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Best states for a sports instructor
Quoted expert
Meg Stone
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
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- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a sports instructor and really want to work at Ymca? Turns out, your chances to become a sports instructor are better in some states than others.Our research shows that Rhode Island is the best state in the country for sports instructors.
The median salary for sports instructors in Rhode Island is $39,821. Compare that to the median salary in Idaho of $22,084, which ranked worst for sports instructors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a sports instructor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for sports instructors in 2025
1. Rhode Island
Total sports instructor jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $39,821 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.042. New Jersey
Total sports instructor jobs: 606 Average annual salary: $37,679 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.313. North Dakota
Total sports instructor jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $38,021 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.944. Connecticut
Total sports instructor jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $41,877 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.855. Massachusetts
Total sports instructor jobs: 427 Average annual salary: $44,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.86. California
Total sports instructor jobs: 2,097 Average annual salary: $38,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.237. New Hampshire
Total sports instructor jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $41,619 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.78. Michigan
Total sports instructor jobs: 507 Average annual salary: $35,428 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.129. Vermont
Total sports instructor jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $39,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.810. Maryland
Total sports instructor jobs: 351 Average annual salary: $37,334 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
Sports instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a sports instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a sports instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $39,821 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 74 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,679 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 606 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $38,021 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 51 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $41,877 | $30,000 | 3,588,184 | 165 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $44,214 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 427 |
| 6 | California | $38,219 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,097 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,619 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 71 |
| 8 | Michigan | $35,428 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 507 |
| 9 | Vermont | $39,385 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 36 |
| 10 | Maryland | $37,334 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 351 |
| 11 | Maine | $39,317 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 50 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $30,876 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 57 |
| 13 | Delaware | $33,957 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 76 |
| 14 | New York | $35,100 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 816 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $32,987 | $24,000 | 4,454,189 | 192 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $34,234 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 75 |
| 17 | Nevada | $30,650 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 176 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $34,231 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 317 |
| 19 | Alaska | $31,372 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 65 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,338 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 618 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $33,073 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 77 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $30,400 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 111 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $31,537 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 233 |
| 24 | Florida | $30,481 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 907 |
| 25 | Arizona | $31,074 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 293 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $28,606 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 406 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $28,810 | $21,000 | 10,273,419 | 735 |
| 28 | Colorado | $28,899 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 577 |
| 29 | Washington | $33,466 | $24,000 | 7,405,743 | 295 |
| 30 | Virginia | $29,906 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 716 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $29,443 | $21,000 | 12,805,537 | 573 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $36,743 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 34 |
| 33 | Utah | $29,703 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 163 |
| 34 | Indiana | $30,860 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 240 |
| 35 | Oregon | $27,998 | $20,000 | 4,142,776 | 345 |
| 36 | Montana | $26,759 | $20,000 | 1,050,493 | 89 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $27,336 | $20,000 | 869,666 | 51 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $26,836 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 286 |
| 39 | Texas | $25,939 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,074 |
| 40 | Iowa | $24,331 | $18,000 | 3,145,711 | 208 |
| 41 | Georgia | $24,088 | $17,000 | 10,429,379 | 794 |
| 42 | Kansas | $27,183 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 127 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $24,760 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 171 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,125 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 113 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $24,060 | $17,000 | 2,088,070 | 93 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $23,642 | $17,000 | 1,920,076 | 95 |
| 47 | Missouri | $24,715 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 204 |
| 48 | Ohio | $20,747 | $15,000 | 11,658,609 | 514 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $23,993 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 64 |
| 50 | Alabama | $21,595 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 174 |
| 51 | Idaho | $22,084 | $16,000 | 1,716,943 | 65 |
Highest paying states for sports instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Sports Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $39,821 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $37,679 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $38,021 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $41,877 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $44,214 |
| 6 | California | $38,219 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,619 |
| 8 | Michigan | $35,428 |
| 9 | Vermont | $39,385 |
| 10 | Maryland | $37,334 |
| 11 | Maine | $39,317 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $30,876 |
| 13 | Delaware | $33,957 |
| 14 | New York | $35,100 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $32,987 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $34,234 |
| 17 | Nevada | $30,650 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $34,231 |
| 19 | Alaska | $31,372 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,338 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $33,073 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $30,400 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $31,537 |
| 24 | Florida | $30,481 |
| 25 | Arizona | $31,074 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $28,606 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $28,810 |
| 28 | Colorado | $28,899 |
| 29 | Washington | $33,466 |
| 30 | Virginia | $29,906 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $29,443 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $36,743 |
| 33 | Utah | $29,703 |
| 34 | Indiana | $30,860 |
| 35 | Oregon | $27,998 |
| 36 | Montana | $26,759 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $27,336 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $26,836 |
| 39 | Texas | $25,939 |
| 40 | Iowa | $24,331 |
| 41 | Georgia | $24,088 |
| 42 | Kansas | $27,183 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $24,760 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,125 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $24,060 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $23,642 |
| 47 | Missouri | $24,715 |
| 48 | Ohio | $20,747 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $23,993 |
| 50 | Alabama | $21,595 |
| 51 | Idaho | $22,084 |
Expert opinions on the best states for sports instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for sports instructors to find work opportunities?
Meg Stone
Director, Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education
The ETSU program of sports science and strength and conditioning has been in operation for the past ten years, and presently 100% of the graduates from our program have attained a position in their chosen field. They are finding job opportunities in the following areas:
- Collegiate athletic departments
- Teaching – University faculty positions tenured and non-tenured
- Fitness industry private clubs
- Presently, we have students working/coaching in the NBA, NFL, MBA, and Track and Field
- International relationships: 5 of our former students are working with NGB’s in Taiwan and China
Sports instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025