,321 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 648 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $32,392 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 140 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $39,224 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 15 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $32,371 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 135 |
| 34 | Alaska | $35,358 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 24 |
| 35 | Delaware | $29,953 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 108 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $30,647 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 348 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $30,464 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 321 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $31,746 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $30,450 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 628 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $31,581 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 18 |
| 41 | Missouri | $31,068 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 375 |
| 42 | Georgia | $30,412 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 717 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $27,615 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 253 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $30,381 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 170 |
| 45 | Indiana | $26,915 | $18,000 | 6,666,818 | 544 |
| 46 | Florida | $27,228 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,292 |
| 47 | Ohio | $28,254 | $19,000 | 11,658,609 | 604 |
| 48 | Idaho | $24,889 | $18,000 | 1,716,943 | 103 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $26,239 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 92 |
| 50 | Utah | $25,771 | $18,000 | 3,101,833 | 120 |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,442 | $15,000 | 4,874,747 | 158 |
Highest paying states for early childhood teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Early Childhood Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $50,952 |
| 2 | Maryland | $45,228 |
| 3 | New York | $47,213 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $45,487 |
| 5 | Michigan | $37,492 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $39,524 |
| 7 | Vermont | $44,245 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $37,110 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $35,552 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $36,997 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $37,293 |
| 12 | California | $42,734 |
| 13 | Arizona | $35,039 |
| 14 | Texas | $35,906 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $35,388 |
| 16 | Illinois | $34,824 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $38,007 |
| 18 | Maine | $37,330 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $33,023 |
| 20 | Washington | $36,248 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $34,824 |
| 22 | Colorado | $32,893 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $33,257 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $32,944 |
| 25 | Iowa | $32,825 |
| 26 | Kansas | $32,022 |
| 27 | Nevada | $30,579 |
| 28 | Oregon | $34,748 |
| 29 | Montana | $32,200 |
| 30 | Virginia | $34,321 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $32,392 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $39,224 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $32,371 |
| 34 | Alaska | $35,358 |
| 35 | Delaware | $29,953 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $30,647 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $30,464 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $31,746 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $30,450 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $31,581 |
| 41 | Missouri | $31,068 |
| 42 | Georgia | $30,412 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $27,615 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $30,381 |
| 45 | Indiana | $26,915 |
| 46 | Florida | $27,228 |
| 47 | Ohio | $28,254 |
| 48 | Idaho | $24,889 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $26,239 |
| 50 | Utah | $25,771 |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,442 |
Expert opinions on the best states for early childhood teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for early childhood teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
Early childhood teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025