Best states for a Kindergarten Teacher

Q: What is the best state for kindergarten teachers?

The best state to be a kindergarten teacher is Pennsylvania based on kindergarten teacher salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for kindergarten teachers?

The highest paying state for kindergarten teachers is Maine based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for kindergarten teachers?

The worst state for kindergarten teachers is Maine, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted Expert

Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for kindergarten teachers in the United States. Kindergarten teacher 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 kindergarten teachers.Our research found that Pennsylvania is the best state for kindergarten teachers, while Hawaii and Delaware are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Pennsylvania has a median salary of $49,956 and Hawaii has the highest median salary among all 50 states for kindergarten teachers.

The median salary for kindergarten teachers in Pennsylvania is $49,956. Compare that to the median salary in Maine of $42,574, which ranked worst for kindergarten teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.If you are currently seeking employment as a kindergarten teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for kindergarten teachers in 2025

1. Pennsylvania
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 864
Average Annual Salary: $49,956
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Pennsylvania
2. Michigan
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 789
Average Annual Salary: $48,108
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Michigan
3. Nevada
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 572
Average Annual Salary: $47,951
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
3.37
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Nevada
4. Delaware
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 107
Average Annual Salary: $50,162
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Delaware
5. New Jersey
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 1,128
Average Annual Salary: $49,776
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.75
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in New Jersey
6. Connecticut
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 413
Average Annual Salary: $48,787
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.53
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Connecticut
7. Arizona
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 847
Average Annual Salary: $47,225
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.78
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Arizona
8. Maryland
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 822
Average Annual Salary: $49,972
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $68,000
Location Quotient:
1.6
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Maryland
9. Indiana
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 553
Average Annual Salary: $46,285
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.04
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Indiana
10. Ohio
Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs: 633
Average Annual Salary: $47,876
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
0.76
Kindergarten Teacher Jobs in Ohio

Kindergarten Teacher JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a kindergarten teacher

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

Detailed list of the best states for a kindergarten teacher

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	Pennsylvania	$49,956	$36,000	12,805,537	864
2	Michigan	$48,108	$35,000	9,962,311	789
3	Nevada	$47,951	$35,000	2,998,039	572
4	Delaware	$50,162	$36,000	961,939	107
5	New Jersey	$49,776	$36,000	9,005,644	1,128
6	Connecticut	$48,787	$36,000	3,588,184	413
7	Arizona	$47,225	$35,000	7,016,270	847
8	Maryland	$49,972	$36,000	6,052,177	822
9	Indiana	$46,285	$34,000	6,666,818	553
10	Ohio	$47,876	$34,000	11,658,609	633
11	District of Columbia	$49,811	$36,000	693,972	162
12	New Mexico	$46,219	$34,000	2,088,070	230
13	New York	$49,453	$36,000	19,849,399	1,075
14	West Virginia	$47,997	$35,000	1,815,857	27
15	North Carolina	$46,303	$34,000	10,273,419	779
16	Illinois	$46,245	$34,000	12,802,023	1,515
17	Oklahoma	$45,139	$34,000	3,930,864	264
18	Wisconsin	$46,521	$34,000	5,795,483	323
19	Virginia	$48,954	$35,000	8,470,020	649
20	Rhode Island	$47,702	$35,000	1,059,639	52
21	Kansas	$44,985	$34,000	2,913,123	250
22	Tennessee	$45,155	$34,000	6,715,984	365
23	New Hampshire	$45,277	$34,000	1,342,795	214
24	Texas	$45,727	$35,000	28,304,596	1,535
25	Minnesota	$45,591	$34,000	5,576,606	630
26	Kentucky	$45,654	$34,000	4,454,189	132
27	South Carolina	$45,154	$34,000	5,024,369	340
28	California	$48,708	$36,000	39,536,653	1,805
29	Massachusetts	$46,637	$35,000	6,859,819	718
30	Arkansas	$44,984	$34,000	3,004,279	138
31	Missouri	$45,050	$34,000	6,113,532	418
32	Colorado	$45,094	$34,000	5,607,154	695
33	Iowa	$45,140	$33,000	3,145,711	241
34	Utah	$45,565	$34,000	3,101,833	125
35	Oregon	$46,589	$34,000	4,142,776	226
36	Florida	$44,913	$35,000	20,984,400	1,324
37	Nebraska	$44,647	$33,000	1,920,076	182
38	Alabama	$44,692	$34,000	4,874,747	157
39	Mississippi	$44,771	$34,000	2,984,100	107
40	Georgia	$44,817	$34,000	10,429,379	723
41	Louisiana	$45,090	$34,000	4,684,333	188
42	Alaska	$47,884	$40,000	739,795	19
43	Hawaii	$51,279	$44,000	1,427,538	13
44	Idaho	$44,888	$33,000	1,716,943	106
45	Wyoming	$44,472	$33,000	579,315	41
46	Montana	$43,725	$33,000	1,050,493	132
47	South Dakota	$44,471	$33,000	869,666	19
48	Washington	$45,343	$33,000	7,405,743	430
49	North Dakota	$44,272	$33,000	755,393	27
50	Vermont	$43,413	$33,000	623,657	48
51	Maine	$42,574	$33,000	1,335,907	46

Highest paying states for kindergarten teachers

Rank	State	Avg. Kindergarten Teacher Salary
1	Pennsylvania	$49,956
2	Michigan	$48,108
3	Nevada	$47,951
4	Delaware	$50,162
5	New Jersey	$49,776
6	Connecticut	$48,787
7	Arizona	$47,225
8	Maryland	$49,972
9	Indiana	$46,285
10	Ohio	$47,876
11	District of Columbia	$49,811
12	New Mexico	$46,219
13	New York	$49,453
14	West Virginia	$47,997
15	North Carolina	$46,303
16	Illinois	$46,245
17	Oklahoma	$45,139
18	Wisconsin	$46,521
19	Virginia	$48,954
20	Rhode Island	$47,702
21	Kansas	$44,985
22	Tennessee	$45,155
23	New Hampshire	$45,277
24	Texas	$45,727
25	Minnesota	$45,591
26	Kentucky	$45,654
27	South Carolina	$45,154
28	California	$48,708
29	Massachusetts	$46,637
30	Arkansas	$44,984
31	Missouri	$45,050
32	Colorado	$45,094
33	Iowa	$45,140
34	Utah	$45,565
35	Oregon	$46,589
36	Florida	$44,913
37	Nebraska	$44,647
38	Alabama	$44,692
39	Mississippi	$44,771
40	Georgia	$44,817
41	Louisiana	$45,090
42	Alaska	$47,884
43	Hawaii	$51,279
44	Idaho	$44,888
45	Wyoming	$44,472
46	Montana	$43,725
47	South Dakota	$44,471
48	Washington	$45,343
49	North Dakota	$44,272
50	Vermont	$43,413
51	Maine	$42,574

Expert opinions on the best states for kindergarten teachers

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Kindergarten Teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.

Kindergarten Teacher best states FAQs

What is the best state for kindergarten teachers?

What is the highest paying state for kindergarten teachers?

What is the worst state for kindergarten teachers?

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Kindergarten Teacher
Best states for Kindergarten Teachers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total Kindergarten Teacher Jobs:	864
Average Annual Salary:	$49,956
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$68,000
Location Quotient:	0.91

Best states for a Kindergarten Teacher

10 best states for kindergarten teachers in 2025

1. Pennsylvania

2. Michigan

3. Nevada

4. Delaware

5. New Jersey

6. Connecticut

7. Arizona

8. Maryland

9. Indiana

10. Ohio