Best cities for a head teacher
The best cities for head teachers are New York, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head teacher. While the absolute best city for head teachers is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a head teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head teachers in 2026
1. New York, NY
Total head teacher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $69,025 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 13.23 2. Cleveland, OH
Total head teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $51,086 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 3.17 3. Boston, MA
Total head teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $70,389 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location quotient: 0.70 4. Detroit, MI
Total head teacher jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,044 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 0.79 5. San Francisco, CA
Total head teacher jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $65,320 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 3.86 6. Brookhaven, NY
Total head teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Islip, NY
Total head teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,421 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Oyster Bay, NY
Total head teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,277 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Hempstead, NY
Total head teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,196 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Reno, NV
Total head teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for head teachers
- New York, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
- Brookhaven, NY
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Reno, NV
- (2 head teacher jobs)
- (3 head teacher jobs)
- (3 head teacher jobs)
- (1 head teacher jobs)
- (23 head teacher jobs)
- (0 head teacher jobs)
- (0 head teacher jobs)
- (0 head teacher jobs)
- (0 head teacher jobs)
- (0 head teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a head teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $69,025 | $37,000 | 8,537,673 | 2 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $51,086 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $70,389 | $37,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $59,044 | $33,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $65,320 | $36,000 | 870,887 | 23 |
| 6 | Brookhaven, NY | $69,533 | $37,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 7 | Islip, NY | $69,421 | $37,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 8 | Oyster Bay, NY | $69,277 | $37,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 9 | Hempstead, NY | $69,196 | $37,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $54,285 | $30,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,116 | $29,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,767 | $28,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $49,610 | $28,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 14 | Buffalo, NY | $65,342 | $35,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $65,362 | $36,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $60,262 | $32,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $53,385 | $32,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 18 | Oakland, CA | $65,193 | $36,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,772 | $31,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $53,221 | $32,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $49,046 | $27,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 22 | Stockton, CA | $64,827 | $36,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 23 | Wichita, KS | $49,730 | $30,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 24 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,420 | $28,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $64,782 | $36,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $58,016 | $34,000 | 704,352 | 2 |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $64,455 | $35,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $49,812 | $30,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $49,768 | $30,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 30 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,647 | $27,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 31 | Newark, NJ | $58,724 | $31,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 32 | Portland, OR | $50,988 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $62,529 | $35,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $56,089 | $32,000 | 266,122 | 14 |
| 35 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,183 | $28,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | $49,823 | $29,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 37 | North Las Vegas, NV | $49,140 | $28,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | $55,083 | $30,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 39 | Lexington, KY | $47,038 | $27,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 40 | Norfolk, VA | $55,005 | $30,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $47,777 | $28,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 42 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,552 | $32,000 | 3,976,322 | 5 |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $46,649 | $27,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $48,773 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 45 | Durham, NC | $46,496 | $25,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 46 | Raleigh, NC | $46,405 | $25,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 47 | Washington, DC | $58,867 | $32,000 | 681,170 | 2 |
| 48 | Greensboro, NC | $46,067 | $25,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $54,752 | $29,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 50 | Winston-Salem, NC | $45,837 | $25,000 | 242,203 | - |
Highest paying cities for head teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. head teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $70,389 |
| 2 | Yonkers, NY | $69,106 |
| 3 | Chico, CA | $65,696 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $60,653 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $60,262 |
| 6 | Fort Lee, NJ | $58,836 |
| 7 | Newport News, VA | $55,171 |
| 8 | Beaverton, OR | $51,132 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $51,086 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $48,584 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $46,965 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $45,529 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $40,647 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $35,039 |
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Updated January 8, 2025