Best cities for a high school teacher
The best cities for high school teachers are Baltimore, MD, Buffalo, NY, and Oakland, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for high school teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for high school teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a high school teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for high school teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for high school teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a high school teacher. While the absolute best city for high school teachers is Baltimore, MD, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for high school teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a high school teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for high school teachers in 2025
1. Baltimore, MD
Total high school teacher jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $75,516 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 32.34 2. Buffalo, NY
Total high school teacher jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $72,391 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 6.16 3. Oakland, CA
Total high school teacher jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $64,452 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 13.19 4. Detroit, MI
Total high school teacher jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $51,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 4.64 5. Newark, NJ
Total high school teacher jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $56,867 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 21.67 6. Stockton, CA
Total high school teacher jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $63,659 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location quotient: 13.80 7. Virginia Beach, VA
Total high school teacher jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $55,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 9.42 8. New York, NY
Total high school teacher jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $76,313 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location quotient: 1.80 9. Lexington, KY
Total high school teacher jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $47,687 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 11.26 10. Chicago, IL
Total high school teacher jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $56,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 1.91
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Best cities for high school teachers
- Baltimore, MD
- Buffalo, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Newark, NJ
- Stockton, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- New York, NY
- Lexington, KY
- Chicago, IL
- (142 high school teacher jobs)
- (9 high school teacher jobs)
- (18 high school teacher jobs)
- (14 high school teacher jobs)
- (36 high school teacher jobs)
- (7 high school teacher jobs)
- (9 high school teacher jobs)
- (84 high school teacher jobs)
- (10 high school teacher jobs)
- (27 high school teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a high school teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $75,516 | $52,000 | 614,664 | 142 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $72,391 | $49,000 | 256,902 | 9 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $64,452 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 18 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $51,536 | $35,000 | 672,795 | 14 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $56,867 | $39,000 | 281,764 | 36 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $63,659 | $42,000 | 307,072 | 7 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | $55,891 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 9 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $76,313 | $52,000 | 8,537,673 | 84 |
| 9 | Lexington, KY | $47,687 | $34,000 | 318,449 | 10 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $56,616 | $39,000 | 2,704,958 | 27 |
| 11 | Corpus Christi, TX | $47,452 | $37,000 | 325,733 | 6 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $61,030 | $41,000 | 522,053 | 15 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $70,201 | $48,000 | 673,184 | 16 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $52,358 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 10 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,716 | $40,000 | 1,567,872 | 10 |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $63,733 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 22 |
| 17 | Reno, NV | $56,664 | $37,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 18 | Garland, TX | $46,267 | $35,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 19 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,912 | $39,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
| 20 | Islip, NY | $76,461 | $52,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 21 | Hempstead, NY | $76,444 | $52,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 22 | Brookhaven, NY | $76,335 | $52,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $46,306 | $35,000 | 1,317,929 | 52 |
| 24 | Oyster Bay, NY | $76,280 | $52,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 25 | San Francisco, CA | $64,658 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 14 |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | $46,929 | $34,000 | 597,337 | 6 |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | $54,367 | $37,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $43,114 | $32,000 | 660,388 | 18 |
| 29 | Toledo, OH | $53,077 | $36,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 30 | Seattle, WA | $62,947 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,780 | $35,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $46,116 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 6 |
| 33 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,863 | $35,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $64,794 | $50,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 35 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,973 | $38,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $46,328 | $35,000 | 854,113 | 6 |
| 37 | Chula Vista, CA | $53,494 | $39,000 | 267,172 | 4 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $51,366 | $37,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 39 | Washington, DC | $61,921 | $42,000 | 681,170 | 12 |
| 40 | Memphis, TN | $42,459 | $32,000 | 652,717 | 13 |
| 41 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,671 | $39,000 | 3,976,322 | 44 |
| 42 | Fremont, CA | $64,047 | $42,000 | 233,136 | 1 |
| 43 | Lincoln, NE | $51,019 | $37,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 44 | Portland, OR | $56,430 | $37,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $49,592 | $37,000 | 472,522 | 13 |
| 46 | North Las Vegas, NV | $50,734 | $35,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 47 | Sacramento, CA | $63,935 | $42,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 48 | Henderson, NV | $50,362 | $35,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 49 | Milwaukee, WI | $46,958 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 50 | Winston-Salem, NC | $43,963 | $31,000 | 242,203 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for high school teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. high school teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $76,313 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $75,516 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $70,201 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $65,100 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $61,921 |
| 6 | Corvallis, OR | $57,168 |
| 7 | Camden, NJ | $56,924 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $56,616 |
| 9 | Suffolk, VA | $55,231 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $52,358 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $51,536 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | $49,968 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,708 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $46,920 |
| 15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $46,535 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $45,978 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $42,459 |
| 18 | Clearfield, UT | $42,103 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $41,993 |
| 20 | Santa Fe, NM | $41,664 |
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Updated January 8, 2025