SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has been named the second-best state in the nation for teachers, according to a 2025 WalletHub report that compared salaries, turnover rates and school quality across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Virginia ranked No. 1, followed by Utah, Washington, New York and Illinois. At the other end, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana and Hawaii were ranked the worst for teachers.
The report credited Utah with offering one of the strongest packages for educators, including the nation’s second-highest average annual starting salary when adjusted for cost of living, at $53,748. Teacher pay in Utah has grown by 50 percent over the past decade, also second-best in the country.
Other factors helped lift the Beehive State near the top. Teachers in Utah qualify for tenure after just three years, and more than 63 percent strongly agree that their school administration is supportive — the highest percentage nationwide.
Idaho ranked 19th overall in the report.
Earlier this summer Utah was recognized by the publication as having the 11th best school system in the country.
“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America — educating the next generation — teachers are often underpaid and under-appreciated,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement. “The states that make a teaching career the most rewarding are those that compensate educators well, invest heavily in educational resources, pass laws that improve school-system quality, and provide supportive conditions that lead to low turnover.”
The analysis weighed 24 factors, with heavy emphasis on pay and job security. Metrics included income growth potential, pupil-teacher ratios, per-student spending and teacher turnover.