SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has been named the second-best state in the nation for teachers, according to a 2025 WalletHub report that compared salaries, turnover rates and school quality across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Virginia ranked No. 1, followed by Utah, Washington, New York and Illinois. At the other end, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana and Hawaii were ranked the worst for teachers.

The report credited Utah with offering one of the strongest packages for educators, including the nation’s second-highest average annual starting salary when adjusted for cost of living, at $53,748. Teacher pay in Utah has grown by 50 percent over the past decade, also second-best in the country.

Other factors helped lift the Beehive State near the top. Teachers in Utah quali

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