Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
Special Education Teachers, Middle School earn a median $66,810 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$66,810
$32.12 per hour
Range
$49,420 – $102,510
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
95,200
across the U.S.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$55,831
per year · effective tax rate 16.4%
$4,653Monthly
$2,326Twice a month
$2,147Every 2 weeks
$26.84Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,868
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$969
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,831
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,420 | $23.76 | $41,889 |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 | $28.85 | $50,390 |
| Median (50th) | $66,810 | $32.12 | $55,831 |
| 75th percentile | $82,800 | $39.81 | $67,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,510 | $49.28 | $80,946 |
Best cities for special education teachers, middle school (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $100,350 | $79,426 | $71,470 | 720 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $92,130 | $70,805 | $69,572 | 670 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $99,190 | $72,326 | $67,948 | 520 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $79,890 | $63,618 | $67,734 | 2,490 |
| 5 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $97,980 | $73,018 | $66,731 | 490 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $101,560 | $73,742 | $64,933 | 2,030 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $94,740 | $70,930 | $63,014 | 8,330 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,910 | $59,229 | $62,563 | 740 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,800 | $59,758 | $62,544 | 690 |
| 10 | Milwaukee, WI | $76,660 | $60,078 | $61,976 | 570 |
| 11 | Syracuse, NY | $75,920 | $58,737 | $61,349 | 490 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $78,720 | $61,115 | $60,933 | 550 |
| 13 | Virginia Beach, VA | $76,620 | $59,141 | $60,384 | 860 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,860 | $61,887 | $60,346 | 2,780 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $77,750 | $60,115 | $60,080 | 2,200 |
| 16 | McAllen, TX | $60,720 | $50,969 | $59,338 | 670 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $72,530 | $56,535 | $58,987 | 680 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $77,840 | $59,882 | $57,804 | 3,190 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $81,620 | $62,389 | $57,625 | 2,150 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $76,400 | $59,924 | $56,649 | 1,000 |
| 21 | Houston, TX | $65,970 | $55,187 | $55,954 | 1,760 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $64,090 | $52,696 | $55,254 | 820 |
| 23 | Washington, DC | $77,050 | $59,454 | $54,603 | 2,540 |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $60,430 | $50,736 | $53,566 | 670 |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $65,870 | $55,107 | $53,455 | 5,610 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $101,560
- Seattle, WA — $100,350
- Riverside, CA — $99,190
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $97,980
- New York, NY — $94,740
- Providence, RI — $92,130
- Boston, MA — $81,620
- Cleveland, OH — $79,890
- Philadelphia, PA — $78,860
- Detroit, MI — $78,720
- Chicago, IL — $77,840
- Atlanta, GA — $77,750
- Washington, DC — $77,050
- Milwaukee, WI — $76,660
- Virginia Beach, VA — $76,620
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $101,530 | $73,724 | $68,110 – $127,720 | 4,860 |
| Washington | $99,520 | $78,842 | $67,650 – $127,390 | 1,550 |
| Rhode Island | $93,970 | $72,031 | $48,830 – $97,450 | 380 |
| New York | $93,820 | $70,337 | $59,720 – $132,490 | 7,870 |
| Connecticut | $92,900 | $70,651 | $61,370 – $107,660 | 1,260 |
| Massachusetts | $84,550 | $64,303 | $60,080 – $108,440 | 3,110 |
| Alaska | $81,000 | $65,814 | $61,620 – $98,380 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $79,170 | $60,765 | $66,840 – $127,280 | 520 |
| New Jersey | $79,110 | $61,635 | $63,570 – $103,520 | 5,660 |
| Utah | $78,920 | $61,765 | $48,410 – $113,830 | 690 |
| Oregon | $78,360 | $57,929 | $51,470 – $98,090 | 590 |
| Delaware | $77,420 | $59,526 | $52,240 – $95,410 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $77,040 | $60,663 | $52,300 – $106,140 | 3,710 |
| Maryland | $76,410 | $59,319 | $51,100 – $122,710 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $76,040 | $59,343 | $46,790 – $93,350 | 1,410 |
| Illinois | $74,730 | $57,848 | $49,660 – $102,200 | 4,460 |
| Ohio | $74,590 | $60,035 | $47,630 – $98,120 | 7,540 |
| New Mexico | $74,440 | $58,866 | $60,070 – $89,760 | 1,090 |
| Vermont | $73,110 | $57,898 | $49,040 – $99,320 | 470 |
| Georgia | $70,550 | $55,423 | $48,170 – $95,970 | 3,740 |
| New Hampshire | $66,760 | $55,796 | $48,290 – $81,260 | 650 |
| Colorado | $66,130 | $53,114 | $50,750 – $98,620 | 2,020 |
| Wisconsin | $65,840 | $52,967 | $47,480 – $94,660 | 2,650 |
| Montana | $63,960 | $51,319 | $42,050 – $80,690 | 190 |
| Virginia | $63,820 | $50,604 | $51,360 – $100,010 | 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $63,630 | $50,503 | $49,100 – $93,820 | 1,930 |
| Iowa | $63,590 | $51,510 | $46,490 – $90,460 | 990 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | $51,162 | $46,640 – $78,990 | 680 |
| Maine | $63,440 | $50,054 | $47,560 – $81,550 | 310 |
| Texas | $63,360 | $53,090 | $50,530 – $77,720 | 12,580 |
| Nevada | $63,280 | $53,025 | $36,210 – $80,240 | 290 |
| Alabama | $62,850 | $49,802 | $34,360 – $76,730 | 460 |
| Wyoming | $62,770 | $52,616 | $52,190 – $79,060 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $62,310 | $49,665 | $48,900 – $81,280 | 980 |
| Arizona | $62,130 | $50,757 | $47,010 – $77,520 | 580 |
| Hawaii | $61,750 | $48,633 | $59,120 – $80,570 | 380 |
| Florida | $60,440 | $50,744 | $50,160 – $73,210 | 2,630 |
| Kentucky | $60,200 | $48,561 | $44,070 – $75,970 | 1,530 |
| Idaho | $60,170 | $48,446 | $50,190 – $76,200 | 300 |
| Tennessee | $60,000 | $50,390 | $48,640 – $75,490 | 1,310 |
| Kansas | $59,780 | $47,677 | $48,620 – $75,480 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $59,420 | $48,528 | $48,210 – $64,080 | 1,130 |
| North Carolina | $59,360 | $48,016 | $44,580 – $73,670 | 2,470 |
| Indiana | $58,900 | $47,798 | $46,500 – $78,160 | 1,070 |
| North Dakota | $57,680 | $48,526 | $47,350 – $82,930 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $56,830 | $45,839 | $48,840 – $66,560 | 750 |
| West Virginia | $56,440 | $45,723 | $45,380 – $63,710 | 1,080 |
| South Dakota | $51,360 | $43,448 | $46,680 – $60,120 | 310 |
| Mississippi | $50,750 | $41,660 | $45,830 – $62,120 | 1,020 |
| Oklahoma | $50,450 | $40,992 | $45,400 – $73,160 | 930 |
| Missouri | $50,370 | $41,222 | $39,990 – $81,110 | 1,050 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, middle school make?
The national median salary for special education teachers, middle school is $66,810 a year ($32.12 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,420 and the top 10% earn over $102,510. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays special education teachers, middle school the most?
California has the highest median pay at $101,530. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many special education teachers, middle school are there in the U.S.?
About 95,200 people work as special education teachers, middle school nationwide.
All 35 cities
- Albuquerque, NM
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Houston, TX
- Kiryas Joel, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- McAllen, TX
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Providence, RI
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, NY
- San Antonio, TX
- Seattle, WA
- Syracuse, NY
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC