Pennsylvania and Wyoming lead the nation as the best states to teach in America. As two top 10 states for all three salary metrics — average starting salary, average salary for teachers with a bachelor’s degree and average salary for teachers with a master’s degree — they are the only states that rank this highly for salary and also fall outside of the top 10 for the highest cost of living. Not only do these teachers earn more, but they also pay less for basic living expenses, leaving them with more take-home pay.
Other states that offer a strong value for teachers include Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan and Ohio.
These are the only states found in the top half nationally for all salary metrics while staying in the bottom half for cost of living.
It is important to note that metro areas can affect the statewide averages for salary and cost-of-living data. Teachers should examine various regions within a state to gain a clearer picture of how salary and cost of living interact in any given area.
Different Regions, Different Benefits
Of course, the various regions of the United States each have their own charms … and challenges. Here are just a few of the aspects teachers should consider about each area.
- This area offers a competitive salary with a relatively high cost of living. All nine states have a cost of living in the upper 40 percent of the country, with five states falling in the top 10.
- New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut lead the region in salary indicators.
- Pennsylvania is the best value for teachers in this region, with high salary figures and a slightly above-average cost of living.
- This area fluctuates in terms of the cost of living and salary data for teachers.
- Texas is the strongest value for teachers in the South. It has a cost of living in the bottom 25th percentile and offers two top 15 salary metrics.
- Kentucky is another value in the South. It has the fourth-best cost of living in the nation and can be found in the top half of states in the country for average starting teacher salary and average salary for teachers with a master’s degree.
