Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $100,900 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,347 take-home, or $6,112 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,368
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,256
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,463
- California income tax$5,154
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,312
- Take-home pay$73,347
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,390 | $29.51 | $48,976 | $4,081 |
| 25th percentile | $78,300 | $37.64 | $59,844 | $4,987 |
| Median (50th) | $100,900 | $48.51 | $73,347 | $6,112 |
| 75th percentile | $116,980 | $56.24 | $82,955 | $6,913 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,200 | $63.08 | $91,264 | $7,605 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,900 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, secondary school's $73,347 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,586 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, Secondary School jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $100,900 a year, or about $48.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,300 and $116,980.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $100,900 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,347 a year ($6,112 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,466 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,586 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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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