Best cities for an instructor
The best cities for instructors are Boston, MA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Saint Louis, MO, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for instructors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for instructors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an instructor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for instructors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for instructors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an instructor. While the absolute best city for instructors is Boston, MA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for instructors in 2024.
If you're looking for an instructor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for instructors in 2026
1. Boston, MA
Instructor jobs in BostonTotal instructor jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $73,461 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Location quotient: 6.41 2. Pittsburgh, PA
Instructor jobs in PittsburghTotal instructor jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $66,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location quotient: 7.61 3. Saint Louis, MO
Instructor jobs in Saint LouisTotal instructor jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $58,630 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location quotient: 11.71 4. Hempstead, NY
Instructor jobs in HempsteadTotal instructor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $73,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 4.73 5. Philadelphia, PA
Instructor jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal instructor jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $70,994 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 3.88 6. Milwaukee, WI
Instructor jobs in MilwaukeeTotal instructor jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $59,014 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location quotient: 5.58 7. Winston-Salem, NC
Instructor jobs in Winston-SalemTotal instructor jobs: 72 Average annual salary: $57,313 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 11.64 8. Cleveland, OH
Instructor jobs in ClevelandTotal instructor jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $58,455 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 3.46 9. Baltimore, MD
Instructor jobs in BaltimoreTotal instructor jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $69,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location quotient: 6.77 10. Lexington, KY
Instructor jobs in LexingtonTotal instructor jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $54,565 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 4.92
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Best cities for instructors
- Boston, MA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Hempstead, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Baltimore, MD
- Lexington, KY
Detailed list of the best cities for an instructor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $73,461 | $40,000 | 673,184 | 72 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | $66,646 | $36,000 | 303,625 | 37 |
| 3 | Saint Louis, MO | $58,630 | $33,000 | 311,404 | 220 |
| 4 | Hempstead, NY | $73,671 | $40,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,994 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | 239 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $59,014 | $32,000 | 595,047 | 140 |
| 7 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,313 | $31,000 | 242,203 | 72 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $58,455 | $31,000 | 385,809 | 70 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $69,274 | $37,000 | 614,664 | 9 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $54,565 | $30,000 | 318,449 | 39 |
| 11 | Lubbock, TX | $52,036 | $29,000 | 252,506 | 103 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $73,515 | $40,000 | 8,537,673 | 230 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $53,908 | $30,000 | 683,080 | 48 |
| 14 | Memphis, TN | $49,631 | $28,000 | 652,717 | 120 |
| 15 | Nashville, TN | $50,493 | $28,000 | 660,388 | 128 |
| 16 | Newark, NJ | $70,877 | $38,000 | 281,764 | 38 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $52,290 | $29,000 | 2,303,482 | 190 |
| 18 | Toledo, OH | $56,272 | $30,000 | 278,508 | 12 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,827 | $28,000 | 298,800 | 70 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $51,224 | $29,000 | 1,317,929 | 91 |
| 21 | Laredo, TX | $52,924 | $30,000 | 257,156 | 6 |
| 22 | San Antonio, TX | $52,846 | $29,000 | 1,492,510 | 82 |
| 23 | Durham, NC | $58,962 | $32,000 | 263,016 | 35 |
| 24 | Louisville, KY | $53,603 | $30,000 | 597,337 | 48 |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $62,544 | $34,000 | 420,005 | 55 |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $69,597 | $38,000 | 256,902 | 16 |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $56,364 | $32,000 | 704,352 | 201 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $54,865 | $29,000 | 860,090 | 44 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | $69,655 | $37,000 | 681,170 | 149 |
| 30 | Madison, WI | $57,562 | $32,000 | 252,551 | 24 |
| 31 | Reno, NV | $52,593 | $29,000 | 245,255 | 13 |
| 32 | Norfolk, VA | $58,549 | $31,000 | 245,115 | 20 |
| 33 | Detroit, MI | $60,390 | $32,000 | 672,795 | 20 |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $52,632 | $29,000 | 947,890 | 89 |
| 35 | Portland, OR | $54,828 | $31,000 | 639,863 | 122 |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | $53,728 | $29,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 37 | Virginia Beach, VA | $58,747 | $31,000 | 452,602 | 12 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE | $46,947 | $27,000 | 446,970 | 172 |
| 39 | Atlanta, GA | $50,053 | $28,000 | 472,522 | 14 |
| 40 | Raleigh, NC | $58,936 | $32,000 | 458,880 | 19 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $57,904 | $31,000 | 287,027 | 6 |
| 42 | Aurora, CO | $48,875 | $29,000 | 361,710 | 254 |
| 43 | Bakersfield, CA | $59,990 | $33,000 | 376,380 | 13 |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,325 | $28,000 | 632,912 | 39 |
| 45 | Brookhaven, NY | $73,903 | $40,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 46 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,679 | $55,000 | 351,792 | 73 |
| 47 | New Orleans, LA | $47,866 | $27,000 | 391,495 | 35 |
| 48 | Islip, NY | $73,840 | $40,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | $49,384 | $28,000 | 530,706 | 28 |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $73,678 | $40,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for instructors
| Rank | City | Avg. instructor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $73,515 |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | $73,463 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $70,994 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $69,655 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $69,274 |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,679 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $62,544 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $59,014 |
| 9 | East Lansing, MI | $58,923 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $58,630 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $58,455 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,824 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,313 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $56,364 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $55,960 |
| 16 | Eugene, OR | $55,474 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $52,846 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $52,833 |
| 19 | Austin, MN | $52,027 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $51,529 |
Instructor best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025