Best states for a head instructor

Q: What is the best state for head instructors?

The best state to be a head instructor is Rhode Island based on head instructor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for head instructors?

The highest paying state for head instructors is Idaho based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for head instructors?

The worst state for head instructors is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Carrie Kondor

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a head instructor and really want to work at Universal Cheerleading Association? Turns out, your chances to become a head instructor are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant head instructor jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Rhode Island is the best state in the country for head instructor jobs.

We figured that the best places for head instructor 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.We found that Rhode Island is the best state for head instructor jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.

10 best states for head instructors in 2026

1. Rhode Island
Total head instructor jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $79,845
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Head instructor jobs in Rhode Island
2. Massachusetts
Total head instructor jobs: 499
Average annual salary: $85,056
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Head instructor jobs in Massachusetts
3. New Hampshire
Total head instructor jobs: 93
Average annual salary: $80,546
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Head instructor jobs in New Hampshire
4. New Jersey
Total head instructor jobs: 553
Average annual salary: $71,946
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Head instructor jobs in New Jersey
5. Delaware
Total head instructor jobs: 88
Average annual salary: $66,669
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Head instructor jobs in Delaware
6. Virginia
Total head instructor jobs: 658
Average annual salary: $65,759
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Head instructor jobs in Virginia
7. Connecticut
Total head instructor jobs: 163
Average annual salary: $75,187
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Head instructor jobs in Connecticut
8. Maine
Total head instructor jobs: 63
Average annual salary: $68,343
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Head instructor jobs in Maine
9. Vermont
Total head instructor jobs: 36
Average annual salary: $68,979
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Head instructor jobs in Vermont
10. North Carolina
Total head instructor jobs: 779
Average annual salary: $54,475
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Head instructor jobs in North Carolina

Head instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a head instructor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a head instructor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$79,845	$40,000	1,059,639	76
2	Massachusetts	$85,056	$44,000	6,859,819	499
3	New Hampshire	$80,546	$41,000	1,342,795	93
4	New Jersey	$71,946	$36,000	9,005,644	553
5	Delaware	$66,669	$32,000	961,939	88
6	Virginia	$65,759	$32,000	8,470,020	658
7	Connecticut	$75,187	$38,000	3,588,184	163
8	Maine	$68,343	$34,000	1,335,907	63
9	Vermont	$68,979	$34,000	623,657	36
10	North Carolina	$54,475	$27,000	10,273,419	779
11	New York	$61,606	$30,000	19,849,399	915
12	Maryland	$64,483	$31,000	6,052,177	343
13	Illinois	$62,402	$31,000	12,802,023	575
14	Pennsylvania	$63,453	$30,000	12,805,537	494
15	Michigan	$53,534	$26,000	9,962,311	477
16	Nevada	$54,338	$27,000	2,998,039	139
17	Kentucky	$55,417	$28,000	4,454,189	188
18	West Virginia	$62,746	$30,000	1,815,857	57
19	District of Columbia	$71,595	$35,000	693,972	38
20	Texas	$55,591	$28,000	28,304,596	1,024
21	California	$53,486	$27,000	39,536,653	2,117
22	Washington	$56,891	$29,000	7,405,743	331
23	North Dakota	$54,188	$28,000	755,393	38
24	Hawaii	$56,728	$49,000	1,427,538	62
25	Mississippi	$49,825	$25,000	2,984,100	117
26	Colorado	$47,544	$25,000	5,607,154	582
27	Wyoming	$46,459	$24,000	579,315	45
28	South Carolina	$45,960	$23,000	5,024,369	361
29	Arizona	$52,439	$27,000	7,016,270	276
30	Georgia	$46,285	$24,000	10,429,379	767
31	Utah	$49,798	$25,000	3,101,833	158
32	Oregon	$46,165	$23,000	4,142,776	308
33	Minnesota	$52,219	$26,000	5,576,606	287
34	Indiana	$52,589	$26,000	6,666,818	172
35	Wisconsin	$51,846	$25,000	5,795,483	207
36	Florida	$45,894	$23,000	20,984,400	848
37	Ohio	$44,913	$21,000	11,658,609	449
38	Tennessee	$43,246	$22,000	6,715,984	285
39	Montana	$37,736	$20,000	1,050,493	97
40	Alaska	$38,923	$23,000	739,795	58
41	Louisiana	$40,898	$21,000	4,684,333	163
42	New Mexico	$41,211	$21,000	2,088,070	99
43	Kansas	$42,999	$22,000	2,913,123	127
44	Oklahoma	$44,485	$23,000	3,930,864	101
45	Iowa	$38,430	$19,000	3,145,711	212
46	South Dakota	$40,804	$21,000	869,666	39
47	Missouri	$39,617	$20,000	6,113,532	218
48	Nebraska	$36,741	$19,000	1,920,076	84
49	Arkansas	$38,567	$20,000	3,004,279	51
50	Idaho	$34,580	$18,000	1,716,943	64
51	Alabama	$34,718	$18,000	4,874,747	160

Highest paying states for head instructors

Rank	State	Avg. Head Instructor Salary
1	Rhode Island	$79,845
2	Massachusetts	$85,056
3	New Hampshire	$80,546
4	New Jersey	$71,946
5	Delaware	$66,669
6	Virginia	$65,759
7	Connecticut	$75,187
8	Maine	$68,343
9	Vermont	$68,979
10	North Carolina	$54,475
11	New York	$61,606
12	Maryland	$64,483
13	Illinois	$62,402
14	Pennsylvania	$63,453
15	Michigan	$53,534
16	Nevada	$54,338
17	Kentucky	$55,417
18	West Virginia	$62,746
19	District of Columbia	$71,595
20	Texas	$55,591
21	California	$53,486
22	Washington	$56,891
23	North Dakota	$54,188
24	Hawaii	$56,728
25	Mississippi	$49,825
26	Colorado	$47,544
27	Wyoming	$46,459
28	South Carolina	$45,960
29	Arizona	$52,439
30	Georgia	$46,285
31	Utah	$49,798
32	Oregon	$46,165
33	Minnesota	$52,219
34	Indiana	$52,589
35	Wisconsin	$51,846
36	Florida	$45,894
37	Ohio	$44,913
38	Tennessee	$43,246
39	Montana	$37,736
40	Alaska	$38,923
41	Louisiana	$40,898
42	New Mexico	$41,211
43	Kansas	$42,999
44	Oklahoma	$44,485
45	Iowa	$38,430
46	South Dakota	$40,804
47	Missouri	$39,617
48	Nebraska	$36,741
49	Arkansas	$38,567
50	Idaho	$34,580
51	Alabama	$34,718

Expert opinions on the best states for head instructors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for head instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carrie Kondor
Director, Linfield University
Still, I can say that I believe graduates will find more job possibilities than before, given the broader continuum of teaching environments that this pandemic has opened up!

Head instructor best states FAQs

What is the best state for head instructors?

What is the highest paying state for head instructors?

What is the worst state for head instructors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.

Search for head instructor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs

Total head instructor jobs:	76
Average annual salary:	$79,845
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$40,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$155,000
Location Quotient:	1.11

Best states for a head instructor

10 best states for head instructors in 2026

1. Rhode Island

2. Massachusetts

3. New Hampshire

4. New Jersey

5. Delaware

6. Virginia

7. Connecticut

8. Maine

9. Vermont

10. North Carolina