Utah has been ranked as one of the top states for teachers in 2026, according to a WalletHub report. The analysis identified Washington, New York, Virginia, Illinois, and Utah as the best states for educators, while New Mexico, Maine, Montana, Hawaii, and New Hampshire were identified as the worst.
The evaluation utilized 24 different measures to determine teacher-friendliness, focusing on dimensions such as opportunity, competition, and the academic and work environment. Key factors included income growth potential, pupil-teacher ratios, and public-school spending per student. WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo noted that states providing high compensation, educational resource investment, and supportive conditions leading to low turnover create the most rewarding teaching careers.
In the ranking of best states, Washington took the top position, aided by an 83% increase in teacher salaries over the last decade. New York followed as the second-best state, featuring the highest average annual salary adjusted for the cost of living at $87,670 and the lowest teacher turnover rate at 4.3%. Virginia was ranked third, noted for having the second-highest income growth potential in the country.
The study highlighted significant disparities in educational support and compensation. For example, New York reported the highest level of public-school spending per student at $33,752, whereas Utah ranked among the states with the lowest public-school spending per student. Additionally, the report noted that adjusted for inflation, teachers are earning 5% less on average than they did 10 years ago.
