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Best states for a life skills instructor
Quoted expert
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.
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Are you thinking of becoming a life skills instructor and really want to work at Ability Beyond? Turns out, your chances to become a life skills instructor are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for life skills instructor jobs.
Massachusetts is the best state for jobs for life skills instructors, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Massachusetts is $34,018, while the median pay in Alabama is $17,836.Massachusetts is the best state, and New London is the city with the highest pay for life skills instructors.
10 best states for life skills instructors in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total life skills instructor jobs: 1,349 Average annual salary: $34,018 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
2. New Jersey
Total life skills instructor jobs: 963 Average annual salary: $32,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
3. New York
Total life skills instructor jobs: 1,410 Average annual salary: $32,774 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
4. Connecticut
Total life skills instructor jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $35,774 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Rhode Island
Total life skills instructor jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $32,124 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
6. Maine
Total life skills instructor jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $32,366 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
7. North Dakota
Total life skills instructor jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $28,727 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
8. Vermont
Total life skills instructor jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $32,530 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
9. West Virginia
Total life skills instructor jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $26,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
10. New Hampshire
Total life skills instructor jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $33,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
Life skills instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a life skills instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a life skills instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $34,018 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,349 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $32,025 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 963 |
| 3 | New York | $32,774 | $23,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,410 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $35,774 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 268 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $32,124 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 112 |
| 6 | Maine | $32,366 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 109 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $28,727 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 81 |
| 8 | Vermont | $32,530 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 43 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $26,638 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 136 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $33,745 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 84 |
| 11 | Delaware | $26,848 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 142 |
| 12 | California | $30,551 | $20,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,410 |
| 13 | Maryland | $30,230 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 457 |
| 14 | Nevada | $25,259 | $17,000 | 2,998,039 | 189 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $25,554 | $19,000 | 5,576,606 | 809 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $25,941 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 748 |
| 17 | Washington | $30,389 | $21,000 | 7,405,743 | 334 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $24,901 | $18,000 | 579,315 | 52 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $24,360 | $17,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,137 |
| 20 | Alaska | $24,992 | $20,000 | 739,795 | 104 |
| 21 | Virginia | $26,406 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 797 |
| 22 | Colorado | $25,455 | $18,000 | 5,607,154 | 585 |
| 23 | Illinois | $27,195 | $20,000 | 12,802,023 | 600 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $25,164 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 146 |
| 25 | Indiana | $24,114 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 522 |
| 26 | Oregon | $25,762 | $17,000 | 4,142,776 | 312 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $25,971 | $18,000 | 4,454,189 | 185 |
| 28 | Georgia | $24,015 | $17,000 | 10,429,379 | 901 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $23,577 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 399 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $24,010 | $18,000 | 5,795,483 | 417 |
| 31 | Arizona | $25,025 | $16,000 | 7,016,270 | 375 |
| 32 | Utah | $24,950 | $17,000 | 3,101,833 | 190 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $25,158 | $21,000 | 1,427,538 | 86 |
| 34 | Michigan | $23,076 | $17,000 | 9,962,311 | 587 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $28,585 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 48 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $21,915 | $15,000 | 6,715,984 | 374 |
| 37 | Montana | $21,338 | $15,000 | 1,050,493 | 94 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,207 | $15,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,131 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $22,007 | $15,000 | 3,930,864 | 152 |
| 40 | Iowa | $19,066 | $14,000 | 3,145,711 | 288 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $20,560 | $14,000 | 4,684,333 | 187 |
| 42 | Florida | $20,365 | $13,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,116 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $21,337 | $15,000 | 869,666 | 53 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $19,740 | $13,000 | 2,088,070 | 117 |
| 45 | Missouri | $19,962 | $14,000 | 6,113,532 | 311 |
| 46 | Kansas | $18,340 | $13,000 | 2,913,123 | 192 |
| 47 | Idaho | $18,137 | $12,000 | 1,716,943 | 120 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $18,994 | $14,000 | 1,920,076 | 107 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $19,604 | $13,000 | 3,004,279 | 102 |
| 50 | Ohio | $17,913 | $13,000 | 11,658,609 | 565 |
| 51 | Alabama | $17,836 | $12,000 | 4,874,747 | 188 |
Highest paying states for life skills instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Life Skills Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $34,018 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $32,025 |
| 3 | New York | $32,774 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $35,774 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $32,124 |
| 6 | Maine | $32,366 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $28,727 |
| 8 | Vermont | $32,530 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $26,638 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $33,745 |
| 11 | Delaware | $26,848 |
| 12 | California | $30,551 |
| 13 | Maryland | $30,230 |
| 14 | Nevada | $25,259 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $25,554 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $25,941 |
| 17 | Washington | $30,389 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $24,901 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $24,360 |
| 20 | Alaska | $24,992 |
| 21 | Virginia | $26,406 |
| 22 | Colorado | $25,455 |
| 23 | Illinois | $27,195 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $25,164 |
| 25 | Indiana | $24,114 |
| 26 | Oregon | $25,762 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $25,971 |
| 28 | Georgia | $24,015 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $23,577 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $24,010 |
| 31 | Arizona | $25,025 |
| 32 | Utah | $24,950 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $25,158 |
| 34 | Michigan | $23,076 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $28,585 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $21,915 |
| 37 | Montana | $21,338 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,207 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $22,007 |
| 40 | Iowa | $19,066 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $20,560 |
| 42 | Florida | $20,365 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $21,337 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $19,740 |
| 45 | Missouri | $19,962 |
| 46 | Kansas | $18,340 |
| 47 | Idaho | $18,137 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $18,994 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $19,604 |
| 50 | Ohio | $17,913 |
| 51 | Alabama | $17,836 |
Expert opinions on the best states for life skills instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for life skills instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates will have the opportunity to shape the future and help solve problems. Numerous organizations are attempting to solve social issues and environmental challenges. The world needs, and subsequently, employment is available for passionate graduates ready to invest their energy into solving problems.
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Updated January 8, 2025