Best cities for a teaching artist
The best cities for teaching artists are Oakland, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for teaching artists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for teaching artists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a teaching artist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for teaching artists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for teaching artists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a teaching artist. While the absolute best city for teaching artists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for teaching artists in 2024.
If you're looking for a teaching artist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for teaching artists in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total teaching artist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $94,900 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location quotient: 13.27 2. Philadelphia, PA
Total teaching artist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $80,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 6.56 3. San Francisco, CA
Total teaching artist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $95,314 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location quotient: 5.07 4. New York, NY
Total teaching artist jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $88,544 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 12.01 5. Detroit, MI
Total teaching artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,785 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total teaching artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,225 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Total teaching artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $78,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Durham, NC
Total teaching artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $76,319 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Jose, CA
Total teaching artist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $93,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 1.79 10. Raleigh, NC
Total teaching artist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $76,187 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for teaching artists
- Oakland, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- New York, NY
- Detroit, MI
- Fremont, CA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Durham, NC
- San Jose, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- (2 teaching artist jobs)
- (5 teaching artist jobs)
- (8 teaching artist jobs)
- (62 teaching artist jobs)
- (0 teaching artist jobs)
- (0 teaching artist jobs)
- (0 teaching artist jobs)
- (0 teaching artist jobs)
- (2 teaching artist jobs)
- (0 teaching artist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a teaching artist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $94,900 | $50,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,634 | $46,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $95,314 | $50,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $88,544 | $50,000 | 8,537,673 | 62 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $79,785 | $46,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $94,225 | $50,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,801 | $45,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $76,319 | $42,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $93,871 | $50,000 | 1,025,350 | 2 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $76,187 | $42,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 11 | Hempstead, NY | $88,560 | $50,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $86,984 | $44,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 13 | Greensboro, NC | $75,486 | $42,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 14 | Islip, NY | $88,476 | $50,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 15 | Oyster Bay, NY | $88,416 | $50,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 16 | Winston-Salem, NC | $74,985 | $42,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 17 | Brookhaven, NY | $88,321 | $50,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $93,645 | $50,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $84,179 | $46,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $82,217 | $45,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $93,332 | $50,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 22 | Charlotte, NC | $72,448 | $40,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 23 | Cleveland, OH | $69,450 | $40,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 24 | Los Angeles, CA | $85,820 | $47,000 | 3,976,322 | 17 |
| 25 | Toledo, OH | $68,300 | $39,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $86,626 | $49,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 27 | Seattle, WA | $77,708 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 28 | Omaha, NE | $68,581 | $40,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $90,185 | $48,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 30 | Columbus, OH | $66,842 | $38,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | $88,129 | $48,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | $84,658 | $46,000 | 266,122 | 2 |
| 33 | Long Beach, CA | $85,201 | $46,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 34 | Anaheim, CA | $85,042 | $46,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 35 | Washington, DC | $90,257 | $51,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 36 | Santa Ana, CA | $84,855 | $46,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $66,180 | $38,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 38 | Riverside, CA | $84,688 | $46,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,308 | $37,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 40 | Lincoln, NE | $67,455 | $39,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | $83,069 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 1 |
| 42 | Saint Paul, MN | $69,873 | $41,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $82,888 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 44 | Indianapolis, IN | $63,611 | $36,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 45 | Minneapolis, MN | $69,812 | $41,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 46 | Virginia Beach, VA | $72,450 | $40,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 47 | Norfolk, VA | $72,392 | $40,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $61,095 | $35,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 49 | Chesapeake, VA | $72,174 | $40,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 50 | Milwaukee, WI | $63,097 | $37,000 | 595,047 | - |
Highest paying cities for teaching artists
| Rank | City | Avg. teaching artist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $96,237 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $88,544 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $84,248 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $82,935 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $82,217 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,634 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $69,450 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $68,460 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $63,849 |
| 10 | Marietta, GA | $63,630 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $63,391 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $62,974 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $61,610 |
| 14 | Ardmore, OK | $49,775 |
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Updated January 8, 2025