New WalletHub report reveals ‘2023’s Best and Worst States for Teachers’
World Teacher’s Day 2023 is Thursday, October 5. And with that auspicious day of honoring our teachers right around the corner, it’s important to note that teachers today are actually earning an average of $3,644 less per year than they did 10 years ago, after their salaries are adjusted for inflation. On September 18, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States for Teachers, and also shared some expert commentary.
In order to help educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments in the U.S., WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key metrics, ranging from teachers’ income growth potential to the pupil-teacher ratio to public-school spending per student. Below, see the results of that study.
| Best States for Teachers | Worst States for Teachers | |
| 1. Virginia | 42. Tennessee | |
| 2. New York | 43. Rhode Island | |
| 3. Utah | 44. New Mexico | |
| 4. Washington | 45. Missouri | |
| 5. Florida | 46. Vermont | |
| 6. Maryland | 47. Nevada | |
| 7. Massachusetts | 48. Maine | |
| 8. North Dakota | 49. Hawaii | |
| 9. New Jersey | 50. District of Columbia | |
| 10. Georgia | 51. New Hampshire |
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Best vs. Worst
- Texas has the highest annual average starting salary for teachers (adjusted for cost of living), $47,168, which is 1.5 times higher than in Montana, the state with the lowest at $32,319.
- New York has the highest average annual salary for public-school teachers (adjusted for cost of living), $81,079, which is 1.8 times higher than in Hawaii, the state with the lowest at $44,596.
- Alaska has the lowest projected number of teachers per 1,000 students by the year 2030 (indicating the size of competition), 22, which is six times lower than in the District of Columbia, which has the highest at 132.
- Vermont has the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, 10.54, which is 2.1 times lower than in Utah, the state with the highest at 22.39.
- New York has the highest public-school spending per student, $31,299, which is 3.3 times higher than in Idaho, the state with the lowest at $9,524.
To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-teachers/7159.
Methodology:
In order to determine the teacher-friendliest states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, “Opportunity & Competition” and “Academic & Work Environment.” Because competitive salaries and job security are integral to a well-balanced personal and professional life, we assigned a heavier weight to the first category.
We evaluated the two dimensions using 24 relevant metrics, which are listed in the report with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for living and working as a teacher.
Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states. ~ WalletHub
Expert Commentary:
Question, “What are the biggest issues teachers face today?”
“I think some of the biggest issues facing teachers today center around the idea that they must do more with fewer resources. For example, it has been discussed heavily in recent years how teachers remain underpaid despite the most important role they have in developing our next cadre of leaders, doctors, lawyers, and scientists. Along with this teachers are still supporting students dealing with crises including the impact of COVID-19 which has dramatically shaped how schools run.”
Ramon Goings – Associate Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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Question, “Do you think performance-based compensation — e.g., providing teachers a bonus when their students meet or exceed expectations — is a promising strategy for improving student outcomes?”
“Paying teachers for improving student academic performance is not a new idea and has not been especially effective in the states where it has been implemented. A better strategy is just increasing teacher base pay and then giving districts the flexibility to pay teachers off the salary scale to entice them to work with high-needs students or in hard-to-fill subjects. An even better strategy would be to compensate teachers through low-interest mortgages and by funding education savings accounts for teachers’ children to attend college and post-secondary education.”
Gary W. Houchens, Ph.D. – Director, Educational Leadership Doctoral Program; Professor, Western Kentucky University
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Question, “What tips can you offer young teachers looking for a place to settle?”
“Do not settle for the first place that offers you a job. There is a teacher shortage. Be picky. Read WalletHub’s article Best & Worst States for Teachers. I assign that to my students each semester. Make sure you work for a school that has an outstanding principal and sufficient support staff. Work in a community that, as much as possible, mirrors your social/political/cultural values. Work in a community that has a history of supporting school levies, etc.”
Mark T. Haynal – Professor and Chair, Teacher Education and Mathematics Division, Lewis-Clark State College
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(Source: WalletHub)
(Cover image clipart, Image credit: Clipartix)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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