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Best states for a youth leader
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 leaders in the United States. Youth leader 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 leaders.Although there are abundant youth leader jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Pennsylvania is the best state in the country for youth leader jobs.
Pennsylvania is the best state for jobs for youth leaders, and Idaho is the worst. The most common pay in Pennsylvania is $33,586, while the median pay in Idaho is $21,363.If you are currently seeking employment as a youth leader, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for youth leaders in 2026
1. Pennsylvania
Total youth leader jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $33,586 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
2. New York
Total youth leader jobs: 356 Average annual salary: $31,289 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
3. Connecticut
Total youth leader jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $31,019 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
4. Massachusetts
Total youth leader jobs: 1,270 Average annual salary: $29,719 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location Quotient: 4.48
5. Maine
Total youth leader jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $31,753 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
6. New Jersey
Total youth leader jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $29,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
7. Illinois
Total youth leader jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $30,106 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.37
8. Ohio
Total youth leader jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $30,055 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.35
9. Wyoming
Total youth leader jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $26,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
10. California
Total youth leader jobs: 450 Average annual salary: $30,193 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.5
Youth leader jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth leader
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a youth leader
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $33,586 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 202 |
| 2 | New York | $31,289 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 356 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $31,019 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 53 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $29,719 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,270 |
| 5 | Maine | $31,753 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 19 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $29,160 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 169 |
| 7 | Illinois | $30,106 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 137 |
| 8 | Ohio | $30,055 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 109 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $26,588 | $20,000 | 579,315 | 23 |
| 10 | California | $30,193 | $23,000 | 39,536,653 | 450 |
| 11 | Oregon | $26,912 | $20,000 | 4,142,776 | 616 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $26,500 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 158 |
| 13 | Vermont | $28,899 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 10 |
| 14 | Michigan | $28,498 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 81 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $26,897 | $21,000 | 5,576,606 | 108 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $26,854 | $22,000 | 1,342,795 | 31 |
| 17 | Florida | $28,264 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 195 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $28,242 | $22,000 | 693,972 | 220 |
| 19 | Washington | $26,085 | $20,000 | 7,405,743 | 967 |
| 20 | Utah | $24,915 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 488 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $27,188 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 17 |
| 22 | Arizona | $25,534 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 137 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $28,793 | $25,000 | 1,427,538 | 31 |
| 24 | Maryland | $27,773 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 116 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $26,062 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 48 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $26,237 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 72 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $24,968 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 152 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $22,800 | $18,000 | 755,393 | 147 |
| 29 | Nevada | $23,520 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 45 |
| 30 | Delaware | $24,709 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 23 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $22,441 | $17,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $23,249 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 87 |
| 33 | Virginia | $25,039 | $19,000 | 8,470,020 | 132 |
| 34 | Kansas | $22,371 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 64 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $21,835 | $17,000 | 2,088,070 | 307 |
| 36 | Alaska | $21,402 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 166 |
| 37 | Montana | $22,140 | $17,000 | 1,050,493 | 176 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,895 | $17,000 | 28,304,596 | 310 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $22,691 | $17,000 | 3,004,279 | 34 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $22,884 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 43 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $23,050 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 51 |
| 42 | Colorado | $22,305 | $17,000 | 5,607,154 | 162 |
| 43 | Georgia | $23,960 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 99 |
| 44 | Indiana | $22,853 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 56 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $21,172 | $16,000 | 1,920,076 | 289 |
| 46 | Missouri | $22,570 | $17,000 | 6,113,532 | 67 |
| 47 | Iowa | $21,414 | $16,000 | 3,145,711 | 53 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $21,435 | $16,000 | 3,930,864 | 46 |
| 49 | Alabama | $21,563 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 57 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,481 | $16,000 | 2,984,100 | 15 |
| 51 | Idaho | $21,363 | $16,000 | 1,716,943 | 15 |
Highest paying states for youth leaders
| Rank | State | Avg. Youth Leader Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $33,586 |
| 2 | New York | $31,289 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $31,019 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $29,719 |
| 5 | Maine | $31,753 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $29,160 |
| 7 | Illinois | $30,106 |
| 8 | Ohio | $30,055 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $26,588 |
| 10 | California | $30,193 |
| 11 | Oregon | $26,912 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $26,500 |
| 13 | Vermont | $28,899 |
| 14 | Michigan | $28,498 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $26,897 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $26,854 |
| 17 | Florida | $28,264 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $28,242 |
| 19 | Washington | $26,085 |
| 20 | Utah | $24,915 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $27,188 |
| 22 | Arizona | $25,534 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $28,793 |
| 24 | Maryland | $27,773 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $26,062 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $26,237 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $24,968 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $22,800 |
| 29 | Nevada | $23,520 |
| 30 | Delaware | $24,709 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $22,441 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $23,249 |
| 33 | Virginia | $25,039 |
| 34 | Kansas | $22,371 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $21,835 |
| 36 | Alaska | $21,402 |
| 37 | Montana | $22,140 |
| 38 | Texas | $22,895 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $22,691 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $22,884 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $23,050 |
| 42 | Colorado | $22,305 |
| 43 | Georgia | $23,960 |
| 44 | Indiana | $22,853 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $21,172 |
| 46 | Missouri | $22,570 |
| 47 | Iowa | $21,414 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $21,435 |
| 49 | Alabama | $21,563 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,481 |
| 51 | Idaho | $21,363 |
Expert opinions on the best states for youth leaders
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth leaders 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.
Youth leader best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025