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Best states for an english as a second language teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Matt Tincani
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to english as a second language teacher jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. As english as a second language teachers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for english as a second language teachers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an english as a second language teacher, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for english as a second language 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.If you are currently seeking employment as an english as a second language teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for english as a second language teachers in 2026
1. New Hampshire
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 496 Average annual salary: $70,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 2.23
2. Connecticut
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 511 Average annual salary: $74,371 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
3. Nevada
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 813 Average annual salary: $67,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 3.06
4. Vermont
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 181 Average annual salary: $62,909 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
5. Rhode Island
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 131 Average annual salary: $70,416 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
6. Delaware
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 174 Average annual salary: $67,772 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
7. District of Columbia
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $71,201 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1
8. New York
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 1,427 Average annual salary: $68,926 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
9. California
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 3,132 Average annual salary: $72,255 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
10. Michigan
Total english as a second language teacher jobs: 963 Average annual salary: $61,852 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
English as a second language teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an english as a second language teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an english as a second language teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $70,005 | $57,000 | 1,342,795 | 496 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $74,371 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 511 |
| 3 | Nevada | $67,160 | $51,000 | 2,998,039 | 813 |
| 4 | Vermont | $62,909 | $52,000 | 623,657 | 181 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $70,416 | $56,000 | 1,059,639 | 131 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,772 | $52,000 | 961,939 | 174 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $71,201 | $55,000 | 693,972 | 214 |
| 8 | New York | $68,926 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,427 |
| 9 | California | $72,255 | $54,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,132 |
| 10 | Michigan | $61,852 | $49,000 | 9,962,311 | 963 |
| 11 | Montana | $59,287 | $50,000 | 1,050,493 | 253 |
| 12 | Maryland | $61,577 | $48,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,850 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $62,821 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $57,203 | $44,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,459 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $56,904 | $45,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,532 |
| 16 | Utah | $63,221 | $51,000 | 3,101,833 | 157 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $57,737 | $45,000 | 4,684,333 | 327 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $51,801 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 235 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $58,090 | $47,000 | 5,795,483 | 513 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $54,225 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 258 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $58,354 | $48,000 | 869,666 | 58 |
| 22 | Maine | $56,504 | $47,000 | 1,335,907 | 126 |
| 23 | Kansas | $50,269 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 407 |
| 24 | Illinois | $50,501 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,877 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $61,346 | $52,000 | 1,427,538 | 75 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $53,864 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 167 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,075 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 202 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $52,424 | $41,000 | 6,715,984 | 491 |
| 29 | Alaska | $56,618 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 48 |
| 30 | Florida | $48,687 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,951 |
| 31 | Colorado | $49,115 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 873 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $50,803 | $40,000 | 4,454,189 | 283 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,947 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 618 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $49,355 | $38,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,183 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $48,173 | $37,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,215 |
| 36 | Virginia | $49,066 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,136 |
| 37 | Georgia | $49,738 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,021 |
| 38 | Alabama | $49,208 | $39,000 | 4,874,747 | 275 |
| 39 | Iowa | $47,459 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 407 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,689 | $36,000 | 5,024,369 | 620 |
| 41 | Texas | $46,309 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,495 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $46,887 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 768 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $46,533 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 62 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $42,035 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 343 |
| 45 | Oregon | $48,356 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 410 |
| 46 | Washington | $47,604 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 754 |
| 47 | Ohio | $45,027 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 952 |
| 48 | Arizona | $46,248 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 525 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $37,247 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 369 |
| 50 | Indiana | $33,389 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 769 |
| 51 | Idaho | $34,626 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 155 |
Highest paying states for english as a second language teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. English As A Second Language Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $70,005 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $74,371 |
| 3 | Nevada | $67,160 |
| 4 | Vermont | $62,909 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $70,416 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,772 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $71,201 |
| 8 | New York | $68,926 |
| 9 | California | $72,255 |
| 10 | Michigan | $61,852 |
| 11 | Montana | $59,287 |
| 12 | Maryland | $61,577 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $62,821 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $57,203 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $56,904 |
| 16 | Utah | $63,221 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $57,737 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $51,801 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $58,090 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $54,225 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $58,354 |
| 22 | Maine | $56,504 |
| 23 | Kansas | $50,269 |
| 24 | Illinois | $50,501 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $61,346 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $53,864 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,075 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $52,424 |
| 29 | Alaska | $56,618 |
| 30 | Florida | $48,687 |
| 31 | Colorado | $49,115 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $50,803 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,947 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $49,355 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $48,173 |
| 36 | Virginia | $49,066 |
| 37 | Georgia | $49,738 |
| 38 | Alabama | $49,208 |
| 39 | Iowa | $47,459 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,689 |
| 41 | Texas | $46,309 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $46,887 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $46,533 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $42,035 |
| 45 | Oregon | $48,356 |
| 46 | Washington | $47,604 |
| 47 | Ohio | $45,027 |
| 48 | Arizona | $46,248 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $37,247 |
| 50 | Indiana | $33,389 |
| 51 | Idaho | $34,626 |
Expert opinions on the best states for english as a second language teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for english as a second language teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Matt Tincani
Professor and Chairperson, Temple University
There are notable education teacher shortages throughout the US. While there are generally more positions in states that have experienced significant population growth, particularly in the south and west, there are outstanding education teaching jobs just about everywhere. The most significant number of open positions can be found in major cities with chronic shortages of qualified teachers.
English as a second language teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025