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Best states for a section leader
Quoted expert
Suzanne Ehst Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
It seems like section leaders are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for section leaders aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that North Dakota is the best state for section leaders in America. The best city in America for section leaders with the highest pay is Lewiston, ME.
In order to get you the best states for section leaders, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for section leaders, and the Northeast is the worst. Lewiston, ME is the best city in the country for section leader jobs, where as North Dakota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for section leaders in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total section leader jobs: 148 Average annual salary: $119,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 5.68
2. Massachusetts
Total section leader jobs: 1,300 Average annual salary: $120,859 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 5.05
3. New Hampshire
Total section leader jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $122,374 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. Maine
Total section leader jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $135,956 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
5. Delaware
Total section leader jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $117,807 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $192,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
6. Washington
Total section leader jobs: 928 Average annual salary: $115,273 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000 Location Quotient: 4.54
7. New Jersey
Total section leader jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $121,917 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
8. Wyoming
Total section leader jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $107,600 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
9. Alaska
Total section leader jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $111,515 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location Quotient: 5
10. Rhode Island
Total section leader jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $109,556 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 4.58
Section leader jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a section leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a section leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $119,296 | $73,000 | 755,393 | 148 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $120,859 | $76,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,300 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $122,374 | $77,000 | 1,342,795 | 51 |
| 4 | Maine | $135,956 | $87,000 | 1,335,907 | 26 |
| 5 | Delaware | $117,807 | $71,000 | 961,939 | 27 |
| 6 | Washington | $115,273 | $68,000 | 7,405,743 | 928 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $121,917 | $76,000 | 9,005,644 | 157 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $107,600 | $59,000 | 579,315 | 14 |
| 9 | Alaska | $111,515 | $71,000 | 739,795 | 117 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $109,556 | $68,000 | 1,059,639 | 156 |
| 11 | Montana | $103,474 | $59,000 | 1,050,493 | 153 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $103,144 | $60,000 | 5,795,483 | 115 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $112,101 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 221 |
| 14 | New York | $114,925 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 192 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $109,653 | $68,000 | 3,588,184 | 54 |
| 16 | Maryland | $114,814 | $68,000 | 6,052,177 | 94 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $97,174 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 241 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $99,379 | $58,000 | 5,576,606 | 135 |
| 19 | Michigan | $99,985 | $59,000 | 9,962,311 | 121 |
| 20 | Ohio | $95,192 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 186 |
| 21 | Kansas | $92,390 | $49,000 | 2,913,123 | 49 |
| 22 | Oregon | $95,899 | $53,000 | 4,142,776 | 65 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $80,199 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 24 | California | $97,175 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 447 |
| 25 | Idaho | $97,477 | $53,000 | 1,716,943 | 17 |
| 26 | Vermont | $92,475 | $57,000 | 623,657 | 12 |
| 27 | Virginia | $95,989 | $54,000 | 8,470,020 | 137 |
| 28 | Illinois | $89,641 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 195 |
| 29 | Iowa | $77,373 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 84 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $75,677 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 293 |
| 31 | Nevada | $77,078 | $39,000 | 2,998,039 | 53 |
| 32 | Colorado | $85,683 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 104 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $79,020 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 179 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $86,763 | $48,000 | 1,815,857 | 20 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $69,593 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 309 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,721 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 85 |
| 37 | Arizona | $79,890 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 81 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $69,172 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 70 |
| 39 | Texas | $72,575 | $36,000 | 28,304,596 | 327 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $66,755 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 119 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $48,601 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 20 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $73,784 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 33 |
| 43 | Missouri | $72,732 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 86 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $71,500 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 37 |
| 45 | Utah | $66,621 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 45 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $64,639 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 59 |
| 47 | Alabama | $63,543 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 57 |
| 48 | Georgia | $59,167 | $29,000 | 10,429,379 | 152 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $62,391 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 43 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $62,161 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 28 |
| 51 | Florida | $47,804 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 220 |
Highest paying states for section leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Section Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $119,296 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $120,859 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $122,374 |
| 4 | Maine | $135,956 |
| 5 | Delaware | $117,807 |
| 6 | Washington | $115,273 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $121,917 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $107,600 |
| 9 | Alaska | $111,515 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $109,556 |
| 11 | Montana | $103,474 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $103,144 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $112,101 |
| 14 | New York | $114,925 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $109,653 |
| 16 | Maryland | $114,814 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $97,174 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $99,379 |
| 19 | Michigan | $99,985 |
| 20 | Ohio | $95,192 |
| 21 | Kansas | $92,390 |
| 22 | Oregon | $95,899 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $80,199 |
| 24 | California | $97,175 |
| 25 | Idaho | $97,477 |
| 26 | Vermont | $92,475 |
| 27 | Virginia | $95,989 |
| 28 | Illinois | $89,641 |
| 29 | Iowa | $77,373 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $75,677 |
| 31 | Nevada | $77,078 |
| 32 | Colorado | $85,683 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $79,020 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $86,763 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $69,593 |
| 36 | Indiana | $83,721 |
| 37 | Arizona | $79,890 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $69,172 |
| 39 | Texas | $72,575 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $66,755 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $48,601 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $73,784 |
| 43 | Missouri | $72,732 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $71,500 |
| 45 | Utah | $66,621 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $64,639 |
| 47 | Alabama | $63,543 |
| 48 | Georgia | $59,167 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $62,391 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $62,161 |
| 51 | Florida | $47,804 |
Expert opinions on the best states for section leaders
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for section leaders to find work opportunities?
Suzanne Ehst Ph.D.
Professor of Education, Director of Secondary Education, Core Curriculum Director, Goshen College
Many states are experiencing teacher shortages, but not all. The U.S. Department of education keeps an updated list of each state's shortage areas, and you can find this at tsa.ed.gov. We hear a lot about shortages in STEM fields, but many states have shortages in multiple subjects and specializations.
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Updated January 8, 2025