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New York has claimed the top spot as the best state for teachers in the United States, according to a report released by WalletHub on Monday.
The personal finance website’s annual study compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across 24 key indicators of teacher-friendliness, including income growth potential, pupil-teacher ratio and public school spending per student.
The Empire State’s high ranking comes as welcome news in a profession often characterized by low pay and high stress.
“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America – educating the next generation – teachers are often underpaid and under appreciated,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “The states that make a teaching career the most rewarding are those that compensate educators well, invest heavily in educational resources, pass laws that improve school-system quality, and provide supportive conditions that lead to low turnover.”
New York excelled in several key areas, including the highest average annual salary for public school teachers after adjusting for cost of living, at $82,571. The state also boasts the strongest tenure protections in the country and the lowest teacher turnover rate at just 4.3%.
Following New York in the rankings are Washington, Virginia, Utah and Maryland, rounding out the top five. Maine, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Nevada and Tennessee were ranked as the five worst states for teachers.
Top 10
Below are the top 10 best states for teachers according to WalletHub’s report:
- New York
- Washington
- Virginia
- Utah
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Georgia
- Florida
- California
- Indiana
Top photo: Connetquot Central School District/Facebook
