The 5 best states in America for teachers — and the 5 worst Where teachers are more likely to thrive — or struggle — has a lot to do with where they live and work

Teaching is often hailed as a “noble calling” — yet for many educators, passion alone is not enough to sustain a career in challenging environments. Issues like low pay, heavy workloads, burnout, lack of support, and inequitable resource allocation plague many school systems. The Quartz article draws on a study by WalletHub that ranks all 50 states plus the District of Columbia according to their “teacher‑friendliness,” using 24 metrics across two main dimensions:

1. Opportunity & Competition — measures such as salary, benefits, job security, and income growth potential.

2. Academic & Work Environment — considers student–teacher ratio, state spending per pupil, school quality, and working conditions. 

By doing so, the ranking aims to highlight which states create more favorable conditions for teachers to thrive, and which lag behind.

What the Rankings Show: Best and Worst States for Teachers

The article identifies the five best states and the five worst for teachers, along with some nuance in between.

Top States for Teachers

1. Virginia (Ranked #1)

   • Starting salary: ~$47,466

   • Strong 10‑year growth in pay (≈37 %)

   • Favorable student–teacher ratio (13.4:1)

   • Good investment per student (~$16,879)

   • Tenure after three years, backed by legal protections 

2. Utah (#2)

   • High starting salary (~$53,748)

   • Solid average pay

   • Rapid salary growth over the past decade

   • Some challenges: high student‑teacher ratio (~20.6:1) and relatively low per-pupil spending (~$11,960) 

3. Washington (#3)

   • Strong pay and excellent decade-long increases (≈75 % rise)

   • Substantial state investment in education

   • Slightly above-average class sizes (17.5:1) 

4. New York (#4)

   • Relatively modest starting salary, but the highest average in the country (~$85,096)

   • Among the lowest student‑teacher ratios (~11.6:1)

   • High per-student spending (~$33,075) 

5. Illinois (#5)

   • Average pay is high (~$76,120)

   • Pension benefits strong

   • Reasonable student‑teacher ratio (13.5:1) 

These states tend to balance both strong compensation and supportive educational infrastructure.

Lowest-Ranked States

1. Hawaii (Worst)

   • Starting salary around ~$34,752, average ~$49,761

   • Teachers face a high cost of living

   • Tenure and protections are weaker than average 

2. Montana (#2 worst)

   • Low starting pay (~$34,311)

   • Modest salary growth over the decade (~22 %)

   • Relatively weak school quality and retention metrics

3. Maine (#3 worst)

   • Low average pay (~$53,590)

   • While class sizes are small and per-pupil spending is moderate, school quality and teacher retention still suffer in 

   • New Hampshire (#4 worst)

4. • Low average and starting salaries

   • Long tenure period (five years)

   • Weaker protections for teachers 

5. South Dakota (#5 worst)

   • Average pay ~$56,509

   • Many new teachers do not gain retirement contributions

   • Low per-student spending (~$13,485)

In these states, weak compensation, limited protections, and underinvestment combine to create very challenging environments for educators.

Analysis and Implications

1. Compensation Still Matters — But Not Alone

Intuitively, salary is a major factor in teachers’ satisfaction and retention. However, the ranking clearly shows that compensation alone doesn’t guarantee a high ranking. For example, Utah has comparatively modest average pay relative to New York or Illinois, but its fast growth, decent starting salaries, and protections lift it high in the rankings. Conversely, a state might offer competitive nominal pay but lag in protections, benefits, or work environment, which drags it down.

2. Teacher Protections, Tenure, and Job Security Are Crucial

States that grant tenure more quickly and support strong job protections tend to fare better in the rankings. Teachers often cite the risk of arbitrary dismissal, political interference, and job instability as factors pushing them out of the profession. States that institutionalizing stronger protections helps reduce anxiety and turnover.

3. Resource Allocation and Class Size Make a Difference

Smaller class sizes, higher per-pupil spending, and robust school infrastructure (e.g., facilities, support staff, materials) improve working conditions. Teachers can focus more on pedagogy when burdened less by overcrowded classes or resource shortages. Some top-ranked states invest heavily in these areas (e.g., New York’s ~$33,000 per pupil). 

4. Geographic & Economic Realities Affect the Interpretation

Some states ranked “low” suffer from structural disadvantages: sparse populations, small tax bases, difficulty attracting talent, or cost-of-living pressures. For example, while Hawaii ranks worst in teacher-friendliness, the high cost of living in many parts of the state makes salaries much less competitive in real terms.

Likewise, states with booming economies or high property values can afford more generous budgets for education. The ranking, while illuminating, must be read within each state's socioeconomic context.

5. Policy Levers & Political Will Are Decisive

Underlying these outcomes are political choices: how much a state prioritizes education funding, taxation approaches, union strength, legislative support for teacher protections, and collective bargaining laws. Over time, shifts in governance, public priorities, and budget allocations can move a state’s ranking dramatically.

The Quartz article’s presentation of the WalletHub study offers a valuable comparative snapshot: where in the U.S., teachers are most likely to find favorable working conditions in 2025, and where they are most likely to struggle. The gap between the best and worst states is wide in pay, benefits, protections, and overall support.

For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: to attract and retain quality educators, states must do more than raise salaries. They need to create holistic ecosystems: stable employment, strong protections, adequate resources, manageable workloads, and supportive professional environments.

For teachers and prospective educators, such rankings can inform decisions about where to teach, how far relocation might pay off, and which states might offer long-term career viability.

If you like, I can also provide a comparative chart, critique the methodology, or relate these U.S. findings to teacher conditions in other countries (or even Romania). Would you like me to expand in any of those directions?