Best cities for an esl teacher
The best cities for esl teachers are Boston, MA, Newark, NJ, and New York, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for esl teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for esl teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an esl teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for esl teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for esl teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an esl teacher. While the absolute best city for esl teachers is Boston, MA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for esl teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for an esl teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for esl teachers in 2026
1. Boston, MA
Total esl teacher jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $66,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 8.96 2. Newark, NJ
Total esl teacher jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $61,259 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 28.22 3. New York, NY
Total esl teacher jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $65,490 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 7.64 4. Columbus, OH
Total esl teacher jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $47,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 4.92 5. Omaha, NE
Total esl teacher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $54,168 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 3.68 6. Detroit, MI
Total esl teacher jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $49,962 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 5.92 7. Lexington, KY
Total esl teacher jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $47,008 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 10.05 8. Cleveland, OH
Total esl teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $50,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 2.95 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total esl teacher jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $54,838 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 1.94 10. Laredo, TX
Total esl teacher jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 52.80
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Best cities for esl teachers
- Boston, MA
- Newark, NJ
- New York, NY
- Columbus, OH
- Omaha, NE
- Detroit, MI
- Lexington, KY
- Cleveland, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Laredo, TX
- (41 esl teacher jobs)
- (21 esl teacher jobs)
- (160 esl teacher jobs)
- (14 esl teacher jobs)
- (5 esl teacher jobs)
- (8 esl teacher jobs)
- (4 esl teacher jobs)
- (3 esl teacher jobs)
- (6 esl teacher jobs)
- (5 esl teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an esl teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $66,910 | $50,000 | 673,184 | 41 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $61,259 | $45,000 | 281,764 | 21 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $65,490 | $48,000 | 8,537,673 | 160 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $47,919 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 14 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $54,168 | $42,000 | 446,970 | 5 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $49,962 | $37,000 | 672,795 | 8 |
| 7 | Lexington, KY | $47,008 | $36,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $50,295 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,838 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 10 | Laredo, TX | $47,606 | $37,000 | 257,156 | 5 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $48,217 | $37,000 | 683,080 | 9 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,092 | $36,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 13 | Garland, TX | $46,092 | $36,000 | 234,943 | 23 |
| 14 | Brookhaven, NY | $65,961 | $48,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 15 | Islip, NY | $65,837 | $48,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $64,352 | $47,000 | 681,170 | 13 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $64,161 | $50,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 18 | Oyster Bay, NY | $65,736 | $48,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $64,769 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $46,623 | $36,000 | 2,303,482 | 51 |
| 21 | Hempstead, NY | $65,627 | $48,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 22 | Buffalo, NY | $63,776 | $47,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 23 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,710 | $39,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 24 | Jersey City, NJ | $61,295 | $45,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $60,422 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 15 |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,982 | $46,000 | 3,976,322 | 17 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,261 | $38,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 28 | Lincoln, NE | $54,080 | $42,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 29 | Toledo, OH | $49,129 | $37,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 30 | Oakland, CA | $64,666 | $47,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 31 | San Jose, CA | $64,483 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $58,579 | $51,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 33 | Fremont, CA | $64,539 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 34 | Greensboro, NC | $42,397 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 43 |
| 35 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,883 | $40,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 36 | Stockton, CA | $64,156 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 37 | Virginia Beach, VA | $52,541 | $38,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 38 | Winston-Salem, NC | $42,285 | $32,000 | 242,203 | 20 |
| 39 | Sacramento, CA | $64,047 | $47,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 40 | Arlington, TX | $46,158 | $36,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 41 | Baltimore, MD | $60,999 | $45,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 42 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,883 | $40,000 | 413,651 | 7 |
| 43 | San Antonio, TX | $47,205 | $36,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 44 | Long Beach, CA | $61,711 | $45,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 45 | Anaheim, CA | $61,603 | $45,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 46 | Fresno, CA | $63,460 | $46,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 47 | Santa Ana, CA | $61,521 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $46,938 | $36,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 49 | Austin, TX | $46,864 | $36,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 50 | Bakersfield, CA | $62,869 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
Highest paying cities for esl teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. esl teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $66,910 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $65,490 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $64,769 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $64,352 |
| 5 | Bothell, WA | $64,115 |
| 6 | West New York, NJ | $61,347 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,838 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $54,168 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,883 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $49,962 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,710 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $49,167 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $48,217 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $47,919 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,841 |
| 16 | Wilson, NC | $42,867 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $41,505 |
| 18 | Kansas City, KS | $41,378 |
| 19 | New Orleans, LA | $40,674 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,227 |
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Updated January 8, 2025