Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $78,860 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,887 take-home, or $5,157 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, middle school salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,519
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,143
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,421
- Take-home pay$61,887
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,949 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $58,938 ($4,911 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, Middle School pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,170 | $29.41 | $49,452 | $4,121 |
| 25th percentile | $62,900 | $30.24 | $50,789 | $4,232 |
| Median (50th) | $78,860 | $37.91 | $61,887 | $5,157 |
| 75th percentile | $95,400 | $45.87 | $73,015 | $6,085 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,860 | $50.41 | $79,380 | $6,615 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,860 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, middle school's $61,887 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,346 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.6× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median special education teachers, middle school salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $78,860 a year, or about $37.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,900 and $95,400.
What is a special education teachers, middle school’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $78,860 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $61,887 a year ($5,157 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,421 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a special education teachers, middle school?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $66,810. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,346 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, middle 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) — 29% 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 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
- 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
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $74,290
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $46,650
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $45,680
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,750
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,080