Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Boston, MA
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $97,410 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,707 take-home, or $6,059 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,600
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,039
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,412
- Massachusetts income tax$4,651
- Take-home pay$72,707
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, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,150 | $29.88 | $49,230 | $4,103 |
| 25th percentile | $77,420 | $37.22 | $59,644 | $4,970 |
| Median (50th) | $97,410 | $46.83 | $72,707 | $6,059 |
| 75th percentile | $106,770 | $51.33 | $78,824 | $6,569 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,210 | $61.16 | $92,074 | $7,673 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,410 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, kindergarten and elementary school's $72,707 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,156 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, Kindergarten and Elementary School jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #1 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 Boston, MA?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $97,410 a year, or about $46.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,420 and $106,770.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $97,410 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $72,707 a year ($6,059 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,651 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,156 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #1 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 Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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