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The Best and Worst States for Teachers

Feb 6, 2023

Teaching is a career that can bring great fulfillment, given the crucial role that educators play in shaping young minds. However, despite its importance, many teachers are faced with overwhelming workloads and inadequate pay.

The salary of teachers consistently falls behind inflation and is considered to be among the lowest-paying occupations that require a bachelor's degree. This, combined with the demand for student performance growth and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic creates a challenging environment for teachers.

A September 2022 study by WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 24 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. These indicators fit two main groups: “Opportunity & Competition” and “Academic & Work Environment.” As competitive salaries and job security are integral to a well-balanced personal and professional life, a heavier weight was assigned to the first category. The dataset ranges from teachers’ income growth potential to the pupil-teacher ratio to whether the state has a digital learning plan.

 






 

Main Findings

The table below summarizes and ranks overall state-by-state findings.

   

Overall Rank  State Total Score  Opportunity & Competition  Academic & Work Environment 
1 New York 59.33 5 3
2 Utah 57.38 2 12
3 Virginia 56.13 4 8
4 Florida 55.92 6 10
5 Washington 55.71 3 15
6 New Jersey 54.07 16 6
7 Pennsylvania 53.80 8 11
8 Massachusetts 53.21 18 4
9 Maryland 52.43 30 2
10 Connecticut 52.03 24 5
11 North Dakota 50.97 32 7
12 Delaware 50.42 43 1
13 Minnesota 49.99 13 20
14 Georgia 49.73 7 30
15 California 49.53 1 49
16 Illinois 49.28 10 25
17 Indiana 48.64 22 16
18 Alabama 48.28 11 31
19 Mississippi 47.40 12 34
20 Idaho 46.32 9 40
21 Kentucky 45.96 26 24
22 Wyoming 45.76 29 21
23 Texas 45.66 27 23
24 Iowa 45.11 33 22
25 Kansas 44.88 17 38
26 Ohio 44.67 19 35
27 Vermont 44.15 41 14
28 North Carolina 44.10 21 37
29 West Virginia 43.81 37 19
30 Oregon 43.76 20 39
31 Rhode Island 43.32 38 18
32 Nebraska 42.86 45 17
33 Wisconsin 42.76 35 27
34 Oklahoma 42.70 14 48
35 Arkansas 41.76 25 43
36 Colorado 41.64 39 26
37 Alaska 41.63 15 50
38 South Carolina 41.57 23 45
39 South Dakota 41.51 34 36
40 Michigan 41.25 40 28
41 Tennessee 41.15 36 33
42 Nevada 39.92 31 46
43 Montana 39.56 46 32
44 Maine 39.47 50 13
45 Louisiana 39.02 47 29
46 Missouri 37.59 44 41
47 New Mexico 37.41 28 51
48 Arizona 36.17 42 47
49 District of Columbia 35.94 48 42
50 New Hampshire 34.39 51 9
51 Hawaii 33.36 49 44



Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.


[ Full Methodology ]