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Best states for a mathematics instructor
Quoted expert
Deborah Margolis Ph.D.
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Mathematics instructor opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for mathematics instructors, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for mathematics instructors.As mathematics instructors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for mathematics instructors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a mathematics instructor, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for mathematics instructor jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for mathematics instructors, and the Northeast is the worst. Salinas, CA is the best city in the country for mathematics instructor jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.
10 best states for mathematics instructors in 2026
1. New York
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 1,243 Average annual salary: $76,985 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Nevada
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $62,036 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. California
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 2,329 Average annual salary: $78,677 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. Vermont
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $61,306 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
5. West Virginia
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $58,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. Oregon
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 406 Average annual salary: $61,356 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
7. Rhode Island
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 75 Average annual salary: $64,979 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
8. Alaska
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $56,879 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
9. Michigan
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 640 Average annual salary: $53,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
10. Delaware
Total mathematics instructor jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $58,931 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
Mathematics instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mathematics instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mathematics instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $76,985 | $43,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,243 |
| 2 | Nevada | $62,036 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 227 |
| 3 | California | $78,677 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,329 |
| 4 | Vermont | $61,306 | $35,000 | 623,657 | 79 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $58,976 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 127 |
| 6 | Oregon | $61,356 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 406 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $64,979 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 75 |
| 8 | Alaska | $56,879 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 94 |
| 9 | Michigan | $53,992 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 640 |
| 10 | Delaware | $58,931 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 91 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $57,406 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 754 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $61,909 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 94 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $64,177 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 470 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $62,655 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 180 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $54,218 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 512 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $63,640 | $54,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 17 | Maine | $56,997 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 82 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $54,430 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 790 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $51,788 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 251 |
| 20 | Maryland | $56,768 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 452 |
| 21 | Washington | $56,003 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 395 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $51,783 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 53 |
| 23 | Virginia | $49,672 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 985 |
| 24 | Iowa | $48,759 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 277 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $51,731 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 285 |
| 26 | Colorado | $46,552 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 834 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $47,112 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 151 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $44,603 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 493 |
| 29 | Arizona | $49,177 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 339 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $48,368 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 174 |
| 31 | Ohio | $48,327 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 566 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $44,348 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 903 |
| 33 | Indiana | $48,865 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 227 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $42,265 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 400 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $44,796 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 137 |
| 36 | Montana | $39,437 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 169 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $44,532 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 58 |
| 38 | Alabama | $44,364 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 246 |
| 39 | Florida | $43,957 | $26,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,152 |
| 40 | Utah | $43,398 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 219 |
| 41 | Idaho | $44,610 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 94 |
| 42 | Kansas | $44,351 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 151 |
| 43 | Texas | $41,909 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,316 |
| 44 | Illinois | $42,987 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 670 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $37,305 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 56 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $40,615 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 136 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $42,321 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 73 |
| 48 | Georgia | $37,939 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 860 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $40,744 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 161 |
| 50 | Missouri | $40,724 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 303 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $39,068 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 282 |
Highest paying states for mathematics instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Mathematics Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $76,985 |
| 2 | Nevada | $62,036 |
| 3 | California | $78,677 |
| 4 | Vermont | $61,306 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $58,976 |
| 6 | Oregon | $61,356 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $64,979 |
| 8 | Alaska | $56,879 |
| 9 | Michigan | $53,992 |
| 10 | Delaware | $58,931 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $57,406 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $61,909 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $64,177 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $62,655 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $54,218 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $63,640 |
| 17 | Maine | $56,997 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $54,430 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $51,788 |
| 20 | Maryland | $56,768 |
| 21 | Washington | $56,003 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $51,783 |
| 23 | Virginia | $49,672 |
| 24 | Iowa | $48,759 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $51,731 |
| 26 | Colorado | $46,552 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $47,112 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $44,603 |
| 29 | Arizona | $49,177 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $48,368 |
| 31 | Ohio | $48,327 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $44,348 |
| 33 | Indiana | $48,865 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $42,265 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $44,796 |
| 36 | Montana | $39,437 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $44,532 |
| 38 | Alabama | $44,364 |
| 39 | Florida | $43,957 |
| 40 | Utah | $43,398 |
| 41 | Idaho | $44,610 |
| 42 | Kansas | $44,351 |
| 43 | Texas | $41,909 |
| 44 | Illinois | $42,987 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $37,305 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $40,615 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $42,321 |
| 48 | Georgia | $37,939 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $40,744 |
| 50 | Missouri | $40,724 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $39,068 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mathematics instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mathematics instructors to find work opportunities?
Deborah Margolis Ph.D.
Interim Dean, Merrimack College
The COVID pandemic has triggered the retirement of many seasoned educators, so many districts are in need of committed new graduates. Typically, during non-pandemic times, urban districts tend to have more openings. Commitment to teach in an urban or otherwise underserved district can provide a wonderful experience for new graduates looking to make a meaningful contribution to the education and lives of the students with whom they work.
Mathematics instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025