Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $74,290 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,812 take-home, or $4,901 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,514
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,606
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,077
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,281
- Take-home pay$58,812
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,778 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $56,034 ($4,669 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,430 | $28.09 | $47,335 | $3,945 |
| 25th percentile | $60,210 | $28.95 | $48,710 | $4,059 |
| Median (50th) | $74,290 | $35.72 | $58,812 | $4,901 |
| 75th percentile | $93,480 | $44.94 | $71,723 | $5,977 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,270 | $47.73 | $75,619 | $6,302 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,290 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $58,812 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,348 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,290 | $58,812 | $57,348 |
*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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $74,290 a year, or about $35.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,210 and $93,480.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $74,290 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $58,812 a year ($4,901 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,281 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,348 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #9 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 Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 31% 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $108,150
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,560
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $79,760
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $78,860
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,570
- Instructional Coordinator — $78,400
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $78,130
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $77,330
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $46,650
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $45,680
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,750
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,080