Best states for a youth mentor

Q: What is the best state for youth mentors?

The best state to be a youth mentor is Maine based on youth mentor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for youth mentors?

The highest paying state for youth mentors is Montana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for youth mentors?

The worst state for youth mentors is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Louis Stulman Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a youth mentor and really want to work at Boys & Girls Clubs of America? Turns out, your chances to become a youth mentor are better in some states than others.Our research shows that Maine is the best state in the country for youth mentors.

Maine is the best state for jobs for youth mentors, and Alabama is the worst. The most common pay in Maine is $39,123, while the median pay in Alabama is $23,964.We found that the South is best for youth mentors, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for youth mentor jobs, where as Maine is the best state in the country.

10 best states for youth mentors in 2026

1. Maine
Total youth mentor jobs: 233
Average annual salary: $39,123
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.77
Youth mentor jobs in Maine
2. Connecticut
Total youth mentor jobs: 369
Average annual salary: $35,920
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Youth mentor jobs in Connecticut
3. Maryland
Total youth mentor jobs: 947
Average annual salary: $34,965
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Youth mentor jobs in Maryland
4. Hawaii
Total youth mentor jobs: 132
Average annual salary: $37,866
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.59
Youth mentor jobs in Hawaii
5. Illinois
Total youth mentor jobs: 1,181
Average annual salary: $34,632
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1
Youth mentor jobs in Illinois
6. Michigan
Total youth mentor jobs: 852
Average annual salary: $31,889
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Youth mentor jobs in Michigan
7. Massachusetts
Total youth mentor jobs: 2,458
Average annual salary: $32,285
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
2.7
Youth mentor jobs in Massachusetts
8. California
Total youth mentor jobs: 3,313
Average annual salary: $35,150
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Youth mentor jobs in California
9. North Dakota
Total youth mentor jobs: 75
Average annual salary: $35,073
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Youth mentor jobs in North Dakota
10. New Jersey
Total youth mentor jobs: 911
Average annual salary: $32,894
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Youth mentor jobs in New Jersey

Youth mentor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth mentor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a youth mentor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maine	$39,123	$32,000	1,335,907	233
2	Connecticut	$35,920	$29,000	3,588,184	369
3	Maryland	$34,965	$27,000	6,052,177	947
4	Hawaii	$37,866	$33,000	1,427,538	132
5	Illinois	$34,632	$27,000	12,802,023	1,181
6	Michigan	$31,889	$25,000	9,962,311	852
7	Massachusetts	$32,285	$26,000	6,859,819	2,458
8	California	$35,150	$28,000	39,536,653	3,313
9	North Dakota	$35,073	$28,000	755,393	75
10	New Jersey	$32,894	$26,000	9,005,644	911
11	Nevada	$32,860	$26,000	2,998,039	185
12	District of Columbia	$44,379	$34,000	693,972	101
13	New York	$32,531	$26,000	19,849,399	1,684
14	Delaware	$33,337	$26,000	961,939	106
15	Arkansas	$30,184	$24,000	3,004,279	292
16	Minnesota	$31,332	$25,000	5,576,606	647
17	Pennsylvania	$29,888	$23,000	12,805,537	1,165
18	Vermont	$30,757	$25,000	623,657	70
19	Wisconsin	$31,437	$25,000	5,795,483	383
20	Washington	$30,180	$25,000	7,405,743	826
21	Nebraska	$28,857	$23,000	1,920,076	236
22	Mississippi	$29,182	$23,000	2,984,100	194
23	Idaho	$29,042	$24,000	1,716,943	165
24	Kansas	$30,084	$24,000	2,913,123	207
25	Ohio	$30,264	$23,000	11,658,609	686
26	Colorado	$29,828	$24,000	5,607,154	652
27	Oregon	$30,309	$25,000	4,142,776	358
28	Rhode Island	$28,476	$23,000	1,059,639	126
29	Texas	$29,330	$23,000	28,304,596	1,375
30	Alaska	$27,771	$24,000	739,795	177
31	Arizona	$27,429	$22,000	7,016,270	670
32	Missouri	$28,685	$23,000	6,113,532	428
33	North Carolina	$28,474	$22,000	10,273,419	598
34	Iowa	$27,055	$21,000	3,145,711	317
35	New Hampshire	$27,691	$22,000	1,342,795	159
36	Wyoming	$26,383	$21,000	579,315	58
37	Florida	$27,367	$21,000	20,984,400	1,484
38	Utah	$27,456	$22,000	3,101,833	253
39	Tennessee	$27,138	$21,000	6,715,984	375
40	New Mexico	$26,420	$21,000	2,088,070	191
41	West Virginia	$26,443	$20,000	1,815,857	108
42	Oklahoma	$26,558	$21,000	3,930,864	268
43	Kentucky	$26,081	$20,000	4,454,189	279
44	Virginia	$27,380	$21,000	8,470,020	660
45	Montana	$23,617	$19,000	1,050,493	147
46	Louisiana	$26,079	$20,000	4,684,333	258
47	Indiana	$25,443	$20,000	6,666,818	552
48	South Carolina	$26,149	$20,000	5,024,369	315
49	South Dakota	$24,185	$19,000	869,666	90
50	Georgia	$24,491	$19,000	10,429,379	753
51	Alabama	$23,964	$19,000	4,874,747	230

Highest paying states for youth mentors

Rank	State	Avg. Youth Mentor Salary
1	Maine	$39,123
2	Connecticut	$35,920
3	Maryland	$34,965
4	Hawaii	$37,866
5	Illinois	$34,632
6	Michigan	$31,889
7	Massachusetts	$32,285
8	California	$35,150
9	North Dakota	$35,073
10	New Jersey	$32,894
11	Nevada	$32,860
12	District of Columbia	$44,379
13	New York	$32,531
14	Delaware	$33,337
15	Arkansas	$30,184
16	Minnesota	$31,332
17	Pennsylvania	$29,888
18	Vermont	$30,757
19	Wisconsin	$31,437
20	Washington	$30,180
21	Nebraska	$28,857
22	Mississippi	$29,182
23	Idaho	$29,042
24	Kansas	$30,084
25	Ohio	$30,264
26	Colorado	$29,828
27	Oregon	$30,309
28	Rhode Island	$28,476
29	Texas	$29,330
30	Alaska	$27,771
31	Arizona	$27,429
32	Missouri	$28,685
33	North Carolina	$28,474
34	Iowa	$27,055
35	New Hampshire	$27,691
36	Wyoming	$26,383
37	Florida	$27,367
38	Utah	$27,456
39	Tennessee	$27,138
40	New Mexico	$26,420
41	West Virginia	$26,443
42	Oklahoma	$26,558
43	Kentucky	$26,081
44	Virginia	$27,380
45	Montana	$23,617
46	Louisiana	$26,079
47	Indiana	$25,443
48	South Carolina	$26,149
49	South Dakota	$24,185
50	Georgia	$24,491
51	Alabama	$23,964

Expert opinions on the best states for youth mentors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth mentors 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 mentor best states FAQs

What is the best state for youth mentors?

What is the highest paying state for youth mentors?

What is the worst state for youth mentors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for youth mentor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total youth mentor jobs:	233
Average annual salary:	$39,123
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$32,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$47,000
Location Quotient:	1.77

Best states for a youth mentor

10 best states for youth mentors in 2026

1. Maine

2. Connecticut

3. Maryland

4. Hawaii

5. Illinois

6. Michigan

7. Massachusetts

8. California

9. North Dakota

10. New Jersey