I am looking for a place to get a Master's in teaching. I want to work in a place in America where teachers can live comfortably (pay is great and the cost of living is not too expensive). I most likely will become an ESL teacher as I have taught English in foreign countries and I hear that ESL teachers are in demand.
I know that teachers in Illinois have good salaries, but I'm thinking that it is difficult to get a teaching job in Chicago (is it easier to get a teaching job there if you teach ESL)?
It is important to me to teach in an area that is friendly. I know that North Carolina has friendly places, but I hear that the pay is not good there...So, anyway, I'm so torn...I am open to moving North, South, East, West, Midwest...You name it!
I'm not saying that I speak another language. I want to teach ESOL, as an American. I know Spanish, but I am not fluent.

There are a lot of places to teach! Call around to see what is out there! Investigate!

try new york

You will want to stay away from the large cities, where the cost of living is high, like NY and San Francisco. Look for more moderately sized cities, like Portland, OR, that have a good standard of living and are affordable.

Try this website to narrow down to some places (it's a fun quiz, too): http://www.findyourspot.com/

Then I would research average teacher salaries in that area. After that, look for a university with a good education program. I'm thinking it makes more sense to locate a city first, then the school, because your ultimate goal is to live and work there, not just go to school there.

You don't say what languages you speak, but Spanish would be ideal. ESL teachers aren't always bilingual though.