Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Washington, DC
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $79,880 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,204 take-home, or $5,100 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,744
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,953
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,158
- District of Columbia income tax$3,821
- Take-home pay$61,204
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,770 | $29.70 | $49,244 | $4,104 |
| 25th percentile | $67,740 | $32.57 | $53,528 | $4,461 |
| Median (50th) | $79,880 | $38.40 | $61,204 | $5,100 |
| 75th percentile | $101,310 | $48.71 | $74,459 | $6,205 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,620 | $58.95 | $87,623 | $7,302 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,880 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $61,204 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,211 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $79,880 | $61,204 | $56,211 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $79,880 a year, or about $38.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $67,740 and $101,310.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $79,880 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $61,204 a year ($5,100 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,821 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,211 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #10 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 Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 39% 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 Washington, DC
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $135,670
- Instructional Coordinator — $105,220
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $99,240
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $97,920
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $95,480
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $85,000
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,300
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $79,470
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,350
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $77,200
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $77,050
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $59,760