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How much high school teachers earn in every state
How much high school teachers earn in every state
Teacher shortages are affecting schools across the U.S. at an unprecedented scale. Nearly three-quarters of district officials and principals have said there aren’t enough applications to fill open positions, according to a survey published in July 2022 by Education Week.
To study this trend, Teachercertification.com used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate how much high school teachers made in each state. States are ranked by the percentage difference between the median annual income for high school teachers versus all occupations in the state. The ranking uses high school teachers’ actual annual salary as a tiebreaker. Data looks at secondary school teachers, excluding special education teachers and career and technical education teachers.
At a national level, high school teachers made about 30% more than the median for all occupations at nearly $62,000 per year. This data doesn’t account for differences in education or training needed for various jobs. Other BLS data shows that people with a bachelor’s degree earn about 23% more than the median for all occupations, and those with a master’s degree earn about 39% more.
Keep reading to learn more about the salaries of high school teachers across the U.S., the need for teachers in each state, and more.
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#51. Washington D.C.
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 3% lower than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $77,570 per year
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 4 teachers
Washington D.C.’s schools were already experiencing issues well before the COVID-19 pandemic, with teachers complaining about a punitive evaluation system, brutal working hours, and high turnover rates. The city is expected to experience a teacher turnover that’s higher than most states, according to a recent study from WalletHub, and its teachers already receive some of the worst pay in the country, taking into account the local cost of living.
maroke // Shutterstock
#50. North Dakota
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 6% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,730
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
North Dakota’s teacher shortages span virtually all subject areas. Some schools lack science, math, and English teachers, according to the North Dakota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education President Stacy Duffield, who has a doctorate in education.
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#49. Missouri
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 21% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $47,310
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
The number of Missouri high school teachers in May 2021 was 24,080. In Missouri, the starting salary for teachers is around $25,000 a year, among the lowest in the U.S., and the average attrition rate in the state has been 11% for the last six years.
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#48. Arizona
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 22% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,280
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
Arizona has been experiencing severe teacher shortages across the board. Here, the average salary for a starting teacher is $40,554, which is lower than the U.S. average. A projected 2,600 teaching positions were still unfilled by mid-September, well into the start of the 2022 school year.
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#47. Colorado
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 23% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,670
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
Over the next five years, the University of Colorado Denver will utilize about $7 million in federal grant money for the expansion of a teacher preparation model for Colorado’s rural communities. The federal government has applauded this effort, touting it as an emerging program that’s getting results when it comes to addressing teacher shortages.
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#46. South Dakota
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 24% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $48,100
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
At the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic school year, this state was experiencing a teacher shortage, with 300 open teaching positions. Shortages include certified positions and non-certified staff such as paraprofessionals.
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#45. Montana
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 24% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $48,650
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
Because of the rising cost of living in the state and teacher pay remaining much lower than the U.S. average, Montana has been experiencing both teacher retention and recruitment challenges. However, the state has been working to remedy this problem with the passing of the TEACH Act, which aims to incentivize schools to increase their starting teacher salaries.
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#44. North Carolina
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 24% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $48,670
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
At the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, North Carolina faced a teacher shortage. The best estimate of teaching vacancies was 4,400 for this fall, according to a survey that the North Carolina Superintendents Association carried out, with 98 superintendents out of 115 responding to the survey in August.
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#43. Indiana
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 24% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $48,940
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
Indiana had 1,572 open teaching positions as of Sept. 1, 2022. Additionally, as of the same date, the number of vacant student support staff, office staff, or school leadership positions was 1,174.
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#42. Minnesota
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 25% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,220
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
Schools in Minnesota are currently at a breaking point. According to a paper released by Education Minnesota, many teachers are feeling that since the pandemic began, the Minnesota education system has been underfunded and ignored.
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#41. Vermont
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 26% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,130
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
There are shortages in administrators and teachers in Vermont, but these numbers aren’t as high in areas like special educators, paraeducators, and substitutes. The approximate numbers of need for Vermont schools are 490 for substitutes, 485 for instructional support, 245 for special education, 122 for facilities, 115 for teachers, 82 for nurses, 55 for administrators (including superintendents, principals, and other leaders of education programs), and 22 for music.
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#40. Hawaii
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 26% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $62,060
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: no data available
In the 2021-2022 academic year, only 51% of public school teachers who had been working for five years in Hawaii were still employed. In an effort to remediate the chronic teacher shortage problem in the state, since January 2020, Hawaii’s Department of Education has been compensating teachers in specific situations and roles with shortage differentials.
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#39. Kansas
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 27% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $50,150
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
At the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year, Kansas faced a teacher shortage that was building for years. In March 2022, the number of teacher vacancies in Kansas was around 1,400.
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#38. New Hampshire
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 27% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,820
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
The number of high school teachers in New Hampshire in May 2021 was 4,830. Like other states, New Hampshire experienced a teacher shortage at the start of this school year.
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#37. Arkansas
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $48,650
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 10
Because of the teacher shortage in Arkansas, teachers, students, and supporters went to the state capitol when Arkansas Democrats were in a special legislative session to raise teacher salaries. The plan was to create a $42,000 minimum teacher salary and a raise of $4,000 to Arkansas teacher salaries. However, this bill died in the House.
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#36. Idaho
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,550
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 10
Linda Clark, a member of the state’s board of education, said in June 2022 that schools in Idaho were facing an unprecedented, systemwide teacher hiring “crisis.” While Idaho public schools have historically struggled with finding special education, science, and math teachers, the same is now true when it comes to trying to hire elementary school teachers as well.
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#35. Louisiana
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,710
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
In Louisiana, the number of high school teachers in May 2021 was 15,600. But according to Cade Brumley, the Louisiana state superintendent of education, the state was still short 2,520 teachers as of late September 2022.
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#34. Oklahoma
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,730
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 11
In Oklahoma, there was a school staffing crisis well before the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been due to various reasons, including less interest in the profession of teaching, school spending cuts, and low teacher pay.
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#33. Tennessee
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $50,130
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
Some of this state’s school districts barely have any certified teachers in their classrooms. In some Tennessee schools, teacher assistants, substitutes, and teachers who have free time are teaching students in a revolving team. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 24% of Tennessee’s student population was made up of Black students and only 11% of the state’s teachers were Black.
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#32. Wyoming
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,900
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
In May 2021, the number of high school teachers in Wyoming was 1,840. In recent years, Wyoming teachers have experienced stress that has been heightened by mask debates, COVID-19 tracking failures, and substitute shortages, which put teachers in a position where they had to work overtime.
Nagel Photography // Shutterstock
#31. Illinois
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 28% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,680
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
Illinois, like other states, saw a teacher shortage near the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. When it came to Chicago area districts, superintendents said that there weren’t enough qualified people who were applying for open positions—with most of these open positions being for dual-language, bilingual, and special education teachers.
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#30. Mississippi
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 30% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $47,350
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 12
Mississippi deals with many of the same issues states in the South are experiencing in education. Along with Alabama, Florida, and New Mexico, Mississippi has attempted to preempt or address shortages over the last couple of years by raising the salaries of teachers.
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#29. West Virginia
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 30% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $49,850
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
West Virginia faced an intense teacher shortage at the beginning of the academic year. In 2021, the number of teacher vacancies in this state was 1,200, according to the West Virginia Department of Education.
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#28. Wisconsin
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 30% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,900
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
Only weeks before the 2022-2023 academic school year, some of Wisconsin’s districts were struggling to fill many school staff positions. Regular teaching jobs were very low due to the pandemic as well as less interest in the teaching profession—but when it came to specialized classes such as home economics, tech education, and music, applications were essentially nonexistent.
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#27. Michigan
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 30% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,980
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 5
Even before the pandemic, school administrators in the state of Michigan were struggling to hire and retain teachers. Additionally, while shortages used to occur mostly in areas like science and math, shortages are now occurring in fields that used to experience a high number of applicants, like social studies and elementary school.
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#26. Massachusetts
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 30% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $79,120
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
The number of high school teachers in Massachusetts in May 2021 was 24,900. When a check of the education jobs website SchoolSpring was done on Oct. 7, 2022, the number of classroom teaching jobs still available in the state was 4,383.
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#25. Maine
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 33% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $59,970
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
School districts across the state are struggling to fill staff in many departments, although administrators are concerned the most about vacant support and teaching positions. There are many reasons why positions remain unfilled, including a lack of affordable housing availability.
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#24. Iowa
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 42% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $59,820
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
In May 2021, the number of high school teachers in Iowa was 11,080. Iowa is experiencing a shortage in K-12 education positions like substitutes, bus drivers, and paraeducators.
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#23. Delaware
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 43% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $72,600
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 10
Around the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, this state was facing a teacher shortage. To tackle this problem, Delaware leaders passed House Bill 315, which would provide funding for the hiring of substitute teachers who will teach temporarily in schools with higher needs. It would also implement the creation of professional development programs.
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#22. Virginia
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 43% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $73,110
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
Near the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Virginia was experiencing a teacher shortage. During the previous academic year, the number of vacant full-time teaching positions was 2,593.
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#21. Alabama
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 44% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $58,310
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
Looking for a teaching job? Alabama has plenty. In the last several years, Alabama has attempted to preempt or address shortages by raising the salaries of teachers.
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#20. South Carolina
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 44% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $58,510
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
South Carolina has long had a problem with finding enough teachers. In one county in the state, $10,000 signing bonuses are being offered to new teachers as a creative way of addressing this year’s teacher shortage.
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#19. Utah
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 44% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,810
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
According to a 2021 teacher retention performance audit of the public education system in Utah, it’s expected that schools will have a teacher shortage of nearly 200,000 teachers by the year 2025. Perhaps even worse, many districts in the state may not be able to retain their teachers for more than five years.
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#18. Nebraska
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 44% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,900
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
Recent legislation has been passed to mitigate Nebraska’s teacher shortage problem. The state is providing some loan forgiveness to student teachers and loosening the restrictions in place regarding teachers’ ability to move to Nebraska from another state.
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#17. Texas
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 44% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,060
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
School districts in the state had to use creative strategies to attract talent, such as changing to four-day workweeks and approving significant increases in pay. Additionally, according to a recent online survey of Texas K-12 teachers, most teachers had “seriously considered” abandoning the profession of teaching in 2022, which demonstrates a 19% increase in this sentiment compared to two years ago.
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#16. Alaska
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 45% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $77,540
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
Alaska has historically relied on recruiting its teachers from the contiguous states. According to the website of Alaska Teacher Placement, the number of jobs that were open in Alaska school districts as of July 2022 was 1,100. This included a variety of positions such as speech pathologists, counselors, language teachers, sports coaches, support staff, paraeducators, special education staff, and principals.
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#15. Kentucky
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 46% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,040
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
In Kentucky, the number of high school teachers in May 2021 was 11,790. According to the Kentucky Department of Education, the percentage of current teachers who are at risk of quitting their jobs in the near future is 72%.
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#14. New Mexico
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 46% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,150
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
New Mexico has been cited as an example of a state that has provided solutions that help in bringing teachers back to classrooms, such as permitting retired teachers to be substitute teachers, increasing school bus driver and teacher salaries, and asking that a paperwork committee help teachers with their paperwork. New Mexico also made it easier for new teachers by allowing those applying to teaching jobs to provide a portfolio instead of subject skills tests to demonstrate their teaching competency. The condensed four-day school week is also common in this state.
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#13. Maryland
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 46% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $77,360
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 7
According to the Maryland board of education, the number of teachers who left in 2022 was 5,516, with the majority resigning voluntarily. To attract more teachers, Maryland has offered teachers who were national board certified a pay bump of $17,000, and support for professional development credits that went toward the renewal of their educator certificate.
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#12. Connecticut
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 46% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $78,100
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 10
According to Donald Williams, the executive director of the Connecticut Education Association, the percentage of teachers leaving is as high as 20% in some districts. Connecticut has eased some of its regulations, such as allowing educators from a variety of states with valid, active certificates to quickly apply for and obtain a Connecticut certification.
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#11. Washington
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 46% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $80,740
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 4
Washington, like others on this list, faced a teacher shortage just before the start of the 2022-2023 school year. The district of Seattle Public Schools had 121 openings at the beginning of August 2022. Between April 2022 and August 2022, 606 teachers left their jobs as a result of transfers, funding changes, retirements, and resignations.
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#10. Florida
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 47% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $60,940
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
Florida is experiencing a shortage of paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and other support staff. To deal with this problem, Florida has given temporary teaching certificates to untrained teachers and raised teacher pay.
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#9. Georgia
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 47% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $61,640
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 5
In Georgia, retirement rates for teachers have continued to outpace new trainee applications, and as a result, some districts in Georgia have increased incentives and pay to deal with shortages. Georgia has also made it possible for retired teachers to teach in the classroom again while keeping their pension benefits.
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#8. Oregon
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 47% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $76,090
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 4
Oregon dealt with employment problems by giving teachers emergency licenses. There were 438 emergency licensed teachers employed by school districts in the state, an increase from 181 the year before.
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#7. Rhode Island
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 47% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $76,880
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 11
Experts say Rhode Island’s teacher pipeline is diminishing as fewer people aspire to become teachers. Only 478 completed their teacher training and 395 were certified in the state in 2021-2022, compared to 748 having completed their training and 600 being certified in 2017-2018.
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#6. New Jersey
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 47% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $78,070
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 8
New Jersey had many teachers leave as a result of pandemic-related retirements, burnout, and an aging teacher population. But the state is relaxing requirements for teacher certification. Newark, the state’s largest city, has announced that it will be offering higher base salaries, signing bonuses for teachers of subject areas that have had long-term vacancies, and referral bonuses to staff.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#5. Nevada
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 51% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $63,730
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 4
Near the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, Nevada faced a teacher shortage, with thousands of teaching jobs left vacant, according to officials. Some Nevada school districts addressed this problem by offering teachers retention bonuses, as well as offering relocation bonuses to teachers who moved from another state or more than 100 miles away.
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#4. Pennsylvania
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 52% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $76,290
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 10
Pennsylvania lifted restrictions so that teachers who have licenses from other states can teach there. Chris Lilienthal, assistant director of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said that the three leading factors of shortages are burnout, benefits, and pay.
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#3. Ohio
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 62% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $75,330
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 11
In Ohio, the number of high school teachers in May 2021 was 58,040. One of the reasons for Ohio’s shortage is young people being less interested in pursuing teaching as a career. Enrollment in programs for teacher preparation in the state fell by almost 50% from 2010 to 2018.
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#2. New York
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 66% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $97,340
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 9
Rural, poor districts in New York often did not have strong teacher candidates for any subject, as well as a lack of special education and bilingual teachers. According to a report released by the Office of the New York State Comptroller in February 2022, nearly 2,000 teachers had left public schools in New York City during the pandemic.
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#1. California
– Median high school teacher salary vs. all occupations: 67% higher than overall
– Median salary for high school teachers: $96,390
– High school teachers employed per 1,000 jobs: 6
California schools in wealthy neighborhoods often saw less teacher turnover, while a large number of districts in the state that serve many high-needs students experienced severe teacher shortages. California has addressed the teacher shortage by allowing teaching candidates that have taken certain approved college courses to skip subject matter and basic skills tests.
This story originally appeared on Teachercertification.com and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
It’s well-documented that the surest, and often best, return on investments comes from playing the long game. But between stocks and real estate, which is the stronger bet?
To find out, financial planning firm Wealth Enhancement Group analyzed data from academic research, Standard and Poor’s, and Nareit to see how real estate compares to stocks as an investment.
Data going back to 1870 shows the well-established power of real estate as a powerful “long-run investment.” From 1870-2015, and after adjusting for inflation, real estate produced an average annual return of 7.05%, compared to 6.89% for equities. These findings, published in the 2019 issue of The Quarterly Journal of Economics, illustrate that stocks can deviate as much as 22% from their average, while housing only spreads out 10%. That’s because despite having comparable returns, stocks are inherently more volatile due to following the whims of the business cycle.
Real estate has inherent benefits, from unlocking cash flow and offering tax breaks to building equity and protecting investors from inflation. Investments here also help to diversify a portfolio, whether via physical properties or a real estate investment trust. Investors can track markets with standard resources that include the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, which tracks residential real estate prices; the Nareit U.S. Real Estate Index, which gathers data on the real estate investment trust, or REIT, industry; and the S&P 500, which tracks the stocks of 500 of the largest companies in the U.S.
High interest rates and a competitive market dampened the flurry of real-estate investments made in the last four years. The rise in interest rates equates to a bigger borrowing cost for investors, which can spell big reductions in profit margins. That, combined with the risk of high vacancies, difficult tenants, or hidden structural problems, can make real estate investing a less attractive option—especially for first-time investors.
Keep reading to learn more about whether real estate is a good investment today and how it stacks up against the stock market.
Wealth Enhancement Group
Stocks and housing have both done well
REITs can offer investors the stability of real estate returns without bidding wars or hefty down payments. A hybrid model of stocks and real estate, REITs allow the average person to invest in businesses that finance or own income-generating properties.
REITs delivered slightly better returns than the S&P 500 over the past 20-, 25-, and 50-year blocks. However, in the short term—the last 10 years, for instance—stocks outperformed REITs with a 12% return versus 9.5%, according to data compiled by The Motley Fool investor publication.
Whether a new normal is emerging that stocks will continue to offer higher REITs remains to be seen.
This year, the S&P 500 reached an all-time high, courtesy of investor enthusiasm in speculative tech such as artificial intelligence. However, just seven tech companies, dubbed “The Magnificent 7,” are responsible for an outsized amount of the S&P’s returns last year, creating worry that there may be a tech bubble.
While indexes keep a pulse on investment performance, they don’t always tell the whole story. The Case-Shiller Index only measures housing prices, for example, which leaves out rental income (profit) or maintenance costs (loss) when calculating the return on residential real estate investment.
Wealth Enhancement Group
Housing returns have been strong globally too
Like its American peers, the global real estate market in industrialized nations offers comparable returns to the international stock market.
Over the long term, returns on stocks in industrialized nations is 7%, including dividends, and 7.2% in global real estate, including rental income some investors receive from properties. Investing internationally may have more risk for American buyers, who are less likely to know local rules and regulations in foreign countries; however, global markets may offer opportunities for a higher return. For instance, Portugal’s real estate market is booming due to international visitors deciding to move there for a better quality of life. Portugal’s housing offers a 6.3% return in the long term, versus only 4.3% for its stock market.
For those with deep enough pockets to stay in, investing in housing will almost always bear out as long as the buyer has enough equity to manage unforeseen expenses and wait out vacancies or slumps in the market. Real estate promises to appreciate over the long term, offers an opportunity to collect rent for income, and allows investors to leverage borrowed capital to increase additional returns on investment.
Above all, though, the diversification of assets is the surest way to guarantee a strong return on investments. Spreading investments across different assets increases potential returns and mitigates risk.
Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
This story originally appeared on Wealth Enhancement Group and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
In today’s digital climate, consuming sports has never been easier. Thanks to a plethora of streaming sites, alternative broadcasts, and advancements to home entertainment systems, the average fan has myriad options to watch and learn about their favorite teams at the touch of a button—all without ever having to leave the couch.
As a result, more and more sports venues have committed to improving and modernizing their facilities and fan experiences to compete with at-home audiences. Consider using mobile ticketing and parking passes, self-service kiosks for entry and ordering food, enhanced video boards, and jumbotrons that supply data analytics and high-definition replays. These innovations and upgrades are meant to draw more revenue and attract various sponsored partners. They also deliver unique and convenient in-person experiences that rival and outmatch traditional ways of enjoying games.
In Los Angeles, the Rams and Chargers’ SoFi Stadium has become the gold standard for football venues. It’s an architectural wonder with closer views, enhanced hospitality, and a translucent roof that cools the stadium’s internal temperature.
The Texas Rangers’ ballpark, Globe Life Field, added field-level suites and lounges that resemble the look and feel of a sports bar. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers are building a new arena (in addition to retail space, team offices, and an outdoor public plaza) that will seat 18,000 people and feature a fan section called The Wall, which will regulate attire and rooting interest.
It’s no longer acceptable to operate with old-school facilities and technology. Just look at Commanders Field (formerly FedExField), home of the Washington Commanders, which has faced criticism for its faulty barriers, leaking ceilings, poor food options, and long lines. Understandably, the team has been attempting to find a new location to build a state-of-the-art stadium and keep up with the demand for high-end amenities.
As more organizations audit their stadiums and arenas and keep up with technological innovations, Uniqode compiled a list of the latest tech advancements to coax—and keep—fans inside venues.
Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register // Getty Images
Just Walk Out technology
After successfully installing its first cashierless grocery store in 2020, Amazon has continued to put its tracking technology into practice.
In 2023, the Seahawks incorporated Just Walk Out technology at various merchandise stores throughout Lumen Field, allowing fans to purchase items with a swipe and scan of their palms.
The radio-frequency identification system, which involves overhead cameras and computer vision, is a substitute for cashiers and eliminates long lines.
RFID is now found in a handful of stadiums and arenas nationwide. These stores have already curbed checkout wait times, eliminated theft, and freed up workers to assist shoppers, according to Jon Jenkins, vice president of Just Walk Out tech.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox // Getty Images
Self-serve kiosks
In the same vein as Amazon’s self-scanning technology, self-serve kiosks have become a more integrated part of professional stadiums and arenas over the last few years. Some of these function as top-tier vending machines with canned beers and nonalcoholic drinks, shuffling lines quicker with virtual bartenders capable of spinning cocktails and mixed drinks.
The kiosks extend past beverages, as many college and professional venues have started using them to scan printed and digital tickets for more efficient entrance. It’s an effort to cut down lines and limit the more tedious aspects of in-person attendance, and it’s led various competing kiosk brands to provide their specific conveniences.
Kyle Rivas // Getty Images
Mobile ordering
Is there anything worse than navigating the concourse for food and alcohol and subsequently missing a go-ahead home run, clutch double play, or diving catch?
Within the last few years, more stadiums have eliminated those worries thanks to contactless mobile ordering. Fans can select food and drink items online on their phones to be delivered right to their seats. Nearly half of consumers said mobile app ordering would influence them to make more restaurant purchases, according to a 2020 study at PYMNTS. Another study showed a 22% increase in order size.
Many venues, including Yankee Stadium, have taken notice and now offer personalized deliveries in certain sections and established mobile order pick-up zones throughout the ballpark.
Darrian Traynor // Getty Images
QR codes at seats
Need to remember a player’s name? Want to look up an opponent’s statistics at halftime? The team at Digital Seat Media has you covered.
Thus far, the company has added seat tags to more than 50 venues—including two NFL stadiums—with QR codes to promote more engagement with the product on the field. After scanning the code, fans can access augmented reality features, look up rosters and scores, participate in sponsorship integrations, and answer fan polls on the mobile platform.
Boris Streubel/Getty Images for DFL // Getty Images
Real-time data analytics and generative AI
As more venues look to reinvigorate the in-stadium experience, some have started using generative artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics. Though not used widely yet, generative AI tools can create new content—text, imagery, or music—in conjunction with the game, providing updates, instant replays, and location-based dining suggestions
Last year, the Masters golf tournament even began including AI score projections in its mobile app. Real-time data is streamlining various stadium pitfalls, allowing operation managers to monitor staffing issues at busy food spots, adjust parking flows, and alert custodians to dirty or damaged bathrooms. The data also helps with security measures. Open up an app at a venue like the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and report safety issues or belligerent fans to help better target disruptions and preserve an enjoyable experience.
Story editing by Nicole Caldwell. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
This story originally appeared on Uniqode and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Inflation has cooled substantially, but Americans are still feeling the strain of sky-high prices. Consumers have to spend more on the same products, from the grocery store to the gas pump, than ever before.
Increased import costs are part of the problem. The U.S. is the largest goods importer in the world, bringing in $3.2 trillion in 2022. Import costs rose dramatically in 2021 and 2022 due to shipping constraints, world events, and other supply chain interruptions and cost pressures. At the June 2022 peak, import costs for all commodities were up 18.6% compared to January 2020.
While import costs have since fallen most months—helping to lower inflation—they remain nearly 12% above what they were in 2020. And beginning in 2024, import costs began to rise again, with January seeing the highest one-month increase since March 2022.
Machinery Partner used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to identify the soaring import costs that have translated to higher costs for Americans. Imports in a few industries have had an outsized impact, helping drive some of the overall spikes. Crop production, primary metal manufacturing, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, and oil and gas extraction were the worst offenders, with costs for each industry remaining at least 20% above 2020.
Machinery Partner
Imports related to crops, oil, and metals are keeping costs up
At the mid-2022 peak, import costs related to oil, gas, petroleum, and coal products had the highest increases, doubling their pre-pandemic costs. Oil prices went up globally as leaders anticipated supply disruptions from the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. and other allied countries put limits on Russian revenues from oil sales through a price cap of oil, gas, and coal from the country, which was enacted in 2022.
This activity around the world’s second-largest oil producer pushed prices up throughout the market and intensified fluctuations in crude oil prices. Previously, the U.S. had imported hundreds of thousands of oil barrels from Russia per day, making the country a leading source of U.S. oil. In turn, the ban affected costs in the U.S. beyond what occurred in the global economy.
Americans felt this at the pump—with gasoline prices surging 60% for consumers year-over-year in June 2022 and remaining elevated to this day—but also throughout the economy, as the entire supply chain has dealt with higher gas, oil, and coal prices.
Some of the pressure from petroleum and oil has shifted to new industries: crop production and primary metal manufacturing. In each of these sectors, import costs in January were up about 40% from 2020.
Primary metal manufacturing experienced record import price growth in 2021, which continued into early 2022. The subsequent monthly and yearly drops have not been substantial enough to bring costs down to pre-COVID levels. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting shows that increasing alumina and aluminum production prices had the most significant influence on primary metal import prices. Aluminum is widely used in consumer products, from cars and parts to canned beverages, which in turn inflated rapidly.
Aluminum was in short supply in early 2022 after high energy costs—i.e., gas—led to production cuts in Europe, driving aluminum prices to a 13-year high. The U.S. also imposes tariffs on aluminum imports, which were implemented in 2018 to cut down on overcapacity and promote U.S. aluminum production. Suppliers, including Canada, Mexico, and European Union countries, have exemptions, but the tax still adds cost to imports.
U.S. agricultural imports have expanded in recent decades, with most products coming from Canada, Mexico, the EU, and South America. Common agricultural imports include fruits and vegetables—especially those that are tropical or out-of-season—as well as nuts, coffee, spices, and beverages. Turmoil with Russia was again a large contributor to cost increases in agricultural trade, alongside extreme weather events and disruptions in the supply chain. Americans felt these price hikes directly at the grocery store.
The U.S. imports significantly more than it exports, and added costs to those imports are felt far beyond its ports. If import prices continue to rise, overall inflation would likely follow, pushing already high prices even further for American consumers.
Story editing by Shannon Luders-Manuel. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
This story originally appeared on Machinery Partner and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
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