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Best states for a superintendent
Quoted expert
Becky Serbin
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Superintendent opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for superintendents, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for superintendents.Our research found that North Dakota is the best state for superintendents, while Rhode Island and New York are ranked highest in terms of median salary. North Dakota has a median salary of $88,680 and Rhode Island has the highest median salary among all 50 states for superintendents.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for superintendents.If you are currently seeking employment as a superintendent, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for superintendents in 2026
1. North Dakota
Total superintendent jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $88,680 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 2.1
2. Washington
Total superintendent jobs: 236 Average annual salary: $92,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. California
Total superintendent jobs: 1,017 Average annual salary: $98,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
4. Vermont
Total superintendent jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $93,935 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
5. Rhode Island
Total superintendent jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $102,936 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
6. New York
Total superintendent jobs: 263 Average annual salary: $100,574 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
7. Massachusetts
Total superintendent jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $99,594 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
8. Nevada
Total superintendent jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $85,406 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
9. West Virginia
Total superintendent jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $95,110 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
10. South Dakota
Total superintendent jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $84,945 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Superintendent jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a superintendent
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a superintendent
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $88,680 | $57,000 | 755,393 | 53 |
| 2 | Washington | $92,582 | $57,000 | 7,405,743 | 236 |
| 3 | California | $98,750 | $62,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,017 |
| 4 | Vermont | $93,935 | $63,000 | 623,657 | 18 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $102,936 | $70,000 | 1,059,639 | 21 |
| 6 | New York | $100,574 | $68,000 | 19,849,399 | 263 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $99,594 | $67,000 | 6,859,819 | 184 |
| 8 | Nevada | $85,406 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 91 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $95,110 | $63,000 | 1,815,857 | 26 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $84,945 | $56,000 | 869,666 | 31 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $92,932 | $62,000 | 12,805,537 | 220 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $98,563 | $67,000 | 1,342,795 | 26 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $85,639 | $55,000 | 4,684,333 | 88 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $85,825 | $56,000 | 5,795,483 | 113 |
| 15 | Oregon | $85,967 | $54,000 | 4,142,776 | 134 |
| 16 | Ohio | $84,623 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 187 |
| 17 | Texas | $83,120 | $53,000 | 28,304,596 | 643 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $93,688 | $63,000 | 9,005,644 | 124 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $81,362 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 339 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $88,773 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 70 |
| 21 | Arizona | $80,683 | $52,000 | 7,016,270 | 234 |
| 22 | Georgia | $83,103 | $55,000 | 10,429,379 | 282 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $80,665 | $52,000 | 2,088,070 | 66 |
| 24 | Michigan | $83,331 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 144 |
| 25 | Virginia | $83,400 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 332 |
| 26 | Illinois | $86,186 | $56,000 | 12,802,023 | 208 |
| 27 | Maryland | $85,020 | $57,000 | 6,052,177 | 161 |
| 28 | Indiana | $81,322 | $53,000 | 6,666,818 | 120 |
| 29 | Idaho | $76,692 | $48,000 | 1,716,943 | 56 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $76,543 | $51,000 | 693,972 | 98 |
| 31 | Alaska | $76,080 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 32 | Montana | $73,779 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 68 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $75,973 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 33 |
| 34 | Florida | $75,729 | $51,000 | 20,984,400 | 552 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $78,963 | $52,000 | 4,454,189 | 53 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $78,160 | $51,000 | 3,930,864 | 55 |
| 37 | Utah | $72,700 | $46,000 | 3,101,833 | 115 |
| 38 | Maine | $75,883 | $51,000 | 1,335,907 | 31 |
| 39 | Delaware | $77,243 | $52,000 | 961,939 | 29 |
| 40 | Iowa | $72,452 | $48,000 | 3,145,711 | 105 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $69,732 | $45,000 | 579,315 | 32 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $78,546 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 108 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $74,280 | $49,000 | 2,984,100 | 41 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $73,730 | $49,000 | 5,024,369 | 119 |
| 45 | Missouri | $78,088 | $51,000 | 6,113,532 | 95 |
| 46 | Colorado | $70,580 | $46,000 | 5,607,154 | 246 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $69,601 | $46,000 | 6,715,984 | 176 |
| 48 | Alabama | $72,148 | $47,000 | 4,874,747 | 100 |
| 49 | Kansas | $70,504 | $46,000 | 2,913,123 | 68 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $63,561 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 62 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $64,803 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 46 |
Highest paying states for superintendents
| Rank | State | Avg. Superintendent Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $88,680 |
| 2 | Washington | $92,582 |
| 3 | California | $98,750 |
| 4 | Vermont | $93,935 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $102,936 |
| 6 | New York | $100,574 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $99,594 |
| 8 | Nevada | $85,406 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $95,110 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $84,945 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $92,932 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $98,563 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $85,639 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $85,825 |
| 15 | Oregon | $85,967 |
| 16 | Ohio | $84,623 |
| 17 | Texas | $83,120 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $93,688 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $81,362 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $88,773 |
| 21 | Arizona | $80,683 |
| 22 | Georgia | $83,103 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $80,665 |
| 24 | Michigan | $83,331 |
| 25 | Virginia | $83,400 |
| 26 | Illinois | $86,186 |
| 27 | Maryland | $85,020 |
| 28 | Indiana | $81,322 |
| 29 | Idaho | $76,692 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $76,543 |
| 31 | Alaska | $76,080 |
| 32 | Montana | $73,779 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $75,973 |
| 34 | Florida | $75,729 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $78,963 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $78,160 |
| 37 | Utah | $72,700 |
| 38 | Maine | $75,883 |
| 39 | Delaware | $77,243 |
| 40 | Iowa | $72,452 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $69,732 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $78,546 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $74,280 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $73,730 |
| 45 | Missouri | $78,088 |
| 46 | Colorado | $70,580 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $69,601 |
| 48 | Alabama | $72,148 |
| 49 | Kansas | $70,504 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $63,561 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $64,803 |
Expert opinions on the best states for superintendents
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for superintendents to find work opportunities?
Becky Serbin
Director of Education and Curriculum, National Tile Contractors Association
Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.
Superintendent best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025