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Best states for a math and science teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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Do you want to become a math and science teacher at Middle School, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for math and science teachers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. Our research shows that Vermont is the best state in the country for math and science teachers.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for math and science teachers. Vermont is the best state for math and science teachers, where the median salary is $61,593.We found that Vermont is the best state for math and science teacher jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for math and science teachers in 2026
1. Vermont
Total math and science teacher jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $61,593 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
2. Maryland
Total math and science teacher jobs: 1,134 Average annual salary: $65,602 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
3. New Jersey
Total math and science teacher jobs: 1,464 Average annual salary: $61,719 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
4. Wyoming
Total math and science teacher jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $54,632 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
5. New York
Total math and science teacher jobs: 1,679 Average annual salary: $64,969 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. Rhode Island
Total math and science teacher jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $62,548 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
7. Connecticut
Total math and science teacher jobs: 597 Average annual salary: $57,749 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
8. Delaware
Total math and science teacher jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $55,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
9. Massachusetts
Total math and science teacher jobs: 1,080 Average annual salary: $61,104 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Illinois
Total math and science teacher jobs: 1,909 Average annual salary: $54,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
Math and science teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a math and science teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a math and science teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $61,593 | $49,000 | 623,657 | 152 |
| 2 | Maryland | $65,602 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,134 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $61,719 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,464 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $54,632 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 112 |
| 5 | New York | $64,969 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,679 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $62,548 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 157 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $57,749 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 597 |
| 8 | Delaware | $55,750 | $42,000 | 961,939 | 218 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $61,104 | $48,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,080 |
| 10 | Illinois | $54,678 | $42,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,909 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $52,374 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,327 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $47,687 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 339 |
| 13 | Michigan | $48,341 | $37,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,158 |
| 14 | Alaska | $53,399 | $45,000 | 739,795 | 90 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $48,363 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 317 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,833 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 687 |
| 17 | Maine | $48,882 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 165 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $50,306 | $39,000 | 755,393 | 94 |
| 19 | Florida | $48,432 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,885 |
| 20 | Oregon | $48,287 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 440 |
| 21 | Idaho | $43,848 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 257 |
| 22 | Washington | $49,135 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 754 |
| 23 | Texas | $44,379 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,365 |
| 24 | Ohio | $46,568 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 926 |
| 25 | Georgia | $46,339 | $36,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,067 |
| 26 | California | $50,199 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,913 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $40,852 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 361 |
| 28 | Colorado | $42,160 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 941 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $50,427 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,955 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,019 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $43,269 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 502 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $42,674 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 327 |
| 33 | Iowa | $42,151 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 389 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $42,138 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 115 |
| 35 | Kansas | $40,098 | $31,000 | 2,913,123 | 388 |
| 36 | Utah | $43,260 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 298 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $47,420 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 82 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $40,463 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,164 |
| 39 | Virginia | $41,727 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,054 |
| 40 | Montana | $37,108 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 241 |
| 41 | Indiana | $39,857 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 758 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $39,148 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 619 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $39,625 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 341 |
| 44 | Arizona | $36,500 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 971 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,146 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 312 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $35,415 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 419 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $37,393 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 232 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $38,022 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 264 |
| 49 | Missouri | $38,257 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 603 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,215 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 565 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $33,737 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 111 |
Highest paying states for math and science teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Math And Science Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $61,593 |
| 2 | Maryland | $65,602 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $61,719 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $54,632 |
| 5 | New York | $64,969 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $62,548 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $57,749 |
| 8 | Delaware | $55,750 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $61,104 |
| 10 | Illinois | $54,678 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $52,374 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $47,687 |
| 13 | Michigan | $48,341 |
| 14 | Alaska | $53,399 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $48,363 |
| 16 | Nevada | $44,833 |
| 17 | Maine | $48,882 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $50,306 |
| 19 | Florida | $48,432 |
| 20 | Oregon | $48,287 |
| 21 | Idaho | $43,848 |
| 22 | Washington | $49,135 |
| 23 | Texas | $44,379 |
| 24 | Ohio | $46,568 |
| 25 | Georgia | $46,339 |
| 26 | California | $50,199 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $40,852 |
| 28 | Colorado | $42,160 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $50,427 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,955 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $43,269 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $42,674 |
| 33 | Iowa | $42,151 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $42,138 |
| 35 | Kansas | $40,098 |
| 36 | Utah | $43,260 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $47,420 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $40,463 |
| 39 | Virginia | $41,727 |
| 40 | Montana | $37,108 |
| 41 | Indiana | $39,857 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $39,148 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $39,625 |
| 44 | Arizona | $36,500 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,146 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $35,415 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $37,393 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $38,022 |
| 49 | Missouri | $38,257 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,215 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $33,737 |
Expert opinions on the best states for math and science teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for math and science 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.
Math and science teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025