Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a kindergarten teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for kindergarten teachers in the United States. Kindergarten teacher positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for kindergarten teachers.Our research found that Pennsylvania is the best state for kindergarten teachers, while Hawaii and Delaware are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Pennsylvania has a median salary of $49,956 and Hawaii has the highest median salary among all 50 states for kindergarten teachers.
The median salary for kindergarten teachers in Pennsylvania is $49,956. Compare that to the median salary in Maine of $42,574, which ranked worst for kindergarten teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a kindergarten teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for kindergarten teachers in 2026
1. Pennsylvania
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 864 Average annual salary: $49,956 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
2. Michigan
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 789 Average annual salary: $48,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Nevada
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 572 Average annual salary: $47,951 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 3.37
4. Delaware
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 107 Average annual salary: $50,162 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. New Jersey
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 1,128 Average annual salary: $49,776 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.75
6. Connecticut
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 413 Average annual salary: $48,787 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
7. Arizona
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 847 Average annual salary: $47,225 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
8. Maryland
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 822 Average annual salary: $49,972 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
9. Indiana
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $46,285 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
10. Ohio
Total kindergarten teacher jobs: 633 Average annual salary: $47,876 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Kindergarten teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a kindergarten teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a kindergarten teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $49,956 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 864 |
| 2 | Michigan | $48,108 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 789 |
| 3 | Nevada | $47,951 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 572 |
| 4 | Delaware | $50,162 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 107 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $49,776 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,128 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $48,787 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 413 |
| 7 | Arizona | $47,225 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 847 |
| 8 | Maryland | $49,972 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 822 |
| 9 | Indiana | $46,285 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 553 |
| 10 | Ohio | $47,876 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 633 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $49,811 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 162 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $46,219 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 230 |
| 13 | New York | $49,453 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,075 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $47,997 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 27 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $46,303 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 779 |
| 16 | Illinois | $46,245 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,515 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $45,139 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 264 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $46,521 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 323 |
| 19 | Virginia | $48,954 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 649 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $47,702 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 52 |
| 21 | Kansas | $44,985 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 250 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $45,155 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 365 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $45,277 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 214 |
| 24 | Texas | $45,727 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,535 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $45,591 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 630 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $45,654 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 132 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $45,154 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 340 |
| 28 | California | $48,708 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,805 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $46,637 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 718 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $44,984 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 138 |
| 31 | Missouri | $45,050 | $34,000 | 6,113,532 | 418 |
| 32 | Colorado | $45,094 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 695 |
| 33 | Iowa | $45,140 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 241 |
| 34 | Utah | $45,565 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 125 |
| 35 | Oregon | $46,589 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 226 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,913 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,324 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $44,647 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 182 |
| 38 | Alabama | $44,692 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 157 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $44,771 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 107 |
| 40 | Georgia | $44,817 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 723 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $45,090 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 188 |
| 42 | Alaska | $47,884 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 19 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $51,279 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 13 |
| 44 | Idaho | $44,888 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 106 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $44,472 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 41 |
| 46 | Montana | $43,725 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 132 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $44,471 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 19 |
| 48 | Washington | $45,343 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 430 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $44,272 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 50 | Vermont | $43,413 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 48 |
| 51 | Maine | $42,574 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 46 |
Highest paying states for kindergarten teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Kindergarten Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $49,956 |
| 2 | Michigan | $48,108 |
| 3 | Nevada | $47,951 |
| 4 | Delaware | $50,162 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $49,776 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $48,787 |
| 7 | Arizona | $47,225 |
| 8 | Maryland | $49,972 |
| 9 | Indiana | $46,285 |
| 10 | Ohio | $47,876 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $49,811 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $46,219 |
| 13 | New York | $49,453 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $47,997 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $46,303 |
| 16 | Illinois | $46,245 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $45,139 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $46,521 |
| 19 | Virginia | $48,954 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $47,702 |
| 21 | Kansas | $44,985 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $45,155 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $45,277 |
| 24 | Texas | $45,727 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $45,591 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $45,654 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $45,154 |
| 28 | California | $48,708 |
| 29 | Massachusetts | $46,637 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $44,984 |
| 31 | Missouri | $45,050 |
| 32 | Colorado | $45,094 |
| 33 | Iowa | $45,140 |
| 34 | Utah | $45,565 |
| 35 | Oregon | $46,589 |
| 36 | Florida | $44,913 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $44,647 |
| 38 | Alabama | $44,692 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $44,771 |
| 40 | Georgia | $44,817 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $45,090 |
| 42 | Alaska | $47,884 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $51,279 |
| 44 | Idaho | $44,888 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $44,472 |
| 46 | Montana | $43,725 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $44,471 |
| 48 | Washington | $45,343 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $44,272 |
| 50 | Vermont | $43,413 |
| 51 | Maine | $42,574 |
Expert opinions on the best states for kindergarten teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for kindergarten 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.
Kindergarten teacher best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for kindergarten teacher jobs
Updated January 8, 2025