(Pierre, SD) — A new WalletHub study ranks South Dakota near the bottom for teachers in 2025, putting the state 47th overall. The study looked at 24 factors, including salaries, student-teacher ratios, and school funding. South Dakota ranked 19th for starting teacher salaries but just 44th for average teacher pay and 41st for per-student spending. Other scores include 28th for school quality, 22nd for student-teacher ratio, and 46th for income growth potential, highlighting challenges for educators across the state.
