WalletHub Ranks Best and Worst States for Teachers: South Carolina Falls in the Middle

With World Teachers’ Day around the corner, a new report sheds light on where educators across the United States fare best—and where challenges persist. Personal-finance company WalletHub released its 2025 report on the Best & Worst States for Teachers, analyzing all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 metrics ranging from income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratios and per-student spending.

The results show that while some states are creating strong environments for educators, many are struggling to provide competitive pay and support. On average, U.S. teachers earn $3,728 less per year than they did 16 years ago when adjusted for inflation.

Best and Worst States

Virginia claimed the top spot as the best state for teachers, followed by Utah, Washington, New York, and Illinois rounding out the top five. At the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii ranked last, with Montana, Maine, New Hampshire, and South Dakota also among the bottom performers.

Top 10 Best States for Teachers:

1. Virginia

2. Utah

3. Washington

4. New York

5. Illinois

6. Maryland

7. Georgia

8. Minnesota

9. Massachusetts

10. California

Bottom 5 Worst States for Teachers:
47. South Dakota
48. New Hampshire
49. Maine
50. Montana
51. Hawaii

Where South Carolina Stands

South Carolina ranked in the middle of the pack, reflecting both progress and ongoing challenges for educators in the Palmetto State.

The state has invested in raising starting salaries and recruitment incentives in recent years, but issues such as teacher retention, classroom sizes, and per-pupil spending continue to weigh heavily. South Carolina also faces a growing shortage of certified teachers, particularly in rural districts and in subjects like math, science, and special education.

Despite these hurdles, the state benefits from an active push by local communities and education leaders to improve resources and support for teachers—a recognition that strong schools are tied directly to South Carolina’s economic and workforce growth.

Key Takeaways from the Report

• Pay Disparities: Arkansas offers the highest average starting salary (adjusted for cost of living), 1.6 times higher than Montana, which offers the lowest.

• Overall Salary Gaps: New York pays teachers the highest average annual salary (adjusted for cost of living), nearly 1.7 times higher than Hawaii, which ranks last.

• Student-Teacher Ratios: Vermont boasts the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, while Arizona has the highest, more than double Vermont’s.

• Funding Differences: New York spends the most per student, 3.2 times higher than Idaho, which spends the least.

Looking Ahead

With teacher pay, classroom conditions, and state investment varying widely across the nation, reports like WalletHub’s highlight the urgent need for policies that strengthen the teaching profession.

For South Carolina, the ranking underscores a critical crossroad: efforts to attract and retain talented teachers must keep pace with demand, or the state risks widening gaps in student achievement.

As World Teachers’ Day approaches, the conversation is clear—supporting teachers is not just a state issue, but a national priority.