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Best states for a middle school teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for middle school teachers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for middle school teacher jobs.Our research shows that Vermont is the best state in the country for middle school teachers.
In order to get you the best states for middle school teachers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Vermont is the best state, and Olympia is the city with the highest pay for middle school teachers.
10 best states for middle school teachers in 2025
1. Vermont
Total middle school teacher jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $70,931 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. New York
Total middle school teacher jobs: 1,716 Average annual salary: $74,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Connecticut
Total middle school teacher jobs: 691 Average annual salary: $66,086 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
4. Maine
Total middle school teacher jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $80,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
5. New Jersey
Total middle school teacher jobs: 1,466 Average annual salary: $66,828 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
6. Rhode Island
Total middle school teacher jobs: 159 Average annual salary: $68,279 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
7. Washington
Total middle school teacher jobs: 658 Average annual salary: $86,338 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
8. Massachusetts
Total middle school teacher jobs: 967 Average annual salary: $75,546 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
9. Oregon
Total middle school teacher jobs: 515 Average annual salary: $68,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Maryland
Total middle school teacher jobs: 1,093 Average annual salary: $67,564 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
Middle school teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a middle school teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a middle school teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $70,931 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 109 |
| 2 | New York | $74,159 | $51,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,716 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $66,086 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 691 |
| 4 | Maine | $80,492 | $57,000 | 1,335,907 | 133 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $66,828 | $46,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,466 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $68,279 | $47,000 | 1,059,639 | 159 |
| 7 | Washington | $86,338 | $60,000 | 7,405,743 | 658 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $75,546 | $52,000 | 6,859,819 | 967 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,444 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 515 |
| 10 | Maryland | $67,564 | $46,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,093 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $74,325 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 186 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,315 | $37,000 | 2,998,039 | 678 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $60,594 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,338 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $55,777 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 955 |
| 15 | Alaska | $62,790 | $54,000 | 739,795 | 88 |
| 16 | Illinois | $52,893 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,338 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $51,021 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 361 |
| 18 | Delaware | $53,074 | $36,000 | 961,939 | 187 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $57,902 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $50,394 | $38,000 | 3,930,864 | 398 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,846 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 874 |
| 22 | California | $63,709 | $44,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,517 |
| 23 | Michigan | $49,120 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,229 |
| 24 | Virginia | $56,523 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 901 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $52,898 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 479 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $60,971 | $50,000 | 1,427,538 | 47 |
| 27 | Georgia | $50,035 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 908 |
| 28 | Utah | $51,825 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 186 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $45,943 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 81 |
| 30 | Kansas | $46,513 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 387 |
| 31 | Montana | $45,268 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 231 |
| 32 | Indiana | $46,961 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 750 |
| 33 | Idaho | $45,430 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 226 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $47,568 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 212 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $46,454 | $34,000 | 5,024,369 | 498 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $47,420 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 243 |
| 37 | Texas | $47,234 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,082 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $48,180 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 71 |
| 39 | Florida | $46,464 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,627 |
| 40 | Colorado | $43,181 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 981 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $43,823 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 510 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $40,464 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 334 |
| 43 | Arizona | $40,012 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,032 |
| 44 | Iowa | $44,153 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 363 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $43,477 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,036 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $41,116 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 259 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $41,936 | $33,000 | 4,684,333 | 325 |
| 48 | Alabama | $44,627 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 227 |
| 49 | Missouri | $39,401 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 701 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,639 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 178 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $35,556 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 62 |
Highest paying states for middle school teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Middle School Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $70,931 |
| 2 | New York | $74,159 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $66,086 |
| 4 | Maine | $80,492 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $66,828 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $68,279 |
| 7 | Washington | $86,338 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $75,546 |
| 9 | Oregon | $68,444 |
| 10 | Maryland | $67,564 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $74,325 |
| 12 | Nevada | $53,315 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $60,594 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $55,777 |
| 15 | Alaska | $62,790 |
| 16 | Illinois | $52,893 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $51,021 |
| 18 | Delaware | $53,074 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $57,902 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $50,394 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,846 |
| 22 | California | $63,709 |
| 23 | Michigan | $49,120 |
| 24 | Virginia | $56,523 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $52,898 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $60,971 |
| 27 | Georgia | $50,035 |
| 28 | Utah | $51,825 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $45,943 |
| 30 | Kansas | $46,513 |
| 31 | Montana | $45,268 |
| 32 | Indiana | $46,961 |
| 33 | Idaho | $45,430 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $47,568 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $46,454 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $47,420 |
| 37 | Texas | $47,234 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $48,180 |
| 39 | Florida | $46,464 |
| 40 | Colorado | $43,181 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $43,823 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $40,464 |
| 43 | Arizona | $40,012 |
| 44 | Iowa | $44,153 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $43,477 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $41,116 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $41,936 |
| 48 | Alabama | $44,627 |
| 49 | Missouri | $39,401 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,639 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $35,556 |
Expert opinions on the best states for middle school teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for middle school 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025