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Best states for a human services instructor
Quoted expert
TaVshea Smith
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like human services instructors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for human services instructors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for human services instructors. We found that California is the best state in the nation for human services instructors, and people in Eureka earn the most in the field.
California is the best state for jobs for human services instructors, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in California is $67,396, while the median pay in South Dakota is $33,314.If you are currently seeking employment as a human services instructor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for human services instructors in 2026
1. California
Total human services instructor jobs: 5,484 Average annual salary: $67,396 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. District of Columbia
Total human services instructor jobs: 334 Average annual salary: $60,094 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
3. Nevada
Total human services instructor jobs: 363 Average annual salary: $54,580 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. Texas
Total human services instructor jobs: 3,197 Average annual salary: $55,929 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
5. Colorado
Total human services instructor jobs: 1,275 Average annual salary: $50,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
6. North Carolina
Total human services instructor jobs: 1,584 Average annual salary: $50,663 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Arizona
Total human services instructor jobs: 1,040 Average annual salary: $49,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
8. Iowa
Total human services instructor jobs: 707 Average annual salary: $47,506 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
9. Connecticut
Total human services instructor jobs: 511 Average annual salary: $55,001 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. Oregon
Total human services instructor jobs: 815 Average annual salary: $48,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
Human services instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a human services instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a human services instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $67,396 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,484 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $60,094 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 334 |
| 3 | Nevada | $54,580 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 363 |
| 4 | Texas | $55,929 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,197 |
| 5 | Colorado | $50,309 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,275 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $50,663 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,584 |
| 7 | Arizona | $49,675 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,040 |
| 8 | Iowa | $47,506 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 707 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $55,001 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 511 |
| 10 | Oregon | $48,527 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 815 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $59,464 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 276 |
| 12 | New York | $52,768 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,064 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $51,009 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 271 |
| 14 | Delaware | $47,060 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 234 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $48,097 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 380 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $56,316 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 181 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $45,747 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,783 |
| 18 | Washington | $46,156 | $24,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,272 |
| 19 | Illinois | $47,242 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,805 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $47,067 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 302 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $47,469 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,294 |
| 22 | Kansas | $45,927 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 423 |
| 23 | Maine | $44,922 | $23,000 | 1,335,907 | 194 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $41,556 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 866 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $42,838 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,170 |
| 26 | Idaho | $44,408 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 248 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $45,395 | $24,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,255 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $40,383 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 109 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $44,702 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 512 |
| 30 | Florida | $42,959 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,491 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $41,183 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 846 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,199 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 124 |
| 33 | Virginia | $40,864 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,695 |
| 34 | Ohio | $40,469 | $21,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,515 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $41,350 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 472 |
| 36 | Georgia | $40,281 | $22,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,740 |
| 37 | Vermont | $39,779 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 131 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $37,627 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 245 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,514 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 727 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $40,921 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 170 |
| 41 | Alaska | $36,212 | $18,000 | 739,795 | 163 |
| 42 | Maryland | $40,321 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 938 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $39,496 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 509 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,614 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 499 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $40,193 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 402 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $37,407 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 345 |
| 47 | Montana | $35,259 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 192 |
| 48 | Utah | $37,029 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 486 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,203 | $17,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,273 |
| 50 | Missouri | $36,244 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 863 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $33,314 | $18,000 | 869,666 | 142 |
Highest paying states for human services instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Human Services Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $67,396 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $60,094 |
| 3 | Nevada | $54,580 |
| 4 | Texas | $55,929 |
| 5 | Colorado | $50,309 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $50,663 |
| 7 | Arizona | $49,675 |
| 8 | Iowa | $47,506 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $55,001 |
| 10 | Oregon | $48,527 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $59,464 |
| 12 | New York | $52,768 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $51,009 |
| 14 | Delaware | $47,060 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $48,097 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $56,316 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $45,747 |
| 18 | Washington | $46,156 |
| 19 | Illinois | $47,242 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $47,067 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $47,469 |
| 22 | Kansas | $45,927 |
| 23 | Maine | $44,922 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $41,556 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $42,838 |
| 26 | Idaho | $44,408 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $45,395 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $40,383 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $44,702 |
| 30 | Florida | $42,959 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $41,183 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,199 |
| 33 | Virginia | $40,864 |
| 34 | Ohio | $40,469 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $41,350 |
| 36 | Georgia | $40,281 |
| 37 | Vermont | $39,779 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $37,627 |
| 39 | Indiana | $40,514 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $40,921 |
| 41 | Alaska | $36,212 |
| 42 | Maryland | $40,321 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $39,496 |
| 44 | Alabama | $39,614 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $40,193 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $37,407 |
| 47 | Montana | $35,259 |
| 48 | Utah | $37,029 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,203 |
| 50 | Missouri | $36,244 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $33,314 |
Expert opinions on the best states for human services instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for human services instructors to find work opportunities?
TaVshea Smith
Adjunct Instructor, Shaw University
As an educator, graduates should be able to find many work opportunities to teach. The pandemic has highlighted the need for educators to share their immense talent with students and key stakeholders.
Human services instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025