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Best states for a fifth grade teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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Are you thinking of becoming a fifth grade teacher and really want to work at Orange County High School? Turns out, your chances to become a fifth grade teacher are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for fifth grade teacher jobs.
The median salary for fifth grade teachers in New Jersey is $57,182. Compare that to the median salary in Maine of $28,609, which ranked worst for fifth grade teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a fifth grade teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for fifth grade teachers in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 1,029 Average annual salary: $57,182 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
2. Connecticut
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 343 Average annual salary: $54,372 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
3. New York
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 949 Average annual salary: $59,962 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
4. Maryland
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 751 Average annual salary: $53,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
5. District of Columbia
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 153 Average annual salary: $57,681 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
6. Michigan
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 736 Average annual salary: $47,407 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
7. Massachusetts
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 667 Average annual salary: $52,562 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
8. Pennsylvania
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 837 Average annual salary: $51,868 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. New Mexico
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $44,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
10. Texas
Total fifth grade teacher jobs: 1,516 Average annual salary: $46,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1
Fifth grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a fifth grade teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a fifth grade teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $57,182 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,029 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $54,372 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 343 |
| 3 | New York | $59,962 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 949 |
| 4 | Maryland | $53,608 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 751 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $57,681 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 153 |
| 6 | Michigan | $47,407 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 736 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $52,562 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 667 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $51,868 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 837 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $44,675 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 224 |
| 10 | Texas | $46,019 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,516 |
| 11 | California | $54,179 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,807 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $44,592 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 161 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $44,417 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 570 |
| 14 | Florida | $42,550 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,229 |
| 15 | Oregon | $46,387 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 210 |
| 16 | Delaware | $42,766 | $26,000 | 961,939 | 99 |
| 17 | Illinois | $40,402 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,398 |
| 18 | Washington | $44,914 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 422 |
| 19 | Montana | $40,553 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 111 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $44,616 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 21 | Alaska | $47,270 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 23 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $40,158 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 40 |
| 23 | Colorado | $39,816 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 705 |
| 24 | Virginia | $42,329 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 647 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $51,095 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 15 |
| 26 | Alabama | $40,710 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 162 |
| 27 | Nevada | $36,897 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 378 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $40,848 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 175 |
| 29 | Ohio | $39,254 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 608 |
| 30 | Arizona | $36,843 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 691 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $36,579 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 219 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $39,931 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 131 |
| 33 | Iowa | $38,280 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 219 |
| 34 | Utah | $39,480 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 119 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $37,506 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 637 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $36,540 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 332 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $35,969 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 369 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $37,370 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 24 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $36,231 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 333 |
| 40 | Indiana | $35,514 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 399 |
| 41 | Georgia | $36,550 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 636 |
| 42 | Kansas | $34,697 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 222 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $36,600 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 27 |
| 44 | Vermont | $35,315 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 47 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $34,743 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 102 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $30,968 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 258 |
| 47 | Missouri | $32,957 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 380 |
| 48 | Idaho | $33,100 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 85 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,857 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 21 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,841 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 140 |
| 51 | Maine | $28,609 | $19,000 | 1,335,907 | 50 |
Highest paying states for fifth grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Fifth Grade Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $57,182 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $54,372 |
| 3 | New York | $59,962 |
| 4 | Maryland | $53,608 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $57,681 |
| 6 | Michigan | $47,407 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $52,562 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $51,868 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $44,675 |
| 10 | Texas | $46,019 |
| 11 | California | $54,179 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $44,592 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $44,417 |
| 14 | Florida | $42,550 |
| 15 | Oregon | $46,387 |
| 16 | Delaware | $42,766 |
| 17 | Illinois | $40,402 |
| 18 | Washington | $44,914 |
| 19 | Montana | $40,553 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $44,616 |
| 21 | Alaska | $47,270 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $40,158 |
| 23 | Colorado | $39,816 |
| 24 | Virginia | $42,329 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $51,095 |
| 26 | Alabama | $40,710 |
| 27 | Nevada | $36,897 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $40,848 |
| 29 | Ohio | $39,254 |
| 30 | Arizona | $36,843 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $36,579 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $39,931 |
| 33 | Iowa | $38,280 |
| 34 | Utah | $39,480 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $37,506 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $36,540 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $35,969 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $37,370 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $36,231 |
| 40 | Indiana | $35,514 |
| 41 | Georgia | $36,550 |
| 42 | Kansas | $34,697 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $36,600 |
| 44 | Vermont | $35,315 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $34,743 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $30,968 |
| 47 | Missouri | $32,957 |
| 48 | Idaho | $33,100 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,857 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,841 |
| 51 | Maine | $28,609 |
Expert opinions on the best states for fifth grade teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for fifth grade 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.
Fifth grade teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025