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Best states for a vocational instructor
Quoted expert
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to vocational instructor jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for vocational instructors.We wanted to look at the best states for vocational instructors -- where there are plenty of vocational instructor jobs to go around and vocational instructors get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for vocational instructors, 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 vocational instructors, and the West is the worst. Springfield, MA is the best city in the country for vocational instructor jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for vocational instructors in 2025
1. California
Total vocational instructor jobs: 1,711 Average annual salary: $59,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. North Dakota
Total vocational instructor jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $45,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
3. Alaska
Total vocational instructor jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $47,928 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
4. Texas
Total vocational instructor jobs: 788 Average annual salary: $45,942 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
5. Oregon
Total vocational instructor jobs: 255 Average annual salary: $44,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
6. Iowa
Total vocational instructor jobs: 161 Average annual salary: $43,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
7. Massachusetts
Total vocational instructor jobs: 328 Average annual salary: $50,031 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
8. Washington
Total vocational instructor jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $51,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
9. Hawaii
Total vocational instructor jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $48,743 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
10. Colorado
Total vocational instructor jobs: 492 Average annual salary: $42,118 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.81
Vocational instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a vocational instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a vocational instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $59,320 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,711 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $45,497 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 40 |
| 3 | Alaska | $47,928 | $42,000 | 739,795 | 51 |
| 4 | Texas | $45,942 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 788 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,456 | $33,000 | 4,142,776 | 255 |
| 6 | Iowa | $43,735 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 161 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $50,031 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 328 |
| 8 | Washington | $51,313 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 243 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $48,743 | $43,000 | 1,427,538 | 58 |
| 10 | Colorado | $42,118 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 492 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $44,130 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 464 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $42,910 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 88 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,563 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 184 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $44,102 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 236 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $39,940 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 678 |
| 16 | New York | $43,697 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 621 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $38,928 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 52 |
| 18 | Michigan | $39,080 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 432 |
| 19 | Arizona | $41,041 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 222 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,149 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 361 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $40,219 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 78 |
| 22 | Delaware | $39,269 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 67 |
| 23 | Vermont | $39,099 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 32 |
| 24 | Alabama | $39,529 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 147 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $37,070 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 154 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $38,454 | $29,000 | 6,715,984 | 177 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $37,046 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 80 |
| 28 | Virginia | $36,574 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 585 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $42,525 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 29 |
| 30 | Indiana | $38,158 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 129 |
| 31 | Montana | $35,249 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 81 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $37,185 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 43 |
| 33 | Utah | $36,344 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 118 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $37,542 | $26,000 | 1,342,795 | 61 |
| 35 | Florida | $36,206 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 751 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,180 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 36 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,521 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 38 | Nevada | $34,574 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 134 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $35,532 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 53 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $34,737 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 140 |
| 41 | Maine | $36,557 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 41 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,787 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 335 |
| 43 | Maryland | $34,103 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 288 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,052 | $23,000 | 10,429,379 | 677 |
| 45 | Missouri | $35,939 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 151 |
| 46 | Kansas | $33,995 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 103 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,000 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 98 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $36,079 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 93 |
| 49 | Illinois | $32,875 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 437 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $33,039 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 370 |
| 51 | Idaho | $30,767 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 53 |
Highest paying states for vocational instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Vocational Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $59,320 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $45,497 |
| 3 | Alaska | $47,928 |
| 4 | Texas | $45,942 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,456 |
| 6 | Iowa | $43,735 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $50,031 |
| 8 | Washington | $51,313 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $48,743 |
| 10 | Colorado | $42,118 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $44,130 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $42,910 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,563 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $44,102 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $39,940 |
| 16 | New York | $43,697 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $38,928 |
| 18 | Michigan | $39,080 |
| 19 | Arizona | $41,041 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,149 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $40,219 |
| 22 | Delaware | $39,269 |
| 23 | Vermont | $39,099 |
| 24 | Alabama | $39,529 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $37,070 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $38,454 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $37,046 |
| 28 | Virginia | $36,574 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $42,525 |
| 30 | Indiana | $38,158 |
| 31 | Montana | $35,249 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $37,185 |
| 33 | Utah | $36,344 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $37,542 |
| 35 | Florida | $36,206 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,180 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,521 |
| 38 | Nevada | $34,574 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $35,532 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $34,737 |
| 41 | Maine | $36,557 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,787 |
| 43 | Maryland | $34,103 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,052 |
| 45 | Missouri | $35,939 |
| 46 | Kansas | $33,995 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,000 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $36,079 |
| 49 | Illinois | $32,875 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $33,039 |
| 51 | Idaho | $30,767 |
Expert opinions on the best states for vocational instructors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for vocational instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Texas State University
There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
Vocational instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025