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Best states for a physics instructor
Quoted expert
Shel McGuire
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for physics instructors? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for physics instructor 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.As physics instructors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for physics instructors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a physics instructor, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
New York is the best state for jobs for physics instructors, and Oklahoma is the worst. The most common pay in New York is $88,334, while the median pay in Oklahoma is $44,513.We found that the South is best for physics instructors, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for physics instructor jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.
10 best states for physics instructors in 2025
1. New York
Total physics instructor jobs: 581 Average annual salary: $88,334 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1
2. Nevada
Total physics instructor jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $72,431 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
3. Vermont
Total physics instructor jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $76,115 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
4. California
Total physics instructor jobs: 1,691 Average annual salary: $76,043 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
5. Delaware
Total physics instructor jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $71,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Maryland
Total physics instructor jobs: 293 Average annual salary: $74,384 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
7. Massachusetts
Total physics instructor jobs: 323 Average annual salary: $74,116 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
8. Rhode Island
Total physics instructor jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $71,410 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
9. Kansas
Total physics instructor jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $72,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
10. Illinois
Total physics instructor jobs: 450 Average annual salary: $69,818 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
Physics instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a physics instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a physics instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $88,334 | $60,000 | 19,849,399 | 581 |
| 2 | Nevada | $72,431 | $49,000 | 2,998,039 | 133 |
| 3 | Vermont | $76,115 | $54,000 | 623,657 | 34 |
| 4 | California | $76,043 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,691 |
| 5 | Delaware | $71,243 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 71 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,384 | $51,000 | 6,052,177 | 293 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $74,116 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 323 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $71,410 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 46 |
| 9 | Kansas | $72,456 | $53,000 | 2,913,123 | 102 |
| 10 | Illinois | $69,818 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 450 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $64,584 | $46,000 | 4,684,333 | 141 |
| 12 | Virginia | $66,365 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 587 |
| 13 | Maine | $66,243 | $47,000 | 1,335,907 | 51 |
| 14 | Iowa | $60,942 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 166 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $62,131 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 38 |
| 16 | Idaho | $65,048 | $46,000 | 1,716,943 | 57 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $56,845 | $42,000 | 579,315 | 45 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $70,456 | $48,000 | 3,588,184 | 101 |
| 19 | Oregon | $61,595 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 253 |
| 20 | Indiana | $63,247 | $46,000 | 6,666,818 | 131 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $57,988 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 84 |
| 22 | Washington | $65,364 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 232 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $61,628 | $43,000 | 1,342,795 | 56 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $58,702 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 183 |
| 25 | Ohio | $57,438 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 345 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $69,502 | $47,000 | 693,972 | 32 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $54,985 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 63 |
| 28 | Alabama | $56,906 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 152 |
| 29 | Michigan | $54,244 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 432 |
| 30 | Alaska | $53,295 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 55 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,160 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 495 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $54,054 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 93 |
| 33 | Georgia | $52,555 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 673 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $56,865 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 361 |
| 35 | Arizona | $54,426 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 231 |
| 36 | Utah | $54,169 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 124 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $55,770 | $41,000 | 3,004,279 | 41 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $52,525 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 453 |
| 39 | Florida | $52,610 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 727 |
| 40 | Texas | $53,499 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 787 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $48,433 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 659 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $47,982 | $38,000 | 1,427,538 | 61 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $54,811 | $40,000 | 1,920,076 | 70 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $45,976 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 355 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $54,221 | $40,000 | 5,576,606 | 239 |
| 46 | Missouri | $54,754 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 148 |
| 47 | Montana | $44,482 | $33,000 | 1,050,493 | 76 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $52,706 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 182 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $40,639 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 158 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $44,183 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 39 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $44,513 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 96 |
Highest paying states for physics instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Physics Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $88,334 |
| 2 | Nevada | $72,431 |
| 3 | Vermont | $76,115 |
| 4 | California | $76,043 |
| 5 | Delaware | $71,243 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,384 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $74,116 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $71,410 |
| 9 | Kansas | $72,456 |
| 10 | Illinois | $69,818 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $64,584 |
| 12 | Virginia | $66,365 |
| 13 | Maine | $66,243 |
| 14 | Iowa | $60,942 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $62,131 |
| 16 | Idaho | $65,048 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $56,845 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $70,456 |
| 19 | Oregon | $61,595 |
| 20 | Indiana | $63,247 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $57,988 |
| 22 | Washington | $65,364 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $61,628 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $58,702 |
| 25 | Ohio | $57,438 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $69,502 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $54,985 |
| 28 | Alabama | $56,906 |
| 29 | Michigan | $54,244 |
| 30 | Alaska | $53,295 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,160 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $54,054 |
| 33 | Georgia | $52,555 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $56,865 |
| 35 | Arizona | $54,426 |
| 36 | Utah | $54,169 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $55,770 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $52,525 |
| 39 | Florida | $52,610 |
| 40 | Texas | $53,499 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $48,433 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $47,982 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $54,811 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $45,976 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $54,221 |
| 46 | Missouri | $54,754 |
| 47 | Montana | $44,482 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $52,706 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $40,639 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $44,183 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $44,513 |
Expert opinions on the best states for physics instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for physics instructors to find work opportunities?
Shel McGuire
Academic Program Specialist, Florida State University
There does not seem to be a particular area in the United States that is better or worse. Our students who get hired for broadcasting jobs get offers from all over the United States. Our students who go to graduate school also go to a variety of schools across the nation. For the students who have chosen the private sector, they tend to stay in major cities, such as Boston.
Physics instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025