Washington is the -best state for teachers, according to a new WalletHub study comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key measures of teacher-friendliness. The analysis considered factors ranging from income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratios to public-school funding per student.
While teaching can be an incredibly rewarding career, conditions for teachers can vary drastically from state to state. Many educators are overworked and underpaid. Education remains one of the lowest-paying occupations requiring a bachelor's degree, and teacher salaries have not kept pace with inflation. Adjusted for inflation, teachers make 5% less today than they did 10 years ago.
“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America — educating the next generation — teachers are often underpaid and underappreciated. 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,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
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In-Depth Look at Washington
Washington is the best state for teachers overall, in large part because it offers some of the most competitive pay in the country. The state has the second-highest average annual teacher salary after adjusting for the cost of living, at $83,938, along with the fourth-highest average starting salary, at $52,713. Pay has also grown quickly, with Washington seeing the biggest jump in teacher salaries of any state over the past decade, up more than 83% since 2016.
Washington does have some shortcomings, though. For example, its classrooms are among the most crowded in the country, with the sixth-highest pupil-teacher ratio, at roughly 18 students for every teacher. And despite its great salaries, it has the 16th-smallest teacher pensions after adjusting for the cost of living. Teachers also have the 14th-longest average commute.
How Washington Ranks in Other Key Metrics
- Sixth: Teacher tenure protections
- 11th: Projected number of teachers per capita by 2034 (fewer = better rank)
- 28th: School-system quality
- 32nd: Share of teachers who feel supported and encouraged by school administration
WalletHub's study groups the metrics into two categories: Opportunity & Competition, which makes up 70% of the total scoring, and Academic & Work Environment, which makes up the other 30%. Washington ranks first for Opportunity & Competition and 11th for Academic & Work Environment, which puts it in first place overall out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Best States for Teachers
Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Opportunity & Competition Rank | Academic & Work Environment Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Washington | 61.60 | 1 | 11 |
2 | New York | 60.78 | 8 | 1 |
3 | Virginia | 58.78 | 5 | 9 |
4 | Illinois | 55.84 | 3 | 25 |
5 | Utah | 55.58 | 6 | 18 |
6 | Georgia | 55.03 | 4 | 26 |
7 | Maryland | 54.80 | 25 | 3 |
8 | New Jersey | 53.77 | 21 | 6 |
9 | California | 53.76 | 2 | 44 |
10 | Connecticut | 52.79 | 34 | 4 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
