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Best states for a language instructor
Quoted expert
Marlene McCarty
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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 language instructor jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for language instructors.Our research found that Vermont is the best state for language instructors, while California and New York are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Vermont has a median salary of $75,672 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for language instructors.
In order to get you the best states for language instructors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for language instructors, and the Northeast is the worst. Monterey, CA is the best city in the country for language instructor jobs, where as Vermont is the best state in the country.
10 best states for language instructors in 2026
1. Vermont
Total language instructor jobs: 197 Average annual salary: $75,672 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 2.05
2. New Hampshire
Total language instructor jobs: 436 Average annual salary: $67,373 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.99
3. Delaware
Total language instructor jobs: 212 Average annual salary: $66,755 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. California
Total language instructor jobs: 3,760 Average annual salary: $88,688 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
5. New York
Total language instructor jobs: 1,573 Average annual salary: $84,784 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
6. Nevada
Total language instructor jobs: 523 Average annual salary: $60,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 2
7. North Dakota
Total language instructor jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $69,381 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
8. Connecticut
Total language instructor jobs: 552 Average annual salary: $63,801 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
9. Michigan
Total language instructor jobs: 1,139 Average annual salary: $60,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. Illinois
Total language instructor jobs: 1,504 Average annual salary: $64,324 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
Language instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a language instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a language instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $75,672 | $53,000 | 623,657 | 197 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $67,373 | $47,000 | 1,342,795 | 436 |
| 3 | Delaware | $66,755 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 212 |
| 4 | California | $88,688 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,760 |
| 5 | New York | $84,784 | $58,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,573 |
| 6 | Nevada | $60,745 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 523 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $69,381 | $50,000 | 755,393 | 114 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $63,801 | $44,000 | 3,588,184 | 552 |
| 9 | Michigan | $60,033 | $42,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,139 |
| 10 | Illinois | $64,324 | $46,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,504 |
| 11 | Alaska | $63,528 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 112 |
| 12 | Maine | $63,393 | $44,000 | 1,335,907 | 150 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $61,599 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 150 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $54,853 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 309 |
| 15 | Washington | $65,006 | $44,000 | 7,405,743 | 780 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $62,230 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,131 |
| 17 | Florida | $58,198 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,228 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $61,415 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,046 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $54,008 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 112 |
| 20 | Montana | $55,664 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 200 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $57,696 | $40,000 | 4,684,333 | 395 |
| 22 | Maryland | $58,975 | $40,000 | 6,052,177 | 988 |
| 23 | Colorado | $54,965 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,031 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $67,301 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 100 |
| 25 | Oregon | $56,063 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 571 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $56,554 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,087 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $53,829 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 128 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $52,922 | $37,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,355 |
| 29 | Virginia | $54,712 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,408 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $54,133 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 253 |
| 31 | Missouri | $54,723 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 509 |
| 32 | Ohio | $53,434 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 950 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $49,941 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 136 |
| 34 | Georgia | $52,949 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,161 |
| 35 | Iowa | $50,751 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 444 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $51,998 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 520 |
| 37 | Arizona | $49,884 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 844 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $47,834 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 776 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $50,444 | $36,000 | 6,715,984 | 551 |
| 40 | Kansas | $48,585 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 391 |
| 41 | Indiana | $50,892 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 591 |
| 42 | Utah | $52,179 | $35,000 | 3,101,833 | 254 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $50,029 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 397 |
| 44 | Idaho | $47,513 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 216 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $44,903 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 329 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $50,036 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 731 |
| 47 | Texas | $48,679 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,405 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $45,192 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 224 |
| 49 | Alabama | $46,241 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 355 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $42,173 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 293 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $43,778 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 177 |
Highest paying states for language instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Language Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $75,672 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $67,373 |
| 3 | Delaware | $66,755 |
| 4 | California | $88,688 |
| 5 | New York | $84,784 |
| 6 | Nevada | $60,745 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $69,381 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $63,801 |
| 9 | Michigan | $60,033 |
| 10 | Illinois | $64,324 |
| 11 | Alaska | $63,528 |
| 12 | Maine | $63,393 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $61,599 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $54,853 |
| 15 | Washington | $65,006 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $62,230 |
| 17 | Florida | $58,198 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $61,415 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $54,008 |
| 20 | Montana | $55,664 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $57,696 |
| 22 | Maryland | $58,975 |
| 23 | Colorado | $54,965 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $67,301 |
| 25 | Oregon | $56,063 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $56,554 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $53,829 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $52,922 |
| 29 | Virginia | $54,712 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $54,133 |
| 31 | Missouri | $54,723 |
| 32 | Ohio | $53,434 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $49,941 |
| 34 | Georgia | $52,949 |
| 35 | Iowa | $50,751 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $51,998 |
| 37 | Arizona | $49,884 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $47,834 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $50,444 |
| 40 | Kansas | $48,585 |
| 41 | Indiana | $50,892 |
| 42 | Utah | $52,179 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $50,029 |
| 44 | Idaho | $47,513 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $44,903 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $50,036 |
| 47 | Texas | $48,679 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $45,192 |
| 49 | Alabama | $46,241 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $42,173 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $43,778 |
Expert opinions on the best states for language instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for language instructors to find work opportunities?
Marlene McCarty
Clinical Professor of Visual Arts, New York University
Large universalized geographic hubs of creativity (such as NYC used to be) will not play the same importance as in the past. Anywhere that is local will offer opportunities, if someone is imaginative enough to see them. Participatory placemaking requires critical and holistic thought concerning the world around us. Communities of friends, acquaintances, and cross-disciplinary associates, some formed online - some in person, will be more important than actual geographical areas.
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Updated January 8, 2025