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Best states for a youth director
Quoted expert
Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for youth directors in the United States. Youth director positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for youth directors.In order to help you decide which state is the best for youth directors, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for youth director jobs.
In order to get you the best states for youth directors, 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 Midwest is best for youth directors, and the West is the worst. Milpitas, CA is the best city in the country for youth director jobs, where as Mississippi is the best state in the country.
10 best states for youth directors in 2026
1. Mississippi
Total youth director jobs: 303 Average annual salary: $44,998 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 6.47
2. California
Total youth director jobs: 627 Average annual salary: $56,281 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
3. Oklahoma
Total youth director jobs: 458 Average annual salary: $44,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 6.73
4. Hawaii
Total youth director jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $55,971 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
5. Nevada
Total youth director jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $48,516 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.48
6. Connecticut
Total youth director jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $45,523 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
7. Wisconsin
Total youth director jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $43,607 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
8. District of Columbia
Total youth director jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $44,951 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
9. Alaska
Total youth director jobs: 55 Average annual salary: $43,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 2.98
10. Texas
Total youth director jobs: 367 Average annual salary: $42,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
Youth director jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth director
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a youth director
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $44,998 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 303 |
| 2 | California | $56,281 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 627 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $44,413 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 458 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $55,971 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 17 |
| 5 | Nevada | $48,516 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 22 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $45,523 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 59 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $43,607 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 92 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $44,951 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 63 |
| 9 | Alaska | $43,454 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 55 |
| 10 | Texas | $42,991 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 367 |
| 11 | Colorado | $43,303 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 163 |
| 12 | Arizona | $42,046 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 134 |
| 13 | Utah | $43,316 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 39 |
| 14 | Ohio | $43,369 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 103 |
| 15 | Delaware | $46,204 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 7 |
| 16 | New York | $42,817 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 492 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $43,481 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 8 |
| 18 | Indiana | $43,334 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 60 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $43,941 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 13 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $42,401 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 46 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $42,017 | $30,000 | 1,920,076 | 31 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $42,987 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 8 |
| 23 | Missouri | $43,045 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 72 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $40,457 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 38 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,381 | $30,000 | 9,962,311 | 87 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $37,411 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 497 |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,057 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 5 |
| 28 | Maine | $41,247 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 10 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $42,184 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 13 |
| 30 | Vermont | $39,863 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 10 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $37,766 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 177 |
| 32 | Washington | $39,244 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 98 |
| 33 | Oregon | $38,350 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 62 |
| 34 | Georgia | $37,442 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 160 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $41,166 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 8 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $37,783 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 166 |
| 37 | Florida | $39,747 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 173 |
| 38 | Maryland | $38,257 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 89 |
| 39 | Alabama | $33,199 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 521 |
| 40 | Montana | $33,931 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 31 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $36,987 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 47 |
| 42 | New Jersey | $34,735 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 188 |
| 43 | Illinois | $33,128 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 201 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $35,949 | $25,000 | 5,024,369 | 40 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $33,887 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 10 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $33,072 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 124 |
| 47 | Virginia | $34,412 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 126 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $32,255 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 93 |
| 49 | Kansas | $30,212 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 41 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $30,944 | $22,000 | 579,315 | 7 |
| 51 | Iowa | $29,970 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 46 |
Highest paying states for youth directors
| Rank | State | Avg. Youth Director Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $44,998 |
| 2 | California | $56,281 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $44,413 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $55,971 |
| 5 | Nevada | $48,516 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $45,523 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $43,607 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $44,951 |
| 9 | Alaska | $43,454 |
| 10 | Texas | $42,991 |
| 11 | Colorado | $43,303 |
| 12 | Arizona | $42,046 |
| 13 | Utah | $43,316 |
| 14 | Ohio | $43,369 |
| 15 | Delaware | $46,204 |
| 16 | New York | $42,817 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $43,481 |
| 18 | Indiana | $43,334 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $43,941 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $42,401 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $42,017 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $42,987 |
| 23 | Missouri | $43,045 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $40,457 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,381 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $37,411 |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,057 |
| 28 | Maine | $41,247 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $42,184 |
| 30 | Vermont | $39,863 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $37,766 |
| 32 | Washington | $39,244 |
| 33 | Oregon | $38,350 |
| 34 | Georgia | $37,442 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $41,166 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $37,783 |
| 37 | Florida | $39,747 |
| 38 | Maryland | $38,257 |
| 39 | Alabama | $33,199 |
| 40 | Montana | $33,931 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $36,987 |
| 42 | New Jersey | $34,735 |
| 43 | Illinois | $33,128 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $35,949 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $33,887 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $33,072 |
| 47 | Virginia | $34,412 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $32,255 |
| 49 | Kansas | $30,212 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $30,944 |
| 51 | Iowa | $29,970 |
Expert opinions on the best states for youth directors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth directors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.
Professor of Religion, The University of Findlay
We often tell Religious Studies majors to build bridges wherever they find themselves, including and especially their local communities, but at the same time, not to hesitate to venture beyond their "comfortable worlds" to unfamiliar places inundated with needs.
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Updated January 8, 2025