International World Teachers Day

With October 5 being International World Teachers Day and in recognition of the key role that educators play in our children's lives, WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015's Best and Worst States for Teachers. In order to help educators find the best teaching opportunities in the country and draw attention to the states needing improvement in this regard, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 13 key metrics, ranging from average starting salary to unemployment rate to the projected number of teachers per student by 2022.

Best States for Teachers

1. Massachusetts
2. Virginia
3. Minnesota
4. Wyoming
5. New Jersey
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Pennsylvania
9. Kansas
10. Maryland

Worst States for Teachers

42. South Dakota
43. New Mexico
44. Rhode Island
45. South Carolina
46. Hawaii
47. Oregon
48. Mississippi
49. Arizona
50. North Carolina
51. West Virginia

Key Statistics

• The average starting salary for teachers is two times higher in Wyoming than in Hawaii.
• The median annual salary for teachers is two times higher in Michigan than in Hawaii.
• The projected number of teachers per student by year 2022 is three times higher in North Dakota than in Nevada.
• The pupil-to-teacher ratio is two times higher in California than in Vermont.
• Public school spending per student is three times higher in Vermont than in Arizona.