JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi has climbed into the top 20 states in the nation for teacher-friendliness, according to a new WalletHub study released this week.
The personal finance website ranked Mississippi 18th overall among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in its 2025 “Best and Worst States for Teachers” report. The state received a total score of 47.08, placing it ahead of many of its regional neighbors.
The rankings are based on two key dimensions: Opportunity and Competition and Academic and Work Environment. Mississippi scored especially well in Opportunity and Competition, finishing 10th nationally. That category measures factors such as teacher income growth potential, salary adjusted for cost of living, pension and tenure protections, and competition in the field.
However, the state lagged significantly in Academic and Work Environment, where it ranked 40th. That area looked at metrics including public-school spending per student, student-to-teacher ratios, teacher evaluation standards, and support within the classroom environment.
The results show that while Mississippi is becoming more competitive for teachers in terms of pay and career stability, challenges remain in classroom resources and working conditions.
WalletHub’s annual report provides a comparative look at how each state supports its educators, weighing 24 metrics across the two dimensions.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
