Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Boston, MA
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $87,630 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,316 take-home, or $5,526 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,449
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,433
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,271
- Massachusetts income tax$4,162
- Take-home pay$66,316
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. 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, Secondary School pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,790 | $29.23 | $48,205 | $4,017 |
| 25th percentile | $76,080 | $36.58 | $58,768 | $4,897 |
| Median (50th) | $87,630 | $42.13 | $66,316 | $5,526 |
| 75th percentile | $104,820 | $50.39 | $77,550 | $6,462 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,080 | $59.65 | $90,091 | $7,508 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,630 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, secondary school's $66,316 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,253 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.4× the national concentration of special education teachers, secondary school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $100,430 | $74,597 | $66,272 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,900 | $73,347 | $64,586 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $87,630 | $66,316 | $61,253 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,760 | $62,493 | $60,936 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $82,350 | $62,832 | $60,651 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,180 | $59,743 | $59,709 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $85,000 | $64,371 | $59,119 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,190 | $60,679 | $57,887 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, secondary school
Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary 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
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, secondary school make in Boston, MA?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $87,630 a year, or about $42.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,080 and $104,820.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $87,630 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $66,316 a year ($5,526 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,162 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,253 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median special education teachers, secondary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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