Giving Compass' Take:

• Research from WalletHub ranks the best and worst states to be a teacher - relying on indicators including pay and safety. 

• What are the implications of teacher treatment for student outcomes? What are the most important improvements for districts and states to make? How can funders help states better serve teachers and students? 

• Learn about declining teacher salaries. 

Teaching can be a profoundly rewarding career, considering the critical role educators play in shaping young minds. But many teachers find themselves overworked and underpaid. Education jobs are among the lowest-paying occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree, and teacher salaries consistently fail to keep up with inflation. Meanwhile, the Every Student Succeeds Act demands growth in student performance.

In some states, however, teachers are more fairly paid and treated than in others. Those states are less likely to face a revolving door of teacher turnover. To help America’s educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 22 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. Our data set ranges from teachers’ income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratio to teacher safety. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

Top 5: 

  1. Ney York
  2. Connecticut
  3. Minnesota
  4. Illinois
  5. North Dakota

Bottom 5: 

  1. Hawaii
  2. Arizona
  3. North Carolina
  4. Louisiana
  5. Florida

Read the full article about teacher treatment by Adam McCann at Wallet Hub.