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Best states for a political science instructor
Quoted expert
Ye Chen Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for political science instructors? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for political science 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.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of political science instructors in America is $89,000.
The median salary for political science instructors in Nevada is $73,424. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $44,255, which ranked worst for political science instructors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a political science instructor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for political science instructors in 2025
1. Nevada
Total political science instructor jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $73,424 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
2. New York
Total political science instructor jobs: 890 Average annual salary: $83,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. Alaska
Total political science instructor jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $77,053 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
4. New Jersey
Total political science instructor jobs: 690 Average annual salary: $71,717 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
5. California
Total political science instructor jobs: 2,222 Average annual salary: $77,020 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Utah
Total political science instructor jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $78,093 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. North Dakota
Total political science instructor jobs: 60 Average annual salary: $69,798 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. Mississippi
Total political science instructor jobs: 125 Average annual salary: $71,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Delaware
Total political science instructor jobs: 95 Average annual salary: $69,857 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
10. Rhode Island
Total political science instructor jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $71,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
Political science instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a political science instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a political science instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $73,424 | $47,000 | 2,998,039 | 202 |
| 2 | New York | $83,243 | $55,000 | 19,849,399 | 890 |
| 3 | Alaska | $77,053 | $64,000 | 739,795 | 70 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $71,717 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 690 |
| 5 | California | $77,020 | $49,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,222 |
| 6 | Utah | $78,093 | $53,000 | 3,101,833 | 171 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $69,798 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $71,004 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 125 |
| 9 | Delaware | $69,857 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 95 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $71,472 | $47,000 | 1,059,639 | 71 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $68,929 | $46,000 | 1,342,795 | 112 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $71,744 | $52,000 | 1,920,076 | 118 |
| 13 | Vermont | $66,197 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 58 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $69,612 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 544 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $71,360 | $47,000 | 3,588,184 | 154 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $76,569 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 83 |
| 17 | Texas | $68,882 | $47,000 | 28,304,596 | 993 |
| 18 | Missouri | $71,125 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 214 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $67,236 | $57,000 | 1,427,538 | 77 |
| 20 | Iowa | $61,010 | $45,000 | 3,145,711 | 213 |
| 21 | Idaho | $61,702 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 95 |
| 22 | Montana | $56,512 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 122 |
| 23 | Maryland | $61,936 | $41,000 | 6,052,177 | 408 |
| 24 | Kansas | $61,669 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 137 |
| 25 | Colorado | $57,290 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 576 |
| 26 | Maine | $60,055 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 72 |
| 27 | Washington | $63,388 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 343 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $54,736 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 393 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $57,145 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 80 |
| 30 | Oregon | $56,712 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 346 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $53,274 | $38,000 | 579,315 | 62 |
| 32 | Georgia | $55,225 | $38,000 | 10,429,379 | 792 |
| 33 | Virginia | $57,345 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 704 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $54,720 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 229 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $54,915 | $41,000 | 869,666 | 62 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $55,901 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 180 |
| 37 | Ohio | $56,654 | $39,000 | 11,658,609 | 466 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $52,219 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 784 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $56,543 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 239 |
| 40 | Arizona | $54,871 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 328 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $54,879 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 238 |
| 42 | Indiana | $54,974 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 184 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $54,162 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 517 |
| 44 | Michigan | $45,777 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 547 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $47,619 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 122 |
| 46 | Florida | $47,895 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 943 |
| 47 | Illinois | $50,390 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 667 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $48,850 | $37,000 | 5,576,606 | 318 |
| 49 | Alabama | $47,876 | $33,000 | 4,874,747 | 189 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $47,801 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 120 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $44,255 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 76 |
Highest paying states for political science instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Political Science Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $73,424 |
| 2 | New York | $83,243 |
| 3 | Alaska | $77,053 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $71,717 |
| 5 | California | $77,020 |
| 6 | Utah | $78,093 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $69,798 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $71,004 |
| 9 | Delaware | $69,857 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $71,472 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $68,929 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $71,744 |
| 13 | Vermont | $66,197 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $69,612 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $71,360 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $76,569 |
| 17 | Texas | $68,882 |
| 18 | Missouri | $71,125 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $67,236 |
| 20 | Iowa | $61,010 |
| 21 | Idaho | $61,702 |
| 22 | Montana | $56,512 |
| 23 | Maryland | $61,936 |
| 24 | Kansas | $61,669 |
| 25 | Colorado | $57,290 |
| 26 | Maine | $60,055 |
| 27 | Washington | $63,388 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $54,736 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $57,145 |
| 30 | Oregon | $56,712 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $53,274 |
| 32 | Georgia | $55,225 |
| 33 | Virginia | $57,345 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $54,720 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $54,915 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $55,901 |
| 37 | Ohio | $56,654 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $52,219 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $56,543 |
| 40 | Arizona | $54,871 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $54,879 |
| 42 | Indiana | $54,974 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $54,162 |
| 44 | Michigan | $45,777 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $47,619 |
| 46 | Florida | $47,895 |
| 47 | Illinois | $50,390 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $48,850 |
| 49 | Alabama | $47,876 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $47,801 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $44,255 |
Expert opinions on the best states for political science instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for political science instructors to find work opportunities?
Ye Chen Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, University of West Georgia
You could go to higheredjobs.com, https://jobs.chronicle.com/, or university websites for a higher ed job, go-to company, or other organization websites (e.g., Google) industry/government jobs; or use LinkedIn, attend job fairs and professional conferences, to search for job opportunities.
Political science instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025