Deciding where to live as a teacher matters, as some states have different certification requirements, including tests for those looking to start a teaching career.
Education researchers at UTS Online recently ranked the best states for teachers in the U.S. based on 19 key factors including average teacher wages, teacher pensions, pupil/teacher ratios, student performance and school safety. All factors were rated on a 100-point scale, where 100 represented the best conditions for teachers and those scores were then weighted according to the factor's relevance. All weighted scores were then totalled to produce a total score to determine a definitive ranking.
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The top-ranked state for teachers is Massachusetts, with a score of 68.55. Massachusetts has the best student performance and attainment results in the country, as well as ranking towards the top for teacher compensation.
Other states at the top of the list include New Jersey, with a total score of 64.37 and Connecticut, with a total score of 63.63. New Jersey also boasts impressive student performance, as well as ranking near the top for school safety. Connecticut also ranks high in student performance and teacher preparation.
"The report highlights the need for improvement in teacher working conditions across the country. States like Florida and West Virginia, which ranked lower in the study, could benefit from prioritizing initiatives that address teacher preparation, support systems and compensation," a spokesperson from UTS Online said in a release. "While the top-ranked states deserve recognition, this shouldn't be a finish line. These leaders can leverage their success stories to inspire and guide improvement efforts in other states. The ultimate goal is to create a supportive environment for teachers nationwide."
Read more about the 20 best states for teachers.
Best states to be a teacher
| Rank | State | Teacher compensation | Education and school statistics | Student performance and attainment | Teacher employment and preparation | Environment | Total score |
| 1 | Massachusetts | 7 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 49 | 68.55 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 15 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 64.37 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 13 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 63.63 |
| 4 | New York | 5 | 2 | 16 | 35 | 41 | 60.16 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 28 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 18 | 60.15 |
| 6 | Maryland | 2 | 24 | 7 | 27 | 40 | 60.00 |
| 7 | Illinois | 3 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 35 | 59.30 |
| 8 | Georgia | 8 | 27 | 14 | 2 | 28 | 59.26 |
| 9 | Colorado | 12 | 38 | 3 | 15 | 38 | 57.56 |
| 10 | Vermont | 50 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 56.70 |
| 11 | Virginia | 21 | 23 | 8 | 13 | 45 | 55.97 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 14 | 12 | 20 | 30 | 4 | 55.89 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 45 | 9 | 5 | 37 | 50 | 55.22 |
| 14 | Washington | 10 | 32 | 10 | 22 | 26 | 54.54 |
| 15 | Wyoming | 48 | 8 | 22 | 5 | 20 | 54.03 |
| 16 | Texas | 6 | 31 | 26 | 14 | 16 | 54.02 |
| 17 | Minnesota | 24 | 21 | 12 | 32 | 9 | 53.59 |
| 18 | Nebraska | 44 | 19 | 31 | 3 | 25 | 52.18 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 20 | 10 | 27 | 38 | 47 | 51.85 |
| 20 | Maine | 41 | 5 | 25 | 39 | 13 | 51.28 |
