Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Atlanta, GA
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $77,960 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,252 take-home, or $5,021 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,321
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,834
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,130
- Georgia income tax$3,423
- Take-home pay$60,252
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,760 | $28.73 | $47,718 | $3,977 |
| 25th percentile | $62,970 | $30.27 | $50,131 | $4,178 |
| Median (50th) | $77,960 | $37.48 | $60,252 | $5,021 |
| 75th percentile | $94,620 | $45.49 | $71,107 | $5,926 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,160 | $47.67 | $74,065 | $6,172 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,960 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $60,252 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,217 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Atlanta, GA has 1.2× the national concentration of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #6 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $97,410 | $72,707 | $67,156 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,290 | $75,970 | $65,711 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $91,840 | $67,934 | $63,823 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 | $70,999 | $62,518 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $91,610 | $68,913 | $61,222 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,960 | $60,252 | $60,217 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $64,000 | $53,604 | $59,618 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $79,690 | $61,092 | $58,972 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- 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, kindergarten and elementary school make in Atlanta, GA?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $77,960 a year, or about $37.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,970 and $94,620.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $77,960 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $60,252 a year ($5,021 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,423 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,217 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #6 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $130,880
- Instructional Coordinator — $81,520
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $77,570
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,210
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $77,180
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,570
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $75,690
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $75,490
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $58,870
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $55,490
- Tutor — $48,180
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $39,870