Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $96,970 a year — 49% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,999 take-home, or $5,917 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,503
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,012
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,406
- California income tax$4,789
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,261
- Take-home pay$70,999
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% 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 Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,006 | $4,167 |
| 25th percentile | $77,160 | $37.10 | $59,148 | $4,929 |
| Median (50th) | $96,970 | $46.62 | $70,999 | $5,917 |
| 75th percentile | $117,070 | $56.28 | $83,009 | $6,917 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,430 | $59.34 | $86,776 | $7,231 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,970 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, kindergarten and elementary school's $70,999 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,518 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 less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 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.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $105,290
- Riverside, CA — $91,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $96,970 a year, or about $46.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,160 and $117,070.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $96,970 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,999 a year ($5,917 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,049 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 49% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,518 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 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 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) — 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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