Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in New York, NY
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $91,610 a year — 41% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $68,913 take-home, or $5,743 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,324
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,680
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,328
- New York income tax$4,365
- Take-home pay$68,913
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $3,116 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $65,797 ($5,483 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,420 | $30.49 | $50,310 | $4,193 |
| 25th percentile | $74,690 | $35.91 | $57,938 | $4,828 |
| Median (50th) | $91,610 | $44.04 | $68,913 | $5,743 |
| 75th percentile | $116,520 | $56.02 | $84,967 | $7,081 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,270 | $64.07 | $95,533 | $7,961 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $91,610 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $68,913 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,222 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.4× the national concentration of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #5 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $97,410 | $72,707 | $67,156 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,290 | $75,970 | $65,711 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $91,840 | $67,934 | $63,823 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 | $70,999 | $62,518 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $91,610 | $68,913 | $61,222 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,960 | $60,252 | $60,217 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $64,000 | $53,604 | $59,618 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $79,690 | $61,092 | $58,972 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in New York, NY?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $91,610 a year, or about $44.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,690 and $116,520.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $91,610 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $68,913 a year ($5,743 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,365 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 41% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,222 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #5 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $128,090
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary — $123,210
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $104,770
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary — $102,740
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary — $100,950
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $100,800
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $100,430
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School — $99,830
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $98,250
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $98,130
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary — $97,760
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $96,900