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Best states for a water safety instructor
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like water safety instructors are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for water safety instructors aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for water safety instructors. We found that California is the best state in the nation for water safety instructors, and people in Vancouver earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for water safety instructor jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that California is the best state for water safety instructor jobs, whereas Indiana is the worst.
10 best states for water safety instructors in 2026
1. California
Total water safety instructor jobs: 2,723 Average annual salary: $36,368 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. North Dakota
Total water safety instructor jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $33,654 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
3. Michigan
Total water safety instructor jobs: 654 Average annual salary: $31,536 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Maine
Total water safety instructor jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $36,027 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
5. New York
Total water safety instructor jobs: 814 Average annual salary: $37,185 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
6. Washington
Total water safety instructor jobs: 408 Average annual salary: $37,444 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
7. Vermont
Total water safety instructor jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $33,795 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
8. Massachusetts
Total water safety instructor jobs: 536 Average annual salary: $36,326 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
9. Idaho
Total water safety instructor jobs: 118 Average annual salary: $32,632 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
10. New Jersey
Total water safety instructor jobs: 612 Average annual salary: $31,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
Water safety instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a water safety instructor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a water safety instructor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $36,368 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,723 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $33,654 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 77 |
| 3 | Michigan | $31,536 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 654 |
| 4 | Maine | $36,027 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 80 |
| 5 | New York | $37,185 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 814 |
| 6 | Washington | $37,444 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 408 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,795 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 53 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $36,326 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 536 |
| 9 | Idaho | $32,632 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 118 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $31,382 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 612 |
| 11 | Nevada | $27,094 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 204 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $33,525 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 187 |
| 13 | Oregon | $28,562 | $21,000 | 4,142,776 | 394 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $27,577 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 282 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $32,938 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 96 |
| 16 | Colorado | $27,316 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 671 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $28,575 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 100 |
| 18 | Arizona | $27,506 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 418 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $26,156 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 60 |
| 20 | Delaware | $27,166 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 99 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $29,427 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 68 |
| 22 | Alaska | $27,174 | $22,000 | 739,795 | 80 |
| 23 | Virginia | $27,027 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 850 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $26,599 | $20,000 | 12,805,537 | 662 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $28,465 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 85 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $24,459 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 493 |
| 27 | Maryland | $27,571 | $20,000 | 6,052,177 | 435 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $27,263 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 284 |
| 29 | Montana | $24,972 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 105 |
| 30 | Utah | $25,989 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 211 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $26,240 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 123 |
| 32 | Georgia | $24,706 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,036 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $26,954 | $20,000 | 5,576,606 | 353 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $23,903 | $17,000 | 10,273,419 | 954 |
| 35 | Florida | $24,807 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,239 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $24,866 | $19,000 | 869,666 | 55 |
| 37 | Illinois | $25,624 | $19,000 | 12,802,023 | 704 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $23,849 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 155 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $27,202 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 76 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $25,143 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 112 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $24,886 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 100 |
| 42 | Alabama | $22,688 | $17,000 | 4,874,747 | 324 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $23,107 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 218 |
| 44 | Kansas | $23,464 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 189 |
| 45 | Iowa | $21,945 | $16,000 | 3,145,711 | 304 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $22,690 | $17,000 | 6,715,984 | 327 |
| 47 | Missouri | $22,986 | $17,000 | 6,113,532 | 325 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,339 | $16,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,298 |
| 49 | Ohio | $21,082 | $15,000 | 11,658,609 | 546 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $21,211 | $16,000 | 3,930,864 | 148 |
| 51 | Indiana | $19,739 | $14,000 | 6,666,818 | 320 |
Highest paying states for water safety instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. Water Safety Instructor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $36,368 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $33,654 |
| 3 | Michigan | $31,536 |
| 4 | Maine | $36,027 |
| 5 | New York | $37,185 |
| 6 | Washington | $37,444 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,795 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $36,326 |
| 9 | Idaho | $32,632 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $31,382 |
| 11 | Nevada | $27,094 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $33,525 |
| 13 | Oregon | $28,562 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $27,577 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $32,938 |
| 16 | Colorado | $27,316 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $28,575 |
| 18 | Arizona | $27,506 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $26,156 |
| 20 | Delaware | $27,166 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $29,427 |
| 22 | Alaska | $27,174 |
| 23 | Virginia | $27,027 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $26,599 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $28,465 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $24,459 |
| 27 | Maryland | $27,571 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $27,263 |
| 29 | Montana | $24,972 |
| 30 | Utah | $25,989 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $26,240 |
| 32 | Georgia | $24,706 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $26,954 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $23,903 |
| 35 | Florida | $24,807 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $24,866 |
| 37 | Illinois | $25,624 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $23,849 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $27,202 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $25,143 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $24,886 |
| 42 | Alabama | $22,688 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $23,107 |
| 44 | Kansas | $23,464 |
| 45 | Iowa | $21,945 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $22,690 |
| 47 | Missouri | $22,986 |
| 48 | Texas | $22,339 |
| 49 | Ohio | $21,082 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $21,211 |
| 51 | Indiana | $19,739 |
Water safety instructor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025