Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world – educating our youth to become the future of our world. For those who choose the career path to become a teacher, they know it may not be easy, but they are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of their students, whether they teach Pre-K or graduate school classes.

Many teachers don’t get the credit they deserve for doing such noble work. They may not be rightfully appreciated, paid very well, or work in an environment that provides the best atmosphere for them and their students. Others are luckier, with teaching/learning-conducive schools, fair pay, and are treated with the utmost respect, as they ought to be.

Depending on the U.S. state in which they teach, the opportunities and environments can be as different as night and day. That is why WalletHub‘s recent analysis of 2017’s best and worst states for teachers is eye-opening. The personal finance website compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to help educators find the best places in the country to teach based on 21 key metrics. These include annual salaries, teacher turnover rate, teacher-student ratio, school spending, the best and worst school systems, teacher safety, and more. WalletHub’s panel of experts reviewed and assessed the findings to determine which states were the best in terms of teacher-friendliness and which fared worst.

The top 5 states for teachers (#1 being the overall best):

• 1. New York
• 2. New Jersey
• 3. Illinois
• 4. Connecticut
• 5. Pennsylvania

The bottom 5 states for teachers (#1 being the overall worst):

• 1. Arizona
• 2. Hawaii
• 3. South Carolina
• 4. Mississippi
• 5. Florida

Did your state rank in the top or bottom 5? If you’re a teacher or aspire to get into the profession, will these findings make an impact on where you choose to teach?

While these states are not in the top 5, some notable standouts include:

Wyoming – ranked #8 overall. Here teachers earn the highest starting salary (cost of living adjustments considered). They make $47,185 at the start of their career on average.

Vermont – ranked #27 overall. The student-teacher ratio is lowest in Vermont – 10.55. Students will get greater personal attention when the teacher has fewer students in their class.

Massachusetts – ranked #7 overall. This state ranked #1 for the very best school systems in the nation.

For the full ranking and additional specifics on WalletHub’s findings, see the entire report.

If you are not in the teaching profession but are curious about the best and worst cities for jobs on the whole, see our report on WalletHub’s best and worst cities for jobs in 2017.

Get Ready for Halloween!! Find Your Costumes at TIPSY ELVES!

string(4257) "
Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world – educating our youth to become the future of our world. For those who choose the career path to become a teacher, they know it may not be easy, but they are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of their students, whether they teach Pre-K or graduate school classes.
 Many teachers don't get the credit they deserve for doing such noble work. They may not be rightfully appreciated, paid very well, or work in an environment that provides the best atmosphere for them and their students. Others are luckier, with teaching/learning-conducive schools, fair pay, and are treated with the utmost respect, as they ought to be. 
 Depending on the U.S. state in which they teach, the opportunities and environments can be as different as night and day. That is why WalletHub's recent analysis of 2017's best and worst states for teachers is eye-opening. The personal finance website compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to help educators find the best places in the country to teach based on 21 key metrics. These include annual salaries, teacher turnover rate, teacher-student ratio, school spending, the best and worst school systems, teacher safety, and more. WalletHub's panel of experts reviewed and assessed the findings to determine which states were the best in terms of teacher-friendliness and which fared worst. 
The top 5 states for teachers (#1 being the overall best):
1. New York
2. New Jersey
3. Illinois
4. Connecticut
5. Pennsylvania
The bottom 5 states for teachers (#1 being the overall worst):
1. Arizona
2. Hawaii
3. South Carolina
4. Mississippi
5. Florida
 Did your state rank in the top or bottom 5? If you're a teacher or aspire to get into the profession, will these findings make an impact on where you choose to teach? 
While these states are not in the top 5, some notable standouts include:

 Wyoming – ranked #8 overall. Here teachers earn the highest starting salary (cost of living adjustments considered). They make $47,185 at the start of their career on average. 
 Vermont – ranked #27 overall. The student-teacher ratio is lowest in Vermont – 10.55. Students will get greater personal attention when the teacher has fewer students in their class. 
 Massachusetts – ranked #7 overall. This state ranked #1 for the very best school systems in the nation. 
 For the full ranking and additional specifics on WalletHub's findings, see the entire report. 
If you are not in the teaching profession but are curious about the best and worst cities for jobs on the whole, see our report on WalletHub's best and worst cities for jobs in 2017.
Get Ready for Halloween!! Find Your Costumes at TIPSY ELVES!

"

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

Even if you don’t know the first thing about collectables, you know Funko POPs. Everyone does. They’re absolutely everywhere, from comic book shops to big box stores to movie theater concession stands. Many people think Funko POPs are cute, with their big black eyes and uniform features. Others think they’re creepy for pretty much the

Now that she’s the fifth billionaire musician Update: August 18th 2026 Beyoncé remains a billionaire, with Forbes currently estimating her net worth at $1 billion. Since reaching billionaire status in late 2025, the superstar has continued expanding her business empire and musical legacy. In August 2026, Beyoncé became the sole owner of SirDavis after buying

Updated: August 17th, 2026 Scott Disick spent much of last year rethinking his living situation, especially after briefly considering a move to New York with his eldest son, Mason. In a November 2025 episode of The Kardashians, Scott said Mason told him he “can’t actually move,” which led Scott to reverse course and keep the

Update: August 17th, 2026 TL;DR TikTok’s favourite tradwife has already welcomed her fourth child, settled into a new home, and continues to fuel the Internet’s debate around curated domesticity. Here’s what’s new with Nara Smith, why the “tradwife” trend is still evolving, and what it says about the appeal of traditional homemaking online in 2026.

There’s a weird shift that happens when your kid turns 18. One minute, you’re mushing their vegetables and cutting their grapes in quarters, and the next, you’re side-eyeing the dinner check, wondering: Wait… are they going to offer to pay? Should I let them? Do they have enough in their checking account to cover an

Mention the word “infidelity” and the usual images are conjured up:  secret encounters in sordid motels, callers who hang up when the wrong person answers the phone, tears and harsh words when the truth comes out. A less dramatic (but increasingly common) form of betrayal is making waves: financial infidelity. What is financial infidelity? Financial

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long

TL;DR: One of the biggest money red flags in dating? When your partner simply won’t talk about money. According to financial therapist Erika Wasserman, that’s the #1 issue to nail down if you want to know whether your potential future partner and your financial IQs are compatible. Why “Not Talking Money” Is More Than Awkward

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. Growing up, most of us didn’t get a solid financial education. Some of us ended up figuring things out the hard way — juggling bills, credit card debt, or realizing too late we should’ve