Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Grand Rapids, MI
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area earn a median $61,900 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,537 take-home, or $4,128 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Grand Rapids, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,248
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,838
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- Michigan income tax$2,380
- Take-home pay$49,537
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Grand Rapids? City residents also pay Grand Rapids’s city income tax — about $929 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,608 ($4,051 a month). Choose “Grand Rapids” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Grand Rapids, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,470 | $22.82 | $38,555 | $3,213 |
| 25th percentile | $49,130 | $23.62 | $39,819 | $3,318 |
| Median (50th) | $61,900 | $29.76 | $49,537 | $4,128 |
| 75th percentile | $78,610 | $37.79 | $61,042 | $5,087 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,420 | $39.14 | $62,899 | $5,242 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,900 buys in Grand Rapids, MI
Prices in Grand Rapids, MI are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median elementary school teachers, except special education's $49,537 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,846 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 about as common in Grand Rapids, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Grand Rapids, MI ranks #70 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 |
| 70 | Grand Rapids, MI | $61,900 | $49,537 | $51,846 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Detroit, MI — $65,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $61,900 a year, or about $29.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,130 and $78,610.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI?
On the median $61,900 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $49,537 a year ($4,128 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,380 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Grand Rapids, MI a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,846 would in a typical U.S. city. Grand Rapids, MI ranks #70 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford rent in Grand Rapids, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,242 a month ($1,479 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.