Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $79,760 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,493 take-home, or $5,208 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,717
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,945
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,157
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,449
- Take-home pay$62,493
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,983 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $59,510 ($4,959 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, Secondary School pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,790 | $28.75 | $48,386 | $4,032 |
| 25th percentile | $61,760 | $29.69 | $49,908 | $4,159 |
| Median (50th) | $79,760 | $38.35 | $62,493 | $5,208 |
| 75th percentile | $97,960 | $47.10 | $74,737 | $6,228 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,930 | $49.49 | $78,081 | $6,507 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,760 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, secondary school's $62,493 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,936 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 1.9× 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
Philadelphia, PA ranks #4 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $79,760 a year, or about $38.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,760 and $97,960.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $79,760 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $62,493 a year ($5,208 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,449 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,936 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #4 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary 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, secondary 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, Middle School — $78,860
- 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