Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Atlanta, GA
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $77,180 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,743 take-home, or $4,979 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,150
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,785
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,119
- Georgia income tax$3,383
- Take-home pay$59,743
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,140 | $29.39 | $48,756 | $4,063 |
| 25th percentile | $62,730 | $30.16 | $49,951 | $4,163 |
| Median (50th) | $77,180 | $37.11 | $59,743 | $4,979 |
| 75th percentile | $80,490 | $38.70 | $61,900 | $5,158 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,560 | $46.90 | $73,023 | $6,085 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,180 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, secondary school's $59,743 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,709 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, Secondary School jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #6 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 Atlanta, GA?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $77,180 a year, or about $37.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,730 and $80,490.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $77,180 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $59,743 a year ($4,979 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,383 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,709 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #6 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary 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, secondary 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
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $77,960
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $77,570
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,210
- 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