New York Teachers Are Among Highest Paid In US: Study

NEW YORK — A study found that New York is one of the best states to be a teacher and it isn't just the paycheck that makes the Empire State a great place to be an educator.

First, the bad news. As World Teachers’ Day approaches on Oct. 5, a new report on 2023’s Best & Worst States for Teachers from the personal-finance website WalletHub found teachers are making an average of $3,644 less per year than they did 10 years ago, when adjusted for inflation.

"Teaching can be a profoundly rewarding career, considering the critical role educators play in shaping young minds," the study's authors noted. "Unfortunately, many teachers find themselves overworked and underpaid."

The just released report contends that this is an especially rough time for career educators.

Education jobs are among the lowest-paying occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree, and teacher salaries consistently fail to keep up with inflation. Meanwhile, the Every Student Succeeds Act demands trackable growth in student performance, while at the same time, teachers have to deal with the continued presence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the learning loss that it has caused.

"I think some of the biggest issues facing teachers today center around the idea that they must do more with fewer resources," Ramon Goings, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, said. "For example, it has been discussed heavily in recent years how teachers remain underpaid despite the most important role they have in developing our next cadre of leaders, doctors, lawyers, and scientists. Along with this teachers are still supporting students dealing with crises including the impact of COVID-19 which has dramatically shaped how schools run."

The study's authors analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key metrics, ranging from teachers’ income growth potential to the pupil-teacher ratio to whether the state has a digital learning plan. WalletHub said the goal of the report was to help educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments in the U.S.

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.

Fortunately for New Yorkers, the best educators, especially those with experience, have plenty of reasons to choose the Empire State as the place to ply their craft.

Top Ten Best States For Teachers:

1. Virginia
2. New York
3. Utah
4. Washington
5. Florida
6. Maryland
7. Massachusetts
8. North Dakota
9. New Jersey
10. Georgia

When annual teacher salaries were adjusted for the cost of living, the top-ranking states were: New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Washington, according to the report. The lowest-ranking states were: South Dakota, Florida, Maine, Colorado and Hawaii.

In terms of projected teachers turnover, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, New York and Alabama had the lowest numbers, the study found. Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, Vermont and the District of Columbia had the highest numbers in the country.

Teacher-Friendliness of New York (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

• 14th – Avg. Starting Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 1st – Avg. Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 13th – Quality of School System
• 6th – Pupil-Teacher Ratio
• 1st – Public-School Spending per Student
• 5th – Teachers’ Income Growth Potential
• 20th – 10-Year Change in Teacher Salaries
• 1st – Existence of Digital Learning Plan

Retaining the best teachers is harder than ever, but several of the experts WalletHub spoke to said taking steps to reverse the troubling trend can be surprisingly simple.

"Ensure pay is competitive," Mark T. Haynal, Professor & Chair of the Teacher Education and Mathematics Division at Lewis-Clark State College, said. "Lewiston, Idaho, where I work, is right on the border with Washington. The starting pay for a teacher across the river is more than $10,000 a year than it is here in Idaho. After 13 years of work, moving up the pay scale, and getting a master’s degree, a teacher in Clarkston WA will have earned $230,000 more than a similar teacher in Lewiston ID."

But, it isn't just money that makes the job tenable, according to Haynal.

"Provide teachers with sufficient support staff," he added. "Money districts spend on having enough counselors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, special ed teachers, aides, etc., not only benefits students, it empowers teachers and enhances employee retention. Hire outstanding principals. Get rid of ineffective principals. Develop, nurture, and sustain a community culture that celebrates and respects what teachers and schools do."