Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary in Cleveland, OH
Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $79,890 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,618 take-home, or $5,302 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, middle school salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,746
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,953
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,158
- Ohio income tax$1,415
- Take-home pay$63,618
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $1,997 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $61,621 ($5,135 a month). Choose “Cleveland” 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 →
Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,330 | $28.52 | $49,002 | $4,084 |
| 25th percentile | $62,210 | $29.91 | $51,237 | $4,270 |
| Median (50th) | $79,890 | $38.41 | $63,618 | $5,302 |
| 75th percentile | $97,290 | $46.77 | $75,380 | $6,282 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,300 | $47.74 | $76,739 | $6,395 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,890 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, middle school's $63,618 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,734 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cleveland, OH has 4.0× the national concentration of special education teachers, middle school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, middle school, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #1 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $79,890 | $63,618 | $67,734 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $94,740 | $70,930 | $63,014 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,860 | $61,887 | $60,346 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $77,840 | $59,882 | $57,804 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $77,050 | $59,454 | $54,603 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $65,870 | $55,107 | $53,455 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, middle school
Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities.
- 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, middle school make in Cleveland, OH?
The median special education teachers, middle school salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $79,890 a year, or about $38.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,210 and $97,290.
What is a special education teachers, middle school’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $79,890 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $63,618 a year ($5,302 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,415 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a special education teachers, middle school?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $66,810. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,734 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #1 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median special education teachers, middle school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,580
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,610
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,470
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $37,380
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $35,520