Best cities for a middle school teacher
The best cities for middle school teachers are Oakland, CA, Newark, NJ, and Buffalo, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for middle school teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for middle school teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a middle school teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for middle school teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for middle school teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a middle school teacher. While the absolute best city for middle school teachers is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for middle school teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a middle school teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for middle school teachers in 2025
1. Oakland, CA
Total middle school teacher jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $71,912 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 15.46 2. Newark, NJ
Total middle school teacher jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $66,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location quotient: 13.27 3. Buffalo, NY
Total middle school teacher jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $72,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 6.56 4. Baltimore, MD
Total middle school teacher jobs: 166 Average annual salary: $67,872 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 36.25 5. New York, NY
Total middle school teacher jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $74,337 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 3.30 6. Portland, OR
Total middle school teacher jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $68,502 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 3.55 7. Columbus, OH
Total middle school teacher jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $54,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 3.92 8. Detroit, MI
Total middle school teacher jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $49,345 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location quotient: 10.17 9. Laredo, TX
Total middle school teacher jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $48,689 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 49.88 10. Lexington, KY
Total middle school teacher jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $48,006 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 10.79
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Best cities for middle school teachers
- Oakland, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Buffalo, NY
- Baltimore, MD
- New York, NY
- Portland, OR
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Laredo, TX
- Lexington, KY
- (22 middle school teacher jobs)
- (23 middle school teacher jobs)
- (10 middle school teacher jobs)
- (166 middle school teacher jobs)
- (161 middle school teacher jobs)
- (18 middle school teacher jobs)
- (26 middle school teacher jobs)
- (32 middle school teacher jobs)
- (11 middle school teacher jobs)
- (10 middle school teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a middle school teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $71,912 | $48,000 | 420,005 | 22 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $66,939 | $46,000 | 281,764 | 23 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $72,171 | $50,000 | 256,902 | 10 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $67,872 | $46,000 | 614,664 | 166 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $74,337 | $51,000 | 8,537,673 | 161 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $68,502 | $47,000 | 639,863 | 18 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $54,211 | $37,000 | 860,090 | 26 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $49,345 | $34,000 | 672,795 | 32 |
| 9 | Laredo, TX | $48,689 | $38,000 | 257,156 | 11 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $48,006 | $34,000 | 318,449 | 10 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $74,330 | $51,000 | 681,170 | 37 |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | $55,788 | $38,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 13 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,972 | $46,000 | 264,152 | 16 |
| 14 | Virginia Beach, VA | $56,461 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 8 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $75,532 | $52,000 | 673,184 | 22 |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $51,823 | $36,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $57,181 | $39,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 18 | Norfolk, VA | $56,282 | $39,000 | 245,115 | 7 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $68,550 | $46,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,124 | $42,000 | 1,567,872 | 14 |
| 21 | Anaheim, CA | $60,396 | $43,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 22 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,843 | $39,000 | 302,398 | 9 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,185 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 57 |
| 24 | Cincinnati, OH | $51,261 | $36,000 | 298,800 | 8 |
| 25 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,502 | $38,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 26 | Garland, TX | $46,340 | $35,000 | 234,943 | 11 |
| 27 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,240 | $36,000 | 632,912 | 10 |
| 28 | Madison, WI | $52,032 | $36,000 | 252,551 | 7 |
| 29 | Islip, NY | $74,487 | $51,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 30 | Hempstead, NY | $74,435 | $51,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | $72,110 | $48,000 | 870,887 | 25 |
| 32 | Seattle, WA | $87,072 | $60,000 | 704,352 | 9 |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $74,423 | $51,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Oyster Bay, NY | $74,385 | $51,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,056 | $37,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $47,683 | $36,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 37 | San Jose, CA | $71,335 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | 19 |
| 38 | Fremont, CA | $71,559 | $48,000 | 233,136 | 5 |
| 39 | Tulsa, OK | $50,487 | $38,000 | 403,090 | 3 |
| 40 | Houston, TX | $47,598 | $37,000 | 2,303,482 | 67 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $43,918 | $31,000 | 287,027 | 13 |
| 42 | Chula Vista, CA | $58,557 | $43,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 43 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,393 | $40,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 44 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,804 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 10 |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $46,382 | $35,000 | 1,317,929 | 49 |
| 46 | Jacksonville, FL | $45,883 | $36,000 | 880,619 | 47 |
| 47 | Reno, NV | $59,615 | $40,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 48 | Winston-Salem, NC | $43,482 | $31,000 | 242,203 | 7 |
| 49 | Sacramento, CA | $71,200 | $47,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 50 | Orlando, FL | $46,208 | $37,000 | 277,173 | 29 |
Highest paying cities for middle school teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. middle school teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $75,532 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $74,337 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,330 |
| 4 | Santa Rosa, CA | $72,416 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $68,502 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $67,872 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $66,938 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $54,211 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $53,407 |
| 10 | Savannah, GA | $50,576 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $49,345 |
| 12 | Pharr, TX | $49,186 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $47,008 |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $46,564 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,504 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $43,276 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $42,156 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $42,147 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $40,281 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,012 |
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Updated January 8, 2025