Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Washington, DC
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $85,000 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,371 take-home, or $5,364 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,870
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,233
- District of Columbia income tax$4,257
- Take-home pay$64,371
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, Secondary School pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,710 | $29.67 | $49,199 | $4,100 |
| 25th percentile | $68,400 | $32.88 | $53,950 | $4,496 |
| Median (50th) | $85,000 | $40.87 | $64,371 | $5,364 |
| 75th percentile | $109,100 | $52.45 | $79,277 | $6,606 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,120 | $59.19 | $87,922 | $7,327 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,000 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, secondary school's $64,371 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,119 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #7 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 Washington, DC?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $85,000 a year, or about $40.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,400 and $109,100.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $85,000 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $64,371 a year ($5,364 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,257 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,119 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #7 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary 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) — 37% 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 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
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,300
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,880
- 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