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Best states for an infant and toddler teacher
Quoted expert
Lisa Diebel
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like infant and toddler teachers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for infant and toddler teachers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. As infant and toddler teachers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for infant and toddler teachers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an infant and toddler teacher, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for infant and toddler teachers.We found that the South is best for infant and toddler teachers, and the West is the worst. Seattle, WA is the best city in the country for infant and toddler teacher jobs, where as Minnesota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for infant and toddler teachers in 2026
1. Minnesota
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 596 Average annual salary: $35,481 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Illinois
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 1,302 Average annual salary: $34,386 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
3. New Mexico
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $33,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
4. Wyoming
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $35,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
5. Vermont
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $36,091 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
6. Colorado
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 613 Average annual salary: $33,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
7. Washington
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 414 Average annual salary: $35,917 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
8. Massachusetts
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 685 Average annual salary: $34,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
9. Oregon
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 230 Average annual salary: $35,226 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
10. Nebraska
Total infant and toddler teacher jobs: 170 Average annual salary: $32,583 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Infant and toddler teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an infant and toddler teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an infant and toddler teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $35,481 | $29,000 | 5,576,606 | 596 |
| 2 | Illinois | $34,386 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,302 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $33,529 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 210 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $35,916 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 36 |
| 5 | Vermont | $36,091 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 41 |
| 6 | Colorado | $33,228 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 613 |
| 7 | Washington | $35,917 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 414 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $34,532 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 685 |
| 9 | Oregon | $35,226 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 230 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $32,583 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 170 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,414 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 986 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $34,821 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 117 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $33,095 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 22 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $32,274 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 15 | Kansas | $29,715 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 234 |
| 16 | Maryland | $30,974 | $24,000 | 6,052,177 | 726 |
| 17 | New York | $32,523 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 965 |
| 18 | Michigan | $29,206 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 649 |
| 19 | Texas | $29,068 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,659 |
| 20 | California | $33,889 | $26,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,708 |
| 21 | Nevada | $28,686 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 187 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,290 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 139 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,543 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 108 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $30,110 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 131 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $28,322 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 167 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $30,000 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 17 |
| 27 | Maine | $30,511 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 40 |
| 28 | Arizona | $29,215 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 333 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $28,834 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 318 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $31,005 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 161 |
| 31 | Virginia | $29,909 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 650 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $28,791 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 132 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $27,108 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 284 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $27,404 | $21,000 | 12,805,537 | 895 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $27,226 | $22,000 | 6,715,984 | 372 |
| 36 | Alaska | $30,410 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 17 |
| 37 | Iowa | $27,518 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 224 |
| 38 | Missouri | $27,880 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 411 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $31,644 | $27,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 40 | Indiana | $26,071 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 529 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $25,710 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 762 |
| 42 | Georgia | $26,340 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 704 |
| 43 | Ohio | $24,512 | $19,000 | 11,658,609 | 649 |
| 44 | Delaware | $23,921 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 96 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $22,763 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 357 |
| 46 | Florida | $23,033 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,270 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $24,425 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 178 |
| 48 | Idaho | $23,917 | $19,000 | 1,716,943 | 97 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | $24,775 | $19,000 | 1,059,639 | 54 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,229 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 98 |
| 51 | Alabama | $19,267 | $15,000 | 4,874,747 | 152 |
Highest paying states for infant and toddler teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Infant And Toddler Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $35,481 |
| 2 | Illinois | $34,386 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $33,529 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $35,916 |
| 5 | Vermont | $36,091 |
| 6 | Colorado | $33,228 |
| 7 | Washington | $35,917 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $34,532 |
| 9 | Oregon | $35,226 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $32,583 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,414 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $34,821 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $33,095 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $32,274 |
| 15 | Kansas | $29,715 |
| 16 | Maryland | $30,974 |
| 17 | New York | $32,523 |
| 18 | Michigan | $29,206 |
| 19 | Texas | $29,068 |
| 20 | California | $33,889 |
| 21 | Nevada | $28,686 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,290 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,543 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $30,110 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $28,322 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $30,000 |
| 27 | Maine | $30,511 |
| 28 | Arizona | $29,215 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $28,834 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $31,005 |
| 31 | Virginia | $29,909 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $28,791 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $27,108 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $27,404 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $27,226 |
| 36 | Alaska | $30,410 |
| 37 | Iowa | $27,518 |
| 38 | Missouri | $27,880 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $31,644 |
| 40 | Indiana | $26,071 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $25,710 |
| 42 | Georgia | $26,340 |
| 43 | Ohio | $24,512 |
| 44 | Delaware | $23,921 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $22,763 |
| 46 | Florida | $23,033 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $24,425 |
| 48 | Idaho | $23,917 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | $24,775 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $22,229 |
| 51 | Alabama | $19,267 |
Expert opinions on the best states for infant and toddler teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for infant and toddler teachers to find work opportunities?
Lisa Diebel
Associate Professor of Instruction, Ohio University
I think FCS, ED, and CL graduates will successfully find employment anywhere in the US. An FCS degree offers a lot of versatility.
Infant and toddler teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025