Best states for teachers ranked and California comes in at a surprising number

Owning a home, raising a child, and even retiring may be unaffordable for many Californians — but you could do a lot worse if you’re a teacher.A newly published study from WalletHub reveals the best states for teachers — and the Golden State outshone a vast majority.Not that it’s the best — that designation goes to Washington, apparently, where teacher salaries have reportedly shot up 83% of the last 10 years, along with taxes.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story The home of Costco, Amazon and Microsoft — and for now, Starbucks — has the second-highest average annual salary in the country, at $83,938, adjusted for cost of living, the WalletHub report stated.Washington also has the fourth-highest average starting teacher’s salary, at $52,713.California ranked ninth on the list, and came in second overall in the opportunity and competition category.Other Western states fare much worse — with Oregon ranking at 31 and Nevada ranking at 40.

Hawaii ranked all the way at the bottom, coming just ahead of New Hampshire, said to be the worst of all.New York came in second overall.The state has the highest average annual salary at $87,670, and the highest amount of funding per public-school student in the country, at $33,752.Other states in the top ten include Virginia, Illinois, Utah, and New Jersey.“Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America — educating the next generation — teachers are often underpaid and underappreciated,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.“The states that make a teaching career the most rewarding are those that compensate educators well, invest heavily in educational resources, pass laws that improve school-system quality, and provide supportive conditions that lead to low turnover,” Lupo said.To determine...