Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Durham, NC
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $51,400 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,938 take-home, or $3,495 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,187
- Medicare (1.45%)$745
- North Carolina income tax$1,542
- Take-home pay$41,938
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,580 | $22.39 | $38,257 | $3,188 |
| 25th percentile | $46,580 | $22.39 | $38,257 | $3,188 |
| Median (50th) | $51,400 | $24.71 | $41,938 | $3,495 |
| 75th percentile | $59,630 | $28.67 | $48,222 | $4,019 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,440 | $30.02 | $50,368 | $4,197 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,400 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median elementary school teachers, except special education's $41,938 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,981 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #97 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
| 97 | Durham, NC | $51,400 | $41,938 | $42,981 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $59,730
- Raleigh, NC — $60,170
- Charlotte, NC — $58,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Durham, NC?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $51,400 a year, or about $24.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,580 and $59,630.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $51,400 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $41,938 a year ($3,495 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,542 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,981 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #97 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.