Illinois Is One Of The Best States For Teachers In The U.S.

We can't thank our incredible teachers and teachers across the U.S. enough for their hard work and dedication to the future of America.

Teachers play an important role in shaping the minds of kids. While they teach a group of kids every day, they know every child is different when it comes to ways of learning and their speed of learning. But every day, teachers show up and stay committed to giving them the best education they possibly can.

I know it feels like forever ago, but we can't forget how teachers across the country and the world truly stepped up in the middle of a pandemic to continue to do their best at teaching kids virtually. Can you imagine trying to lead elementary kids, or kids of any age, through a lesson online for an entire school year? Talk about heroes.

While we appreciate teachers in Illinois, Iowa, and across the U.S., not every state is the best for teachers to work in. That's right; teaching in some states is a lot better than in others.

Illinois has been amongst the top 10 states for teachers for quite a few years now and it is continuing to move up on the list. Where is Illinois ranked in 2024? How did its neighboring states Iowa and Wisconsin do? Which state is the best state for teachers? Let's take a look.

Get our free mobile app

Before we tell you where Illinois landed on this year's list, don't forget you can show how much you appreciate your teacher by nominating them for QC Teacher of the Week, powered by Nothing Bundt Cakes!

To nominate your favorite teacher for QC Teacher of the Week, click the button below:

Illinois Is Almost In The Top 5 Best States For Teachers

Our friends at WalletHub have come out with their list of 2024's Best and Worst States for Teachers. To find out which states are better than others for our educators, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions:

1. Opportunity & Competition
2. Academic & Work Environment

After evaluating both dimensions across different metrics, WalletHub was able to score each state and rank them.

Illinois almost cracked the top 5 but was named the 6th best state for teachers.

According to this study, teachers in Illinois have better opportunities and competition. Their work and academic environment also rank high. It's also known that teachers generally don't get paid enough. Illinois teachers have the 3rd-highest salaries in the U.S.

Iowa on the other hand didn't do so hot. Ranking as the 33rd best state for teachers, Iowa teachers don't have as many opportunities as teachers in Illinois. Iowa also has the 2nd-lowest teachers per student rate.

Wisconsin did alright in this study, landing at #23. The Badger State has the 5th best school system.