A new study has given each state their report card on how good of an environment it is for teachers.
Pennsylvania, you might like to know, ended up receiving high marks in this regard.
Conducted and published by WalletHub, the Keystone State ranked as the 16th overall best for teachers in the country. Pennsylvania also ranked fifth overall when it came to states with the best teacher salaries.
Pennsylvania’s ranking — as well as those of the other 49 states plus Washington D.C. — was determined after WalletHub researchers analyzed two key dimensions: “Opportunity & Competition” and “Academics & Work Environment.” Relevant sub-metrics including the aforementioned “Average Salary for Teachers” and “Quality of School System” were also taken into account.
It was Virginia, then, considering all of that, that ranked in first overall.
“Virginia is the best state for teachers, boasting the highest income growth potential in the country,” the report elaborates. “While Virginia ranks 14th in the nation for average starting salary for teachers ($47,466) and 21st for the average salary in general ($64,691), educators can end up seeing big gains throughout the course of their careers.
“Demand for teachers is also growing relatively quickly in Virginia. By 2023, the state is projected to have the 12th-lowest number of teachers per 1,000.”
Hawaii, in contrast, was ranked as the worst state for teachers in the U.S.
“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America — educating the next generation — teachers are often underpaid and under-appreciated,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
“The states that make a teaching career the most rewarding are those that compensate educators well, invest heavily in education resources, pass laws that improve school-system quality, and provide supportive conditions that lead to low turnover.”