New York ranks highly for teachers and teen driver safety

New York has received high marks in two recent studies regarding state-level quality of life and safety. According to a WalletHub report, New York is one of the best states for teachers, ranking first in the Academic & Work Environment category. The state leads the nation in average annual public school teacher salaries when adjusted for cost of living, at approximately $87,000, and ranks first for public school spending per student at over $33,000. Additionally, New York maintains the lowest teacher turnover rate in the country.

In a separate traffic safety study by WalletHub, New York was ranked the best state for teen drivers for the third consecutive year. The study evaluated 50 states based on safety, economic environment, and driving laws. New York achieved a top safety score, supported by the fourth-fewest teen driver fatalities and the highest number of driving schools per resident. The state also recorded the third-fewest teen DUI arrests by population.