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Best states for a high school teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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High school teacher opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for high school teachers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for high school teachers.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for high school teachers. We found that Maryland is the best state in the nation for high school teachers, and people in Babylon earn the most in the field.
The median salary for high school teachers in Maryland is $75,197. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $34,928, which ranked worst for high school teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Maryland is the best state, and Babylon is the city with the highest pay for high school teachers.
10 best states for high school teachers in 2026
1. Maryland
Total high school teacher jobs: 1,288 Average annual salary: $75,197 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 2.54
2. Connecticut
Total high school teacher jobs: 801 Average annual salary: $67,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 3.03
3. Delaware
Total high school teacher jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $65,358 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 2.54
4. Massachusetts
Total high school teacher jobs: 1,099 Average annual salary: $70,290 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
5. New York
Total high school teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $75,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0
6. Alaska
Total high school teacher jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $65,061 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 2.14
7. Rhode Island
Total high school teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $72,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Vermont
Total high school teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $68,986 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. Pennsylvania
Total high school teacher jobs: 1,603 Average annual salary: $58,134 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
10. Illinois
Total high school teacher jobs: 2,624 Average annual salary: $56,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 2.75
High school teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a high school teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a high school teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $75,197 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,288 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $67,935 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 801 |
| 3 | Delaware | $65,358 | $45,000 | 961,939 | 254 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $70,290 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,099 |
| 5 | New York | $75,944 | $52,000 | 19,849,399 | 0 |
| 6 | Alaska | $65,061 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $72,720 | $50,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $68,986 | $48,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $58,134 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,603 |
| 10 | Illinois | $56,282 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,624 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,212 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 0 |
| 12 | Maine | $54,696 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 208 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $57,182 | $41,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $61,871 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 189 |
| 15 | Nevada | $51,586 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 681 |
| 16 | Oregon | $56,548 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 0 |
| 17 | Michigan | $51,175 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,413 |
| 18 | California | $57,736 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,007 |
| 19 | Virginia | $55,782 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 0 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $56,935 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 21 | Ohio | $52,686 | $36,000 | 11,658,609 | 0 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $52,195 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 23 | Idaho | $48,326 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 319 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,190 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $52,009 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 26 | Georgia | $49,651 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,099 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $56,385 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 57 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $48,191 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $46,972 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 321 |
| 30 | Iowa | $44,960 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 464 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $48,724 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $46,740 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 620 |
| 33 | Florida | $46,318 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,951 |
| 34 | Texas | $46,751 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 0 |
| 35 | Kansas | $43,016 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 476 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $45,826 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 0 |
| 37 | Alabama | $43,899 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 338 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $43,013 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 653 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $43,941 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 0 |
| 40 | Colorado | $41,982 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,097 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $40,784 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 297 |
| 42 | Arizona | $39,896 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,182 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,631 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 244 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $40,398 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 385 |
| 45 | Indiana | $41,515 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 46 | Utah | $42,139 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 0 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $41,953 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $38,380 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 49 | Montana | $38,524 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 50 | Missouri | $38,559 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 0 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $34,928 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
Highest paying states for high school teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. High School Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $75,197 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $67,935 |
| 3 | Delaware | $65,358 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $70,290 |
| 5 | New York | $75,944 |
| 6 | Alaska | $65,061 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $72,720 |
| 8 | Vermont | $68,986 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $58,134 |
| 10 | Illinois | $56,282 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,212 |
| 12 | Maine | $54,696 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $57,182 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $61,871 |
| 15 | Nevada | $51,586 |
| 16 | Oregon | $56,548 |
| 17 | Michigan | $51,175 |
| 18 | California | $57,736 |
| 19 | Virginia | $55,782 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $56,935 |
| 21 | Ohio | $52,686 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $52,195 |
| 23 | Idaho | $48,326 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,190 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $52,009 |
| 26 | Georgia | $49,651 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $56,385 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $48,191 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $46,972 |
| 30 | Iowa | $44,960 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $48,724 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $46,740 |
| 33 | Florida | $46,318 |
| 34 | Texas | $46,751 |
| 35 | Kansas | $43,016 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $45,826 |
| 37 | Alabama | $43,899 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $43,013 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $43,941 |
| 40 | Colorado | $41,982 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $40,784 |
| 42 | Arizona | $39,896 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,631 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $40,398 |
| 45 | Indiana | $41,515 |
| 46 | Utah | $42,139 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $41,953 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $38,380 |
| 49 | Montana | $38,524 |
| 50 | Missouri | $38,559 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $34,928 |
Expert opinions on the best states for high school teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for high school 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