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Best states for an elementary educator
Quoted expert
Teresa Eagle
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like elementary educators are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for elementary educators aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Maryland is the best state in the country for elementary educators.
In order to get you the best states for elementary educators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as an elementary educator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for elementary educators in 2026
1. Maryland
Total elementary educator jobs: 409 Average annual salary: $55,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
2. New Jersey
Total elementary educator jobs: 595 Average annual salary: $50,009 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
3. Minnesota
Total elementary educator jobs: 376 Average annual salary: $43,599 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
4. New York
Total elementary educator jobs: 498 Average annual salary: $52,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
5. Connecticut
Total elementary educator jobs: 304 Average annual salary: $42,640 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 2.04
6. Michigan
Total elementary educator jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $40,940 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. District of Columbia
Total elementary educator jobs: 82 Average annual salary: $49,177 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
8. Pennsylvania
Total elementary educator jobs: 480 Average annual salary: $42,505 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. Ohio
Total elementary educator jobs: 419 Average annual salary: $39,933 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. Nebraska
Total elementary educator jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $39,194 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Elementary educator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an elementary educator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an elementary educator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $55,941 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 409 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $50,009 | $33,000 | 9,005,644 | 595 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $43,599 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 376 |
| 4 | New York | $52,741 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 498 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $42,640 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 304 |
| 6 | Michigan | $40,940 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 405 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $49,177 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 82 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $42,505 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 480 |
| 9 | Ohio | $39,933 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 419 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $39,194 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 101 |
| 11 | Virginia | $44,484 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 330 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $42,764 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 349 |
| 13 | Illinois | $39,344 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 615 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $36,637 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 146 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $41,359 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 33 |
| 16 | Kansas | $37,257 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 125 |
| 17 | Florida | $36,992 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 833 |
| 18 | Washington | $39,463 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 272 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $35,815 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 29 |
| 20 | Vermont | $36,319 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 37 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $38,236 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 83 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $36,759 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 179 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $34,551 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 149 |
| 24 | Delaware | $37,300 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 45 |
| 25 | California | $39,073 | $23,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,106 |
| 26 | Alabama | $36,646 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 73 |
| 27 | Utah | $36,034 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 98 |
| 28 | Oregon | $37,302 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 139 |
| 29 | Georgia | $36,669 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 294 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $35,548 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 291 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $35,513 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 147 |
| 32 | Montana | $32,263 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 87 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $33,452 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 163 |
| 34 | Nevada | $29,912 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 488 |
| 35 | Indiana | $31,597 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 288 |
| 36 | Missouri | $33,918 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 204 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $33,582 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 108 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $32,623 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 29 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $33,146 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 26 |
| 40 | Arizona | $29,792 | $18,000 | 7,016,270 | 495 |
| 41 | Colorado | $30,754 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 369 |
| 42 | Texas | $30,907 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 866 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $28,826 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 180 |
| 44 | Maine | $29,776 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 60 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $34,605 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 20 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,838 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 80 |
| 47 | Idaho | $28,565 | $18,000 | 1,716,943 | 84 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,612 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 65 |
| 49 | Iowa | $30,028 | $19,000 | 3,145,711 | 119 |
| 50 | Alaska | $29,976 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 31 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $30,487 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 28 |
Highest paying states for elementary educators
| Rank | State | Avg. Elementary Educator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $55,941 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $50,009 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $43,599 |
| 4 | New York | $52,741 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $42,640 |
| 6 | Michigan | $40,940 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $49,177 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $42,505 |
| 9 | Ohio | $39,933 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $39,194 |
| 11 | Virginia | $44,484 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $42,764 |
| 13 | Illinois | $39,344 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $36,637 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $41,359 |
| 16 | Kansas | $37,257 |
| 17 | Florida | $36,992 |
| 18 | Washington | $39,463 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $35,815 |
| 20 | Vermont | $36,319 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $38,236 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $36,759 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $34,551 |
| 24 | Delaware | $37,300 |
| 25 | California | $39,073 |
| 26 | Alabama | $36,646 |
| 27 | Utah | $36,034 |
| 28 | Oregon | $37,302 |
| 29 | Georgia | $36,669 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $35,548 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $35,513 |
| 32 | Montana | $32,263 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $33,452 |
| 34 | Nevada | $29,912 |
| 35 | Indiana | $31,597 |
| 36 | Missouri | $33,918 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $33,582 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $32,623 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $33,146 |
| 40 | Arizona | $29,792 |
| 41 | Colorado | $30,754 |
| 42 | Texas | $30,907 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $28,826 |
| 44 | Maine | $29,776 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $34,605 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,838 |
| 47 | Idaho | $28,565 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,612 |
| 49 | Iowa | $30,028 |
| 50 | Alaska | $29,976 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $30,487 |
Expert opinions on the best states for elementary educators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for elementary educators to find work opportunities?
Teresa Eagle
Dean, Marshall University
Opportunities for teaching careers, across the country, come in waves. Nationally and locally, we are currently experiencing a shortage of teachers, at all levels, and in all content areas. For a job in a specific content or grade level, however, the available positions may not be near the graduate's home. A willingness to relocate often determines whether a graduate can find a current position that matches his or her preparation and preferences. A little Internet exploration can easily find current opportunities in geographic areas of interest.
Elementary educator best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025