Experts rank Missouri as one of the Worst States for Teachers

Why did the experts rank Missouri as one of the worst states in the country for teachers? It is below states like Louisiana, Alaska, and West Virginia...Why?

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According to a new ranking from WalletHub, Missouri, it was ranked as the 45th best state in the country for teachers in 2023. The only states that ranked worse than Missouri were Vermont, Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia. Compared to its neighbors, Missouri really struggles, with Illinois being ranked 15th, Kansas 28th, and Nebraska 27th. So, how exactly did WalletHub decide these rankings? On their site, they say...

"Teachers are more fairly compensated and better protected in some states than in others, though. The best states are less likely to face a revolving door of teacher turnover. To help America’s educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 24 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. Our data set ranges from teachers’ income growth potential to the pupil-teacher ratio to public-school spending per student."

Missouri ranked 38th in the Opportunity and Compensation category and 40th in the Academic and Work Environment category. The best states in the country for teachers, according to WalletHub, are Virginia, New York, and Utah, to see the complete ranking for yourself, click here!