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Best states for a secondary teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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It seems like secondary teachers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for secondary teachers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Maryland is the best state in the country for secondary teachers.
The median salary for secondary teachers in Maryland is $81,274. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $37,133, which ranked worst for secondary teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Maryland is the best state, and Bel Air South is the city with the highest pay for secondary teachers.
10 best states for secondary teachers in 2025
1. Maryland
Total secondary teacher jobs: 962 Average annual salary: $81,274 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
2. Connecticut
Total secondary teacher jobs: 456 Average annual salary: $73,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
3. Vermont
Total secondary teacher jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $71,945 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. New Jersey
Total secondary teacher jobs: 1,218 Average annual salary: $70,977 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
5. New York
Total secondary teacher jobs: 1,306 Average annual salary: $75,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
6. Delaware
Total secondary teacher jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $68,929 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
7. Rhode Island
Total secondary teacher jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $75,757 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Wyoming
Total secondary teacher jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $61,732 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
9. Illinois
Total secondary teacher jobs: 1,639 Average annual salary: $63,551 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
10. Nevada
Total secondary teacher jobs: 591 Average annual salary: $58,822 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 2.89
Secondary teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a secondary teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a secondary teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $81,274 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 962 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $73,590 | $49,000 | 3,588,184 | 456 |
| 3 | Vermont | $71,945 | $49,000 | 623,657 | 102 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $70,977 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,218 |
| 5 | New York | $75,586 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,306 |
| 6 | Delaware | $68,929 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 162 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $75,757 | $51,000 | 1,059,639 | 105 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $61,732 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 74 |
| 9 | Illinois | $63,551 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,639 |
| 10 | Nevada | $58,822 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 591 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $64,222 | $43,000 | 5,576,606 | 746 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $68,918 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 813 |
| 13 | Washington | $70,956 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 555 |
| 14 | Alaska | $71,070 | $57,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $56,780 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 275 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $67,828 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 171 |
| 17 | Oregon | $64,340 | $42,000 | 4,142,776 | 313 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $60,433 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 397 |
| 19 | Iowa | $57,120 | $39,000 | 3,145,711 | 312 |
| 20 | Ohio | $58,211 | $39,000 | 11,658,609 | 753 |
| 21 | Michigan | $51,036 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 951 |
| 22 | California | $63,911 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,065 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,045 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 318 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $54,735 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,076 |
| 25 | Virginia | $56,325 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 825 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $51,004 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 446 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $56,036 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $48,108 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 237 |
| 29 | Colorado | $48,483 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 802 |
| 30 | Utah | $54,748 | $37,000 | 3,101,833 | 206 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $52,801 | $37,000 | 4,454,189 | 209 |
| 32 | Florida | $47,333 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,515 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $43,779 | $31,000 | 2,088,070 | 299 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $45,880 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 902 |
| 35 | Texas | $45,553 | $34,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,957 |
| 36 | Idaho | $43,818 | $28,000 | 1,716,943 | 185 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $56,231 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 45 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $47,195 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 198 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $44,400 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 493 |
| 40 | Alabama | $48,106 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 224 |
| 41 | Montana | $39,637 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 184 |
| 42 | Indiana | $41,504 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 641 |
| 43 | Arizona | $40,345 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 769 |
| 44 | Maine | $44,316 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 104 |
| 45 | Missouri | $43,717 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 502 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $42,764 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 165 |
| 47 | Georgia | $43,769 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 824 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $43,242 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 67 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,544 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 347 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $41,296 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 254 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,133 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 63 |
Highest paying states for secondary teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $81,274 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $73,590 |
| 3 | Vermont | $71,945 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $70,977 |
| 5 | New York | $75,586 |
| 6 | Delaware | $68,929 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $75,757 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $61,732 |
| 9 | Illinois | $63,551 |
| 10 | Nevada | $58,822 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $64,222 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $68,918 |
| 13 | Washington | $70,956 |
| 14 | Alaska | $71,070 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $56,780 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $67,828 |
| 17 | Oregon | $64,340 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $60,433 |
| 19 | Iowa | $57,120 |
| 20 | Ohio | $58,211 |
| 21 | Michigan | $51,036 |
| 22 | California | $63,911 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,045 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $54,735 |
| 25 | Virginia | $56,325 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $51,004 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $56,036 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $48,108 |
| 29 | Colorado | $48,483 |
| 30 | Utah | $54,748 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $52,801 |
| 32 | Florida | $47,333 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $43,779 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $45,880 |
| 35 | Texas | $45,553 |
| 36 | Idaho | $43,818 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $56,231 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $47,195 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $44,400 |
| 40 | Alabama | $48,106 |
| 41 | Montana | $39,637 |
| 42 | Indiana | $41,504 |
| 43 | Arizona | $40,345 |
| 44 | Maine | $44,316 |
| 45 | Missouri | $43,717 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $42,764 |
| 47 | Georgia | $43,769 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $43,242 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,544 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $41,296 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,133 |
Expert opinions on the best states for secondary teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for secondary 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