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Best states for a school administrator
Quoted expert
Dr. Wendy Kubasko
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for school administrators in the United States. School administrator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for school administrators.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for school administrators. We found that New Hampshire is the best state in the nation for school administrators, and people in Southampton earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for school administrator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that New Hampshire is the best state for school administrator jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.
10 best states for school administrators in 2025
1. New Hampshire
Total school administrator jobs: 261 Average annual salary: $51,968 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. New York
Total school administrator jobs: 1,500 Average annual salary: $61,380 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
3. Vermont
Total school administrator jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $53,183 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
4. New Jersey
Total school administrator jobs: 911 Average annual salary: $57,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
5. Illinois
Total school administrator jobs: 1,726 Average annual salary: $52,279 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
6. Delaware
Total school administrator jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $60,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
7. Pennsylvania
Total school administrator jobs: 1,297 Average annual salary: $53,521 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. Connecticut
Total school administrator jobs: 494 Average annual salary: $51,569 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
9. Alaska
Total school administrator jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $49,402 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
10. Massachusetts
Total school administrator jobs: 1,046 Average annual salary: $52,274 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
School administrator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a school administrator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a school administrator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $51,968 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 261 |
| 2 | New York | $61,380 | $38,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,500 |
| 3 | Vermont | $53,183 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 97 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $57,590 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 911 |
| 5 | Illinois | $52,279 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,726 |
| 6 | Delaware | $60,169 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 132 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $53,521 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,297 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $51,569 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 494 |
| 9 | Alaska | $49,402 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 140 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $52,274 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,046 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $48,849 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 163 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $52,894 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 123 |
| 13 | Indiana | $50,545 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 595 |
| 14 | Michigan | $47,929 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 868 |
| 15 | Ohio | $49,469 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 948 |
| 16 | Washington | $48,651 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 858 |
| 17 | Oregon | $45,279 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 638 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $49,561 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 79 |
| 19 | California | $51,411 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,118 |
| 20 | Maryland | $53,690 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 319 |
| 21 | Florida | $46,733 | $29,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,724 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $45,086 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 762 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $43,136 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 257 |
| 24 | Nevada | $42,957 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 249 |
| 25 | Texas | $44,621 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,252 |
| 26 | Arizona | $41,315 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 920 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $43,377 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 96 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $44,221 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 457 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $41,910 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 965 |
| 30 | Idaho | $40,064 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 210 |
| 31 | Utah | $39,978 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 380 |
| 32 | Missouri | $40,667 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 695 |
| 33 | Colorado | $39,045 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 970 |
| 34 | Maine | $40,684 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 128 |
| 35 | Virginia | $45,366 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 254 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $40,453 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 95 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $46,427 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 67 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $39,603 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 187 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $35,679 | $24,000 | 579,315 | 80 |
| 40 | Montana | $36,418 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 163 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $39,090 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 196 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,703 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 298 |
| 43 | Georgia | $39,668 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 893 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,987 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 345 |
| 45 | Iowa | $37,988 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 310 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $37,670 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 283 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $36,683 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 215 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $37,389 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 277 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $36,485 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 479 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,936 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 435 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,551 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 423 |
Highest paying states for school administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. School Administrator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $51,968 |
| 2 | New York | $61,380 |
| 3 | Vermont | $53,183 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $57,590 |
| 5 | Illinois | $52,279 |
| 6 | Delaware | $60,169 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $53,521 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $51,569 |
| 9 | Alaska | $49,402 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $52,274 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $48,849 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $52,894 |
| 13 | Indiana | $50,545 |
| 14 | Michigan | $47,929 |
| 15 | Ohio | $49,469 |
| 16 | Washington | $48,651 |
| 17 | Oregon | $45,279 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $49,561 |
| 19 | California | $51,411 |
| 20 | Maryland | $53,690 |
| 21 | Florida | $46,733 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $45,086 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $43,136 |
| 24 | Nevada | $42,957 |
| 25 | Texas | $44,621 |
| 26 | Arizona | $41,315 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $43,377 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $44,221 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $41,910 |
| 30 | Idaho | $40,064 |
| 31 | Utah | $39,978 |
| 32 | Missouri | $40,667 |
| 33 | Colorado | $39,045 |
| 34 | Maine | $40,684 |
| 35 | Virginia | $45,366 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $40,453 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $46,427 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $39,603 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $35,679 |
| 40 | Montana | $36,418 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $39,090 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,703 |
| 43 | Georgia | $39,668 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,987 |
| 45 | Iowa | $37,988 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $37,670 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $36,683 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $37,389 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $36,485 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $34,936 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,551 |
Expert opinions on the best states for school administrators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for school administrators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Wendy Kubasko
Program Chair, Assistant Professor, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
There are many places in the United States with significant teacher shortages, including those in the Southeast and Southwest. There are districts here in PA looking for highly qualified educators as well! As a graduate, it is essential to find a neighborhood and community that you feel compelled to serve as an educator.
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Updated January 8, 2025