Who's Hiring? The Best Places to Find Teaching Jobs

Teaching jobs are on the upswing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s right, the BLS states that elementary school teacher job positions are expected to grow at a 12 percent from 2012 to 2022.

That’s a great increase, especially considering that teaching jobs were in such rocky shape following the 2008 economic recession, when many state governments were forced to cut education funding, resulting in many teacher layoffs. But teaching jobs are again on the rise as the country rebounds from the economic difficulty. There’s slated to be increases in student enrollment in various parts of the country, which will force districts to hire more teachers. Another reason for the decline is legislation that makes it easier for older teachers to retire sooner, thereby opening the door for younger — and cheaper — professionals as well as legislation mandating districts to have smaller class sizes.

The average teacher salary in 2012 was around $50,120, however salaries range based on location, experience and education level. Teachers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Some teachers receive vacation time off during the summer, as well as the usual holiday breaks during the school year. Plus, there’s the opportunity to teach summer school, a nice way to get more experience, work with a smaller class size, and make a little extra money.

Here’s a look at five places that are most in need of qualified professionals to educate students in the classroom:

Georgia

Atlanta and Savannah both offer great opportunities for teaching positions in Georgia. Georgia’s location is ideal because of its proximity to other southern states. There is also a big population of families living in the suburban areas of the state, and when there are more families, there are more students — and someone has to teach them. The starting teacher salary for this state is $33, 664, and the average salary for K-12 teachers is $52,880.

Visit the Georgia Department of Education website.

Texas

Texas has emerged in recent years as a popular state for businesses and jobs. Given the many bustling big cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, there are many of families, and children to accommodate in the classroom. Just this year, 25 Texas schools were nominated and honored with the Blue Ribbon Schools recognition award, because of their high performing students. Average salaries for K-12 teachers in Texas are $48,819.

Visit the Texas Education Agency website.

Washington

Washington has more recently attracted professionals working in high-tech industries. Given the major companies that call this state home, Microsoft, Boeing, and Amazon, there has been an influx of families moving to the Pacific Northwest. With more families, there is a bigger need for teachers. Data from 2012-2013 shows that Washington’s hiring rates rose 43 percent.

Visit the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website.

Arizona

Aside from the natural beauty all over the state, Arizona is a growing state with many families and students to accommodate. Data from 2012-2013 shows that there was a 61 percent hiring increase for K-12 staff in the state. The state of Arizona has several thriving cities worth exploring for interested teachers including Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff and Tucson.

Visit the Arizona Department of Education website.

Colorado

The Colorado Department of Education website states their main focus for all students is to prepare all learners to succeed in a rapidly changing global workplace. Just this year, six Colorado schools were awarded the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honor. The 2010 U.S. Census states that there was a 38 percent increase in students for the states.

Visit the Colorado Department of Education website.

North Carolina

What do you get with a booming population? Why, an increase in student enrollment, which means an increased teacher demand. That’s how North Carolina has been for nearly a decade and this trend is holding true today. There was a 61 percent increase of hired K-12 staff from 2012-2013. These trends, given the thriving population, should last.

Visit the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website.

Florida

Florida schools have always had large class sizes, but legislation that’s been recently passed in the state requires decreased class sizes to facilitate more student-teacher engagement. What does this mean? Florida school districts are looking for more teachers to fall within these new requirements.

Visit the Florida Department of Education website.

Oregon

The state of Oregon is attracting young professionals, and their families in search of urban diversity and opportunity amongst the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Among the state’s major cities, there are numerous school districts lying within the suburban boundaries. Data from 2012-2013 show that hiring for K-12 staff rose 47 percent.

Visit the Oregon Department of Education website.