Best states for an instructor, adjunct faculty

Q: What is the best state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

The best state to be an instructor, adjunct faculty is Alaska based on instructor, adjunct faculty salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

The highest paying state for instructors, adjunct faculty is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

The worst state for instructors, adjunct faculty is Idaho, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Carrie Kondor

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to instructor, adjunct faculty jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for instructors, adjunct faculty.Our research shows that Alaska is the best state in the country for instructors, adjunct faculty.

The median salary for instructors, adjunct faculty in Alaska is $66,720. Compare that to the median salary in Idaho of $43,267, which ranked worst for instructors, adjunct faculty, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for instructors, adjunct faculty, and the Northeast is the worst. Albany, NY is the best city in the country for instructor, adjunct faculty jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.

10 best states for instructors, adjunct faculty in 2026

1. Alaska
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 149
Average annual salary: $66,720
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
2.11
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Alaska
2. New York
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 1,643
Average annual salary: $72,214
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in New York
3. Oregon
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 555
Average annual salary: $64,495
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.58
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Oregon
4. California
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 2,579
Average annual salary: $67,000
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in California
5. Massachusetts
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 598
Average annual salary: $72,736
Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Massachusetts
6. Hawaii
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 59
Average annual salary: $70,763
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Hawaii
7. Michigan
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 610
Average annual salary: $59,277
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Michigan
8. New Jersey
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 886
Average annual salary: $61,231
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in New Jersey
9. Minnesota
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 385
Average annual salary: $62,241
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Minnesota
10. Vermont
Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs: 84
Average annual salary: $55,699
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Instructor, adjunct faculty jobs in Vermont

Instructor, adjunct faculty jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an instructor, adjunct faculty

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an instructor, adjunct faculty

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$66,720	$44,000	739,795	149
2	New York	$72,214	$43,000	19,849,399	1,643
3	Oregon	$64,495	$40,000	4,142,776	555
4	California	$67,000	$39,000	39,536,653	2,579
5	Massachusetts	$72,736	$43,000	6,859,819	598
6	Hawaii	$70,763	$45,000	1,427,538	59
7	Michigan	$59,277	$38,000	9,962,311	610
8	New Jersey	$61,231	$37,000	9,005,644	886
9	Minnesota	$62,241	$42,000	5,576,606	385
10	Vermont	$55,699	$34,000	623,657	84
11	Mississippi	$55,275	$34,000	2,984,100	178
12	Iowa	$56,210	$37,000	3,145,711	293
13	North Carolina	$52,599	$32,000	10,273,419	911
14	Texas	$52,588	$32,000	28,304,596	1,913
15	Washington	$59,594	$38,000	7,405,743	379
16	District of Columbia	$56,749	$35,000	693,972	190
17	Wyoming	$51,715	$35,000	579,315	51
18	Wisconsin	$55,760	$37,000	5,795,483	347
19	North Dakota	$57,092	$39,000	755,393	45
20	Rhode Island	$53,834	$32,000	1,059,639	87
21	Nebraska	$52,469	$35,000	1,920,076	160
22	New Hampshire	$54,382	$33,000	1,342,795	92
23	Maine	$53,946	$32,000	1,335,907	68
24	Indiana	$49,308	$32,000	6,666,818	563
25	Kentucky	$48,251	$31,000	4,454,189	457
26	Utah	$50,171	$32,000	3,101,833	260
27	Alabama	$50,803	$31,000	4,874,747	284
28	Tennessee	$49,776	$31,000	6,715,984	350
29	Nevada	$50,883	$30,000	2,998,039	153
30	Colorado	$48,629	$32,000	5,607,154	926
31	Virginia	$49,444	$30,000	8,470,020	1,404
32	Delaware	$53,135	$32,000	961,939	71
33	Montana	$47,143	$31,000	1,050,493	176
34	West Virginia	$46,529	$29,000	1,815,857	150
35	Missouri	$50,687	$33,000	6,113,532	339
36	New Mexico	$49,111	$31,000	2,088,070	131
37	Florida	$49,748	$30,000	20,984,400	1,016
38	Arkansas	$48,174	$31,000	3,004,279	64
39	Connecticut	$51,243	$30,000	3,588,184	150
40	Louisiana	$45,244	$27,000	4,684,333	270
41	Pennsylvania	$44,676	$27,000	12,805,537	976
42	South Dakota	$46,887	$31,000	869,666	62
43	Maryland	$45,444	$28,000	6,052,177	581
44	Georgia	$45,134	$28,000	10,429,379	861
45	South Carolina	$39,702	$24,000	5,024,369	582
46	Ohio	$42,886	$27,000	11,658,609	711
47	Oklahoma	$45,517	$29,000	3,930,864	139
48	Kansas	$44,307	$29,000	2,913,123	129
49	Arizona	$43,656	$26,000	7,016,270	343
50	Illinois	$41,854	$27,000	12,802,023	710
51	Idaho	$43,267	$28,000	1,716,943	59

Highest paying states for instructors, adjunct faculty

Rank	State	Avg. Instructor, Adjunct Faculty Salary
1	Alaska	$66,720
2	New York	$72,214
3	Oregon	$64,495
4	California	$67,000
5	Massachusetts	$72,736
6	Hawaii	$70,763
7	Michigan	$59,277
8	New Jersey	$61,231
9	Minnesota	$62,241
10	Vermont	$55,699
11	Mississippi	$55,275
12	Iowa	$56,210
13	North Carolina	$52,599
14	Texas	$52,588
15	Washington	$59,594
16	District of Columbia	$56,749
17	Wyoming	$51,715
18	Wisconsin	$55,760
19	North Dakota	$57,092
20	Rhode Island	$53,834
21	Nebraska	$52,469
22	New Hampshire	$54,382
23	Maine	$53,946
24	Indiana	$49,308
25	Kentucky	$48,251
26	Utah	$50,171
27	Alabama	$50,803
28	Tennessee	$49,776
29	Nevada	$50,883
30	Colorado	$48,629
31	Virginia	$49,444
32	Delaware	$53,135
33	Montana	$47,143
34	West Virginia	$46,529
35	Missouri	$50,687
36	New Mexico	$49,111
37	Florida	$49,748
38	Arkansas	$48,174
39	Connecticut	$51,243
40	Louisiana	$45,244
41	Pennsylvania	$44,676
42	South Dakota	$46,887
43	Maryland	$45,444
44	Georgia	$45,134
45	South Carolina	$39,702
46	Ohio	$42,886
47	Oklahoma	$45,517
48	Kansas	$44,307
49	Arizona	$43,656
50	Illinois	$41,854
51	Idaho	$43,267

Expert opinions on the best states for instructors, adjunct faculty

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for instructor, adjunct facultys to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carrie Kondor
Director, Linfield University
Still, I can say that I believe graduates will find more job possibilities than before, given the broader continuum of teaching environments that this pandemic has opened up!

Instructor, adjunct faculty best states FAQs

What is the best state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

What is the highest paying state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

What is the worst state for instructors, adjunct faculty?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

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Best states for Instructors, Adjunct Faculty

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs

Total instructor, adjunct faculty jobs:	149
Average annual salary:	$66,720
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$44,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$100,000
Location Quotient:	2.11

Best states for an instructor, adjunct faculty

10 best states for instructors, adjunct faculty in 2026

1. Alaska

2. New York

3. Oregon

4. California

5. Massachusetts

6. Hawaii

7. Michigan

8. New Jersey

9. Minnesota

10. Vermont