MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) A new WalletHub study places South Dakota near the bottom when it comes to being a teacher, ranking the state 47th overall in 2025. The report measured 24 factors, including pay, class sizes, and school funding. South Dakota ranked 19th for starting teacher salaries but slipped to 44th for average pay and 41st for per-student spending. The state also came in 28th for school quality, 22nd for student-teacher ratios, and 46th for income growth potential — pointing to ongoing challenges for educators across the state. Virginia topped the list as the best state for teachers For more Government stories from MitchellNow.com, Click Here.