15. Washington: Teachers in Seattle recently negotiated a contract for salaries as high as $124,000.
Academic and work environment rank: 17th
Opportunity and competition rank: 19th
Source: The Seattle Times
14. Kentucky: Teachers have recently filled vacancies and helped eliminate the statewide shortage.
Academic and work environment rank: 20th
Opportunity and competition rank: 15th
Source: Courier Journal
13. Kansas: The state has the 20th highest high school graduation rate in the country.
Academic and work environment rank: 18th
Opportunity and competition rank: 18th
Source: USA Today
12. Oregon: Teachers there make above the US teacher pay average.
Academic and work environment rank: 34th
Opportunity and competition rank: 4th
Source: Oregon Live
11. Delaware: It has been named as a top teacher-friendly states by other rankings.
Academic and work environment rank: 9th
Opportunity and competition rank: 23rd
Source: TeacherPortal.com
10. New York: The state has the highest public school spending per student in the nation.
Academic and work environment rank: 6th
Opportunity and competition rank: 25th
Source: WalletHub
9. Utah: Teachers have the 5th highest potential for income growth.
8. Massachusetts: The state has the country's best school systems, according to various reports and rankings.
Academic and work environment rank: 5th
Opportunity and competition rank: 24th
Source: WalletHub
7. Minnesota: Educators there earn the 21st-highest average teacher pay in the country.
Academic and work environment rank: 7th
Opportunity and competition rank: 14th
Source: Patch.com
6. Illinois: It has the 11th highest average teacher salary in the country.
Academic and work environment rank: 16th
Opportunity and competition rank: 6th
Source: Patch.com
5. Connecticut: It's considered one of the most educated states in the country, according to various studies and rankings.
4. Wyoming: It has the highest annual average starting salary for teachers (adjusted for cost of living) at $44,971.
Academic and work environment rank: 4th
Opportunity and competition rank: 20th
Source: WalletHub
3. Pennsylvania: It has the second highest annual teacher salaries in the country.
Academic and work environment rank: 10th
Opportunity and competition rank: 2nd
Source: WalletHub
2. New Jersey: The state is ranked as having the second best school districts in the country.
Academic and work environment rank: 1st
Opportunity and competition rank: 17th
Source: WalletHub
1. North Dakota: It has the second lowest pupil-teacher ratio, after Vermont.
Academic and work environment rank: 3rd
Opportunity and competition rank: 11th
Source: WalletHub
