Best states for a physical science teacher

Q: What is the best state for physical science teachers?

The best state to be a physical science teacher is Maryland based on physical science teacher salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for physical science teachers?

The highest paying state for physical science teachers is Montana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for physical science teachers?

The worst state for physical science teachers is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for physical science teachers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for physical science teacher jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant physical science teacher jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the West. Maryland is the best state in the country for physical science teacher jobs.

Maryland is the best state for jobs for physical science teachers, and South Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in Maryland is $87,332, while the median pay in South Dakota is $33,594.Maryland is the best state, and Salisbury is the city with the highest pay for physical science teachers.

10 best states for physical science teachers in 2026

1. Maryland
Total physical science teacher jobs: 1,189
Average annual salary: $87,332
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Physical science teacher jobs in Maryland
2. New Jersey
Total physical science teacher jobs: 1,400
Average annual salary: $86,877
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Physical science teacher jobs in New Jersey
3. Vermont
Total physical science teacher jobs: 170
Average annual salary: $76,726
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Physical science teacher jobs in Vermont
4. Massachusetts
Total physical science teacher jobs: 1,677
Average annual salary: $78,844
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Physical science teacher jobs in Massachusetts
5. Rhode Island
Total physical science teacher jobs: 180
Average annual salary: $81,418
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Physical science teacher jobs in Rhode Island
6. Delaware
Total physical science teacher jobs: 193
Average annual salary: $73,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Physical science teacher jobs in Delaware
7. Connecticut
Total physical science teacher jobs: 487
Average annual salary: $78,889
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Physical science teacher jobs in Connecticut
8. Illinois
Total physical science teacher jobs: 2,081
Average annual salary: $64,795
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Physical science teacher jobs in Illinois
9. New Hampshire
Total physical science teacher jobs: 513
Average annual salary: $60,538
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
2.17
Physical science teacher jobs in New Hampshire
10. New York
Total physical science teacher jobs: 1,594
Average annual salary: $80,993
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Physical science teacher jobs in New York

Physical science teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a physical science teacher

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a physical science teacher

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maryland	$87,332	$58,000	6,052,177	1,189
2	New Jersey	$86,877	$59,000	9,005,644	1,400
3	Vermont	$76,726	$53,000	623,657	170
4	Massachusetts	$78,844	$54,000	6,859,819	1,677
5	Rhode Island	$81,418	$56,000	1,059,639	180
6	Delaware	$73,909	$49,000	961,939	193
7	Connecticut	$78,889	$53,000	3,588,184	487
8	Illinois	$64,795	$41,000	12,802,023	2,081
9	New Hampshire	$60,538	$42,000	1,342,795	513
10	New York	$80,993	$55,000	19,849,399	1,594
11	District of Columbia	$72,849	$49,000	693,972	211
12	South Carolina	$58,517	$40,000	5,024,369	642
13	Virginia	$61,645	$41,000	8,470,020	1,186
14	Florida	$55,215	$40,000	20,984,400	2,388
15	Wyoming	$51,815	$34,000	579,315	112
16	Pennsylvania	$58,714	$39,000	12,805,537	1,386
17	Michigan	$55,045	$35,000	9,962,311	1,120
18	Wisconsin	$61,726	$39,000	5,795,483	558
19	Ohio	$60,231	$39,000	11,658,609	1,004
20	Minnesota	$61,313	$39,000	5,576,606	721
21	Iowa	$55,090	$36,000	3,145,711	491
22	Kentucky	$56,286	$37,000	4,454,189	417
23	Alaska	$57,627	$42,000	739,795	95
24	California	$61,015	$38,000	39,536,653	3,663
25	North Carolina	$56,658	$38,000	10,273,419	1,147
26	Georgia	$54,047	$38,000	10,429,379	1,350
27	Kansas	$48,089	$32,000	2,913,123	460
28	Nevada	$49,294	$31,000	2,998,039	311
29	West Virginia	$47,541	$31,000	1,815,857	227
30	Washington	$53,537	$33,000	7,405,743	825
31	Maine	$47,478	$33,000	1,335,907	180
32	North Dakota	$50,777	$32,000	755,393	81
33	Alabama	$50,215	$35,000	4,874,747	430
34	Indiana	$43,597	$28,000	6,666,818	975
35	New Mexico	$40,850	$28,000	2,088,070	382
36	Nebraska	$44,517	$29,000	1,920,076	324
37	Louisiana	$43,035	$30,000	4,684,333	488
38	Texas	$45,899	$32,000	28,304,596	2,464
39	Tennessee	$45,630	$31,000	6,715,984	659
40	Mississippi	$43,555	$31,000	2,984,100	284
41	Arkansas	$45,657	$32,000	3,004,279	279
42	Colorado	$38,747	$26,000	5,607,154	942
43	Hawaii	$48,359	$34,000	1,427,538	86
44	Oregon	$47,475	$30,000	4,142,776	432
45	Missouri	$42,501	$28,000	6,113,532	764
46	Montana	$32,392	$21,000	1,050,493	176
47	Arizona	$36,070	$24,000	7,016,270	826
48	Utah	$44,270	$29,000	3,101,833	214
49	Oklahoma	$32,835	$23,000	3,930,864	431
50	Idaho	$33,441	$21,000	1,716,943	223
51	South Dakota	$33,594	$22,000	869,666	120

Highest paying states for physical science teachers

Rank	State	Avg. Physical Science Teacher Salary
1	Maryland	$87,332
2	New Jersey	$86,877
3	Vermont	$76,726
4	Massachusetts	$78,844
5	Rhode Island	$81,418
6	Delaware	$73,909
7	Connecticut	$78,889
8	Illinois	$64,795
9	New Hampshire	$60,538
10	New York	$80,993
11	District of Columbia	$72,849
12	South Carolina	$58,517
13	Virginia	$61,645
14	Florida	$55,215
15	Wyoming	$51,815
16	Pennsylvania	$58,714
17	Michigan	$55,045
18	Wisconsin	$61,726
19	Ohio	$60,231
20	Minnesota	$61,313
21	Iowa	$55,090
22	Kentucky	$56,286
23	Alaska	$57,627
24	California	$61,015
25	North Carolina	$56,658
26	Georgia	$54,047
27	Kansas	$48,089
28	Nevada	$49,294
29	West Virginia	$47,541
30	Washington	$53,537
31	Maine	$47,478
32	North Dakota	$50,777
33	Alabama	$50,215
34	Indiana	$43,597
35	New Mexico	$40,850
36	Nebraska	$44,517
37	Louisiana	$43,035
38	Texas	$45,899
39	Tennessee	$45,630
40	Mississippi	$43,555
41	Arkansas	$45,657
42	Colorado	$38,747
43	Hawaii	$48,359
44	Oregon	$47,475
45	Missouri	$42,501
46	Montana	$32,392
47	Arizona	$36,070
48	Utah	$44,270
49	Oklahoma	$32,835
50	Idaho	$33,441
51	South Dakota	$33,594

Expert opinions on the best states for physical science teachers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for physical 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.

Physical science teacher best states FAQs

What is the best state for physical science teachers?

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What is the worst state for physical science teachers?

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Best states for Physical Science Teachers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total physical science teacher jobs:	1,189
Average annual salary:	$87,332
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$129,000
Location Quotient:	1.39

Best states for a physical science teacher

10 best states for physical science teachers in 2026

1. Maryland

2. New Jersey

3. Vermont

4. Massachusetts

5. Rhode Island

6. Delaware

7. Connecticut

8. Illinois

9. New Hampshire

10. New York