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Best states for a first grade teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for first grade teachers in the United States. First grade teacher positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for first grade teachers.We wanted to look at the best states for first grade teachers -- where there are plenty of first grade teacher jobs to go around and first grade teachers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
New Jersey is the best state for jobs for first grade teachers, and Maine is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $60,446, while the median pay in Maine is $33,009.We found that New Jersey is the best state for first grade teacher jobs, whereas Maine is the worst.
10 best states for first grade teachers in 2025
1. New Jersey
Total first grade teacher jobs: 1,139 Average annual salary: $60,446 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.69
2. New York
Total first grade teacher jobs: 1,107 Average annual salary: $63,914 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
3. New Mexico
Total first grade teacher jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $52,575 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
4. Connecticut
Total first grade teacher jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $58,148 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
5. Maryland
Total first grade teacher jobs: 813 Average annual salary: $57,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
6. District of Columbia
Total first grade teacher jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $61,415 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. Nebraska
Total first grade teacher jobs: 196 Average annual salary: $50,167 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
8. Florida
Total first grade teacher jobs: 1,513 Average annual salary: $51,688 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. Pennsylvania
Total first grade teacher jobs: 911 Average annual salary: $50,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
10. Illinois
Total first grade teacher jobs: 1,492 Average annual salary: $49,625 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
First grade teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a first grade teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a first grade teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,446 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,139 |
| 2 | New York | $63,914 | $44,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,107 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $52,575 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 253 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $58,148 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 372 |
| 5 | Maryland | $57,539 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 813 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $61,415 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 170 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $50,167 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 196 |
| 8 | Florida | $51,688 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,513 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $50,438 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 911 |
| 10 | Illinois | $49,625 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,492 |
| 11 | California | $60,542 | $43,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,928 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $53,226 | $37,000 | 6,859,819 | 723 |
| 13 | Washington | $55,974 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 444 |
| 14 | Michigan | $46,095 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 812 |
| 15 | Alaska | $54,683 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 16 | Virginia | $50,971 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 679 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $50,243 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 60 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $45,885 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 657 |
| 19 | Ohio | $46,010 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 687 |
| 20 | Texas | $45,409 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,671 |
| 21 | Nevada | $43,191 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 597 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $45,447 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 43 |
| 23 | Arizona | $43,177 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 774 |
| 24 | Oregon | $48,983 | $35,000 | 4,142,776 | 246 |
| 25 | Alabama | $46,713 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 168 |
| 26 | Delaware | $45,604 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 105 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $43,630 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 815 |
| 28 | Utah | $45,758 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 134 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $42,120 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 223 |
| 30 | Iowa | $43,138 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 252 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $44,690 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 164 |
| 32 | Montana | $41,406 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 139 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,731 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 690 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $51,507 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 18 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $41,749 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 353 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $42,665 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 201 |
| 37 | Georgia | $41,767 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 760 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $40,566 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 422 |
| 39 | Indiana | $39,459 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 586 |
| 40 | Kansas | $39,399 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 262 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $41,556 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 26 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $40,460 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 357 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,053 | $28,000 | 2,984,100 | 145 |
| 44 | Vermont | $41,077 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 50 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $36,651 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 302 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,124 | $28,000 | 1,815,857 | 31 |
| 47 | Idaho | $38,235 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 114 |
| 48 | Missouri | $34,732 | $25,000 | 6,113,532 | 445 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $36,679 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 142 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $36,392 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 25 |
| 51 | Maine | $33,009 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 53 |
Highest paying states for first grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. First Grade Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,446 |
| 2 | New York | $63,914 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $52,575 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $58,148 |
| 5 | Maryland | $57,539 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $61,415 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $50,167 |
| 8 | Florida | $51,688 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $50,438 |
| 10 | Illinois | $49,625 |
| 11 | California | $60,542 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $53,226 |
| 13 | Washington | $55,974 |
| 14 | Michigan | $46,095 |
| 15 | Alaska | $54,683 |
| 16 | Virginia | $50,971 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $50,243 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $45,885 |
| 19 | Ohio | $46,010 |
| 20 | Texas | $45,409 |
| 21 | Nevada | $43,191 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $45,447 |
| 23 | Arizona | $43,177 |
| 24 | Oregon | $48,983 |
| 25 | Alabama | $46,713 |
| 26 | Delaware | $45,604 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $43,630 |
| 28 | Utah | $45,758 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $42,120 |
| 30 | Iowa | $43,138 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $44,690 |
| 32 | Montana | $41,406 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,731 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $51,507 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $41,749 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $42,665 |
| 37 | Georgia | $41,767 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $40,566 |
| 39 | Indiana | $39,459 |
| 40 | Kansas | $39,399 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $41,556 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $40,460 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,053 |
| 44 | Vermont | $41,077 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $36,651 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,124 |
| 47 | Idaho | $38,235 |
| 48 | Missouri | $34,732 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $36,679 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $36,392 |
| 51 | Maine | $33,009 |
Expert opinions on the best states for first grade teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for first 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025