Teachers are vital to a flourishing and productive society. They are responsible for helping the next generation develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary for innovation and creative solutions. 

Each US state has its own policies and regulations for teachers that impact salaries, demand, pensions, and growth opportunities. Educators must weigh these against the state’s cost of living when deciding if it is an excellent place to nurture a teaching career.

In our guide, we will discuss the criteria used to determine the top 20 states for teachers in 2025. We will also highlight each state’s data to demonstrate why they made our list and where they could improve. 

Teacher Leading A Class

Our 2025 Ranking States Order:

  1. New York
  2. Washington
  3. Virginia
  4. Utah
  5. Maryland
  6. Illinois
  7. Georgia
  8. Florida
  9. California
  10. Indiana
  11. Connecticut
  12. New Jersey
  13. Mississippi
  14. Massachusetts
  15. Arizona
  16. Minnesota
  17. Pennsylvania
  18. North Dakota
  19. Oregon
  20. Delaware

Criteria for Ranking States

Teacher pay is only one factor in ranking the best states to be an educator. High salaries are not necessarily better in an area with astronomical living costs. 

Thus, we used the following criteria for ranking the top 20 states for teachers:

  • Salary: Average teacher salaries compared to the national average.
  • Demand: Projected teacher shortages or growth in school enrollment.
  • Growth Potential: Opportunities for career advancement or increased salary over time.
  • Pensions & Benefits: Quality and reliability of state pension systems.
  • Cost of Living: How far a teacher’s salary goes in each state.
  • Teacher Resource and Support: Support for educators and teacher unions.

Top 20 States for Teachers

1 – New York 

  • Teacher Salary: One of the highest average salaries for teachers in the US –  $92,696, with higher pay on its way soon. 
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in NY.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Robust pension system, The New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). NYSTRS is one of the 10 largest public pension funds in the nation.
  • Cost of Living: New York’s cost of living is 130% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – NY has many teacher resources, professional development, and union options to support teachers. 

2 – Washington

  • Teacher Salary: Ranked #4 in average teacher’s salary for 2024 at $86,804. 
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in WA.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement.
  • Pensions: Well-funded and uniformly applied, but they are not as flexible as some may like. 
  • Cost of Living: Washington is 19% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – WA offers teachers many professional development options, unions, and other support.

3 – Virginia

  • Teacher Salary: VA’s 2024 average teacher salary is $63,103, slightly below the national average.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in VA.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement.
  • Pensions: VA’s pension benefits are ranked 10th in the nation.
  • Cost of Living: Virginia’s cost of living is 1% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – VA has decent teacher unions and offers support and professional development options.  

4 – Utah

  • Teacher Salary: Utah’s 2024 average teacher salary is $63,481, slightly below the national average. 
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in UT.
  • Growth Potential: One of the highest-ranked states for growth.  
  • Pensions: Utah’s pension fund is flexible and uniformly applied, but it is only average in funding.
  • Cost of Living: Utah’s cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – UT offers many professional development opportunities and supports teachers by making classroom expenses a taxpayer issue, not personal, and offers maternity and post-partum leave.  

5 – Maryland

  • Teacher Salary: Maryland is ranked #8 for 2024 average teacher salary – $79,420.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in MD.
  • Growth Potential: Above average for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Maryland is ranked above average for pension policy but only gets a D+ on their report card.
  • Cost of Living: Maryland’s cost of living is 16% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – MD has strong teacher unions and support and offers many opportunities for professional development. 

6 – Illinois

  • Teacher Salary: Illinois is ranked #12 for 2024 average teacher salary – $73,916.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in IL.
  • Growth Potential: Above average for career advancement.
  • Pensions: Illinois teacher pensions are currently ranked #42 in the nation.
  • Cost of Living: Illinois’ cost of living is 8% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – The IEA is one of the country’s top teacher unions. The state also offers many opportunities for support and professional development.

7 – Georgia

  • Teacher Salary: Georgia’s 2024 average teaching salary is $64,461, slightly below the national average.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in GA.
  • Growth Potential: Good potential for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Georgia’s teacher pension falls short of national standards, with a D+ on their report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Georgia’s cost of living is 10% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – Georgia’s teacher unions are considered weak compared to the rest of the nation, and support and professional development opportunities are low.  

8 – Florida

  • Teacher Salary: Florida pays the second lowest average teacher salary – $53,098.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in FL.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Florida is ranked #8 in teacher in teacher pensions. 
  • Cost of Living: Florida’s cost of living is 2% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – Florida unions are suffering under new laws, but small wins are being made. However, it has impacted support and other opportunities. 

9 – California

  • Teacher Salary: #1 in 2024 average teacher salary – $95,160. 
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in CA.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement.
  • Pensions: Ranked #30 in teacher pensions. 
  • Cost of Living: California’s cost of living is 30% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – CA has one of the most powerful teacher unions in the country, and the state are leaders in mentorships and professional development opportunities.

10 – Indiana

  • Teacher Salary: Indiana officially has a below national average teaching salary of $57,778, although it is set to rise.  
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in IN.
  • Growth Potential: Good potential for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Indiana received a C in their teacher pension report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Indiana’s cost of living is 8% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – IN has restricted the power of unions, but they still try to support teachers in the state. The state does offer professional development opportunities, but support is only average.

11- Connecticut

  • Teacher Salary: One of the top 2024 average teacher salaries in the country – $83,400.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in specific areas.
  • Growth Potential: Future job growth is limited, but career opportunities remain good.
  • Pensions: Connecticut received a D+ in its teacher pension policy report card.
  • Cost of Living: Connecticut’s cost of living is 25% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – CN has strong teacher unions, and many has many teacher resources and professional development opportunities.

12 – New Jersey

  • Teacher Salary: One of the higher 2024 paying states for teachers, just under Connecticut – $81,102. 
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in NJ.
  • Growth Potential: Decent potential for career advancement.
  • Pensions: New Jersey struggles to have a well-funded and flexible pension policy, but they ranked C in their report card. 
  • Cost of Living: New Jersey’s cost of living is 12% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – NJ has strong teaching unions, and the state offers above-average support to educators and professional development opportunities.  

13 – Mississippi

  • Teacher Salary: One of the lowest average salaries for teachers in the US – $53,354.
  • Teacher Demand: Extremely high demand for teachers in MS.
  • Growth Potential: Good potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Mississippi has an F on its teacher pension report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Mississippi’s cost of living is 11% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – MS teaching unions don’t have a high influence on state legislators. Support and professional development opportunities are improving but are below average.  

14 – Massachusetts

  • Teacher Salary: Ranked #3 for 2024 average teacher salary – $92,307.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in MA.
  • Growth Potential: Good potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Massachusetts’ received a D+ for its pension system, as they are struggling with stability, funding, and flexibility. 
  • Cost of Living: Massachusetts’s cost of living is 46% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – MA has many teacher resources, professional development, and robust union options. 

15 – Arizona

  • Teacher Salary: At $60,275, Arizona’s average teacher salary is slightly below the national average. 
  • Teacher Demand: Sever teaching shortage. 
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Arizona’s pension system is not stable or well-funded, and they earned a D- on their report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Arizona’s cost of living is 6% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – AZ teacher unions are weak, and teachers do not feel they are getting the support they need. However, in 2024, the state put out a pilot program for professional development.  

16 – Minnesota

  • Teacher Salary: A higher than average teacher salary – $70,005.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in MN
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Despite Minnesota struggling to fund their pensions, they received a C on their report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Minnesota’s cost of living is 4% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – MN has strong teacher unions and decent support and professional development opportunities.  

17 – Pennsylvania

  • Teacher Salary: An above-average salary for teachers in the US – $79,420.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in PA.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Lack of stability, funding, and other issues have caused Pennsylvania to earn a D on its pension report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Pennsylvania’s cost of living is 4% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – PA’s teacher unions are ranked #4 in the country, with many options for support and professional development.

18 – North Dakota

  • Teacher Salary: A below-average salary for teachers in the US – $56,792.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in ND.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Ranked 12th in the nation for teacher pensions. 
  • Cost of Living: North Dakota’s cost of living is 6% lower than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – ND has good teacher unions and offers resources for support and professional development. 

19 – Oregon

  • Teacher Salary: An above-average salaries for teachers in the US – $72,476.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in OR.
  • Growth Potential: High potential for career advancement. 
  • Pensions: Ranked #4 in the nation for teacher pensions. 
  • Cost of Living: Oregon’s cost of living is 10% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – OR is ranked #2 in teacher unions in the country and has many resources for support and professional development.  

20 – Delaware

  • Teacher Salary: A mid-ranking average teaching salary – $68,787.
  • Teacher Demand: High demand for teachers in DE.
  • Growth Potential: Good potential for career advancement 
  • Pensions: Delaware’s pension system is stable and well-funded, but other issues give it a C on its report card. 
  • Cost of Living: Delaware’s cost of living is 8% higher than the national average.
  • Teacher Resource and Support – DE has strong teacher unions and many resources for support and professional development.