Utah dropped to fifth place nationally in WalletHub's 2026 teacher rankings in a study released Monday, Sept. 14. The state fell from second place in 2025, with high pupil-to-teacher ratios and low per-pupil spending cited as primary factors for the decline.
According to the WalletHub study, Utah's steepest decline occurred in the academic and work environment category, where the state fell from 11th to 18th. The report noted Utah has the fourth-highest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the nation and the third-lowest per-pupil spending.
Data from World Population Review indicates Utah spends $11,342 per student annually, while the national average is $17,619. Additionally, the Utah Foundation noted in April 2025 that U.S. Department of Education research places Utah last in per-pupil spending.
The ranking impacts the Alpine School District, which reported a student-teacher ratio of 24.09 during the 2023-24 school year. This figure exceeds the statewide ratio of 21.9 and the national average of 15.1 reported by the National Education Association for fall 2024.
In the 2024-25 teacher salary schedule, Alpine School District salaries range from $47,954 to $124,987. The district had an enrollment of 87,051 students and 3,614 full-time classroom teachers during the 2023-24 school year.
The rankings arrive as Alpine School District prepares for a transition. Following a vote on Nov. 5, 2024, the district is scheduled to cease to exist on July 1, 2027, and will be replaced by the Aspen Peaks, Lake Mountain, and Timpanogos school districts.
