World Teachers’ Day is right around the corner, and it is a profession that is highly respected. However, Florida is one of the worst states to be a teacher in for many reasons.
Over the years teachers have found themselves to be in the middle of pension crises being overworked and underpaid. An educational job requires a bachelor’s degree and is one of the lowest-paying occupations with that requirement.
Teaching salaries continue to have a problem keeping up with inflation, and yet the law demands better student performance. The personal-finance website, WalletHub, looked at how teachers are paid and treated in each state in their 2017’s Best & Worst States For Teachers.
Analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 21 key indicators of teacher-friendliness. Data collected ranged from teachers’ income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratio and even teacher safety.
On a scale of one to 51, with one being the best, Florida came in ranked 47th. In the ‘opportunity and competition’ rank the Florida came in 50th and the ‘academic and work environment’ rank the state came in 25th.
For teacher-friendliness the state had the following rankings:
- 22nd – Avg. Starting Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 41st – Avg. Annual Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
- 21st – Quality of School System
- 28th – Pupil-Teacher Ratio
- 37th – Public-School Spending per Student
- 32nd – Teachers’ Income Growth Potential
- 37th – 10-Year Change in Teacher Salaries
