335 metro areas

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School Salary by City (2026)

Special education teachers earn the most in El Centro, CA, an average of $110,170 a year, against $74,730 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($115,760 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $74,730BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $110,170El Centro, CA
Best after cost of living: $115,760El Centro, CA
Metro areas: 335With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for special education teachers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

El Centro, CA$110,170
Mount Vernon, WA$103,830
San Jose, CA$102,260
Oxnard, CA$101,530
San Francisco, CA$100,660
Seattle, WA$99,720
Santa Maria, CA$99,170
Fresno, CA$95,540
Vallejo, CA$95,460
Bellingham, WA$94,900

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for special education teachers
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$110,170
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$103,830
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$102,260
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$101,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$100,660
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$99,720
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$99,170
Fresno, CA	$95,540
Vallejo, CA	$95,460
Bellingham, WA	$94,900

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

El Centro, CA$110,170 nominal$115,760
Mount Vernon, WA$103,830 nominal$101,350
Fresno, CA$95,540 nominal$93,520
Merced, CA$91,780 nominal$93,390
San Jose, CA$102,260 nominal$92,610
Oxnard, CA$101,530 nominal$91,850
Bellingham, WA$94,900 nominal$91,840
Santa Maria, CA$99,170 nominal$91,150
Seattle, WA$99,720 nominal$89,730
Bremerton, WA$94,470 nominal$89,450

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for special education teachers
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$115,760
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$101,350
Fresno, CA	$93,520
Merced, CA	$93,390
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$92,610
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$91,850
Bellingham, WA	$91,840
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$91,150
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$89,730
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$89,450

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	El Centro, CA	$110,170	$73,520	$128,220	$115,760
2	Mount Vernon, WA	$103,830	$79,080	$116,030	$101,350
3	San Jose, CA	$102,260	$71,360	$117,480	$92,610
4	Oxnard, CA	$101,530	$71,910	$116,120	$91,850
5	San Francisco, CA	$100,660	$74,560	$113,510	$87,070
6	Seattle, WA	$99,720	$76,080	$111,360	$89,730
7	Santa Maria, CA	$99,170	$77,290	$109,950	$91,150
8	Fresno, CA	$95,540	$68,120	$109,050	$93,520
9	Vallejo, CA	$95,460	$69,640	$108,170	$88,000
10	Bellingham, WA	$94,900	$70,450	$106,940	$91,840
11	Bremerton, WA	$94,470	$71,890	$105,600	$89,450
12	New York, NY-NJ	$94,060	$66,660	$107,570	$83,560
13	Los Angeles, CA	$93,880	$67,140	$107,050	$82,670
14	Boston, MA-NH	$92,890	$66,610	$105,840	$85,800
15	Merced, CA	$91,780	$67,300	$103,840	$93,390
16	San Diego, CA	$91,530	$66,760	$103,730	$81,810
17	Napa, CA	$91,010	$66,140	$103,260	$80,860
18	Bridgeport, CT	$90,940	$67,030	$102,720	$85,100
19	Riverside, CA	$90,900	$66,660	$102,840	$85,400
20	Boulder, CO	$90,580	$67,900	$101,750	$86,100
21	San Luis Obispo, CA	$90,510	$67,780	$101,700	$83,350
22	Sacramento, CA	$90,030	$66,040	$101,850	$84,400
23	Santa Rosa, CA	$89,540	$71,780	$98,280	$83,070
24	Yuba City, CA	$89,460	$65,380	$101,320	$85,830
25	Olympia, WA	$88,210	$68,850	$97,750	$85,090
26	Hanford, CA	$88,100	$66,290	$98,850	$86,700
27	Modesto, CA	$88,070	$66,510	$98,690	$84,590
28	Chico, CA	$87,290	$65,130	$98,210	$86,260
29	Kennewick, WA	$87,230	$67,510	$96,940	$87,160
30	Longview, WA	$86,770	$66,340	$96,830	$88,950
31	Kiryas Joel, NY	$86,760	$64,370	$97,780	$79,290
32	Portland, OR-WA	$86,580	$64,230	$97,590	$82,130
33	Stockton, CA	$86,550	$64,860	$97,240	$82,360
34	Redding, CA	$86,500	$62,640	$98,260	$85,910
35	Barnstable Town, MA	$86,220	$66,560	$95,910	$87,670
36	Kingston, NY	$85,820	$64,890	$96,140	$85,220
37	Yakima, WA	$85,000	$64,710	$94,990	$88,960
38	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$84,540	$61,890	$95,700	$77,640
39	Santa Fe, NM	$84,260	$69,040	$91,760	$85,310
40	Norwich, CT	$83,840	$62,620	$94,300	$83,470
41	Baltimore, MD	$83,520	$60,820	$94,700	$79,930
42	Spokane, WA	$82,800	$62,460	$92,820	$82,510
43	Hartford, CT	$82,590	$58,710	$94,350	$80,380
44	Detroit, MI	$81,950	$56,160	$94,650	$81,710
45	Providence, RI-MA	$81,640	$60,990	$91,810	$80,220
46	Trenton, NJ	$81,160	$65,600	$88,820	$78,660
47	Worcester, MA	$80,740	$54,770	$93,530	$78,750
48	Atlantic City, NJ	$80,670	$62,150	$89,800	$81,600
49	New Haven, CT	$80,660	$58,240	$91,710	$77,140
50	Chicago, IL-IN	$80,080	$57,390	$91,260	$77,300
51	Amherst Town, MA	$79,980	$61,350	$89,160	$79,790
52	Wenatchee, WA	$79,390	$59,680	$89,090	$76,440
53	Albany, NY	$78,830	$58,360	$88,910	$79,170
54	Denver, CO	$78,250	$59,100	$87,680	$73,970
55	Bakersfield, CA	$77,980	$59,470	$87,100	$77,300
56	Waterbury, CT	$77,970	$59,230	$87,200	$78,140
57	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$77,500	$57,840	$87,190	$79,130
58	Atlanta, GA	$77,190	$59,650	$85,830	$77,150
59	Springfield, MA	$76,950	$60,590	$85,000	$80,110
60	Vineland, NJ	$76,900	$61,150	$84,660	$80,130
61	Lexington Park, MD	$76,900	$58,920	$85,760	$76,320
62	Burlington, VT	$76,640	$57,000	$86,310	$75,920
63	Salem, OR	$76,270	$61,320	$83,630	$73,580
64	Columbus, OH	$76,170	$53,120	$87,530	$79,790
65	Reading, PA	$76,090	$57,640	$85,170	$78,390
66	Dayton, OH	$75,760	$54,340	$86,310	$81,730
67	Salt Lake City, UT	$75,680	$50,930	$87,870	$75,030
68	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$75,600	$57,440	$84,550	$73,720
69	Corvallis, OR	$75,510	$55,990	$85,120	$72,590
70	Bend, OR	$75,400	$57,330	$84,310	$72,780
71	Albuquerque, NM	$75,210	$58,570	$83,410	$78,720
72	Lancaster, PA	$75,080	$60,150	$82,430	$76,410
73	Akron, OH	$75,050	$53,780	$85,520	$80,380
74	Lansing, MI	$74,870	$54,330	$84,990	$78,820
75	Eugene, OR	$74,520	$56,760	$83,260	$73,370
76	Allentown, PA-NJ	$74,350	$58,710	$82,050	$74,370
77	Buffalo, NY	$73,800	$53,520	$83,780	$77,000
78	Warner Robins, GA	$73,500	$55,140	$82,550	$78,370
79	Springfield, IL	$73,110	$50,560	$84,210	$78,830
80	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$73,060	$53,810	$82,540	$69,700
81	Salisbury, MD	$72,920	$56,320	$81,100	$76,260
82	York, PA	$72,660	$56,990	$80,380	$75,690
83	Ann Arbor, MI	$72,470	$52,720	$82,200	$71,840
84	Farmington, NM	$72,240	$59,040	$78,740	$82,370
85	Medford, OR	$72,120	$56,190	$79,960	$71,100
86	Binghamton, NY	$72,100	$58,570	$78,770	$77,640
87	Syracuse, NY	$71,690	$58,640	$78,120	$74,880
88	Springfield, OH	$71,590	$52,450	$81,010	$79,120
89	North Port, FL	$71,490	$60,130	$77,080	$69,800
90	Portland, ME	$71,460	$56,310	$78,930	$70,160
91	Las Cruces, NM	$71,360	$55,350	$79,250	$79,100
92	Bloomington, IL	$71,100	$53,560	$79,730	$76,010
93	Utica, NY	$70,900	$52,120	$80,150	$76,500
94	Pittsfield, MA	$70,560	$55,560	$77,950	$74,190
95	Saginaw, MI	$70,560	$53,420	$79,000	$77,630
96	Ithaca, NY	$70,540	$58,290	$76,570	$68,280
97	Harrisburg, PA	$70,480	$57,160	$77,040	$71,440
98	El Paso, TX	$70,320	$55,280	$77,720	$78,210
99	Williamsport, PA	$70,310	$53,270	$78,700	$76,130
100	Jackson, MI	$70,210	$49,450	$80,430	$76,500
101	Monroe, MI	$70,100	$52,160	$78,940	$74,980
102	Glens Falls, NY	$70,000	$51,760	$78,980	$73,790
103	Reno, NV	$69,950	$54,270	$77,680	$69,250
104	Cleveland, OH	$69,940	$46,920	$81,280	$74,470
105	Rockford, IL	$69,810	$49,050	$80,040	$75,750
106	Flint, MI	$69,570	$49,950	$79,230	$74,780
107	Chambersburg, PA	$69,490	$55,710	$76,270	$73,420
108	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$69,480	$49,130	$79,500	$72,850
109	Pueblo, CO	$69,180	$55,530	$75,910	$75,390
110	Elmira, NY	$69,160	$53,090	$77,070	$73,260
111	Harrisonburg, VA	$69,140	$57,560	$74,840	$72,860
112	Montgomery, AL	$69,090	$60,680	$73,230	$77,040
113	Niles, MI	$69,040	$50,190	$78,330	$74,740
114	Toledo, OH	$68,880	$44,930	$80,680	$75,320
115	Traverse City, MI	$68,660	$52,190	$76,770	$73,530
116	Pittsburgh, PA	$68,650	$52,280	$76,710	$72,510
117	Nashville, TN	$68,580	$54,580	$75,470	$71,190
118	Greeley, CO	$68,550	$50,280	$77,550	$68,430
119	Watertown, NY	$68,470	$52,540	$76,320	$78,080
120	St. Cloud, MN	$68,450	$52,200	$76,450	$78,110
121	Battle Creek, MI	$68,450	$51,010	$77,040	$75,600
122	Valdosta, GA	$68,430	$48,990	$78,010	$77,520
123	Hilton Head Island, SC	$68,380	$54,430	$75,260	$69,760
124	Duluth, MN-WI	$68,290	$51,220	$76,700	$76,930
125	Youngstown, OH	$68,150	$49,990	$77,090	$77,980
126	Canton, OH	$68,090	$48,270	$77,860	$76,160
127	Madison, WI	$67,970	$53,230	$75,230	$69,870
128	State College, PA	$67,970	$50,820	$76,420	$70,240
129	Muskegon, MI	$67,960	$50,960	$76,330	$73,460
130	Kenosha, WI	$67,950	$50,790	$76,390	$67,200
131	Albany, OR	$67,700	$50,300	$76,270	$66,310
132	Dover, DE	$67,490	$53,620	$74,330	$69,220
133	Charleston, SC	$67,340	$54,200	$73,810	$66,700
134	Shreveport, LA	$67,220	$51,620	$74,900	$79,300
135	Rochester, MN	$67,170	$52,920	$74,180	$73,960
136	Kalamazoo, MI	$67,140	$46,030	$77,540	$70,790
137	Scranton, PA	$66,870	$56,210	$72,120	$71,480
138	Augusta, GA-SC	$66,840	$51,020	$74,630	$72,730
139	Jacksonville, FL	$66,750	$54,530	$72,780	$67,100
140	Ogden, UT	$66,720	$49,250	$75,320	$66,490
141	Gainesville, GA	$66,670	$50,480	$74,650	$68,900
142	Grand Junction, CO	$66,610	$51,360	$74,120	$69,770
143	Huntsville, AL	$66,420	$54,510	$72,290	$71,360
144	Fort Collins, CO	$66,370	$56,440	$71,260	$65,630
145	St. Louis, MO-IL	$66,340	$47,770	$75,490	$69,770
146	Daphne, AL	$66,310	$56,450	$71,180	$70,030
147	Dallas, TX	$66,270	$59,570	$69,570	$64,280
148	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$66,220	$49,440	$74,480	$71,150
149	Milwaukee, WI	$66,150	$52,550	$72,850	$68,240
150	Grand Rapids, MI	$65,790	$48,130	$74,480	$68,860
151	Lincoln, NE	$65,770	$58,850	$69,180	$71,820
152	Boise City, ID	$65,760	$48,870	$74,080	$66,840
153	Rochester, NY	$65,720	$52,430	$72,260	$67,730
154	Columbus, GA-AL	$65,690	$52,860	$72,020	$73,560
155	Weirton, WV-OH	$65,670	$48,280	$74,240	$73,770
156	Mansfield, OH	$65,640	$46,680	$74,990	$73,860
157	Charlottesville, VA	$65,530	$56,630	$69,910	$66,090
158	Omaha, NE-IA	$65,480	$50,210	$73,010	$71,240
159	Hinesville, GA	$65,400	$50,840	$72,570	$69,620
160	Houston, TX	$65,300	$56,840	$69,470	$66,210
161	Billings, MT	$65,260	$44,420	$75,520	$69,780
162	Altoona, PA	$65,220	$52,910	$71,280	$72,870
163	Athens, GA	$65,180	$50,050	$72,640	$69,830
164	Green Bay, WI	$65,160	$51,810	$71,730	$70,000
165	Manchester, NH	$65,140	$48,780	$73,200	$61,650
166	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$65,130	$55,660	$69,800	$70,660
167	Erie, PA	$65,030	$55,280	$69,830	$71,500
168	Minot, ND	$64,890	$49,320	$72,560	$74,560
169	La Crosse, WI-MN	$64,880	$50,540	$71,940	$70,700
170	Mankato, MN	$64,850	$51,640	$71,360	$71,300
171	Sheboygan, WI	$64,810	$50,210	$72,010	$68,940
172	Racine, WI	$64,660	$49,870	$71,950	$67,380
173	Lima, OH	$64,650	$45,080	$74,290	$72,100
174	Johnstown, PA	$64,500	$50,120	$71,590	$75,060
175	Lexington, KY	$64,400	$49,430	$71,770	$69,330
176	Eau Claire, WI	$64,200	$50,720	$70,830	$69,180
177	Elkhart, IN	$64,140	$46,540	$72,800	$71,010
178	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$64,130	$52,840	$69,690	$74,000
179	Columbia, SC	$64,030	$52,870	$69,530	$68,360
180	Las Vegas, NV	$63,990	$43,230	$74,210	$63,850
181	Mobile, AL	$63,990	$56,200	$67,830	$72,640
182	Greenville, SC	$63,900	$50,520	$70,480	$68,520
183	Ames, IA	$63,790	$48,410	$71,360	$71,810
184	Appleton, WI	$63,780	$50,050	$70,550	$69,010
185	Janesville, WI	$63,780	$51,880	$69,640	$68,070
186	Fond du Lac, WI	$63,750	$48,980	$71,030	$69,560
187	Idaho Falls, ID	$63,720	$48,260	$71,330	$67,490
188	Blacksburg, VA	$63,540	$47,650	$71,370	$68,540
189	Champaign, IL	$63,490	$49,110	$70,580	$68,490
190	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$63,090	$47,910	$70,560	$68,980
191	Cheyenne, WY	$63,070	$53,470	$67,790	$65,360
192	Peoria, IL	$63,060	$47,780	$70,580	$69,120
193	Colorado Springs, CO	$62,960	$50,820	$68,950	$62,520
194	Kankakee, IL	$62,930	$48,350	$70,110	$65,280
195	Orlando, FL	$62,850	$55,840	$66,300	$61,970
196	Killeen, TX	$62,820	$53,120	$67,600	$68,930
197	Baton Rouge, LA	$62,750	$49,510	$69,270	$69,120
198	Decatur, IL	$62,520	$46,900	$70,210	$70,710
199	Charlotte, NC-SC	$62,500	$51,020	$68,150	$64,200
200	Grand Island, NE	$62,440	$47,750	$69,670	$72,050
201	Bismarck, ND	$62,350	$54,450	$66,250	$68,500
202	Des Moines, IA	$62,300	$49,480	$68,620	$67,940
203	Lubbock, TX	$62,260	$44,280	$71,120	$68,180
204	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$62,250	$49,010	$68,770	$66,100
205	Richmond, VA	$62,230	$52,500	$67,020	$63,590
206	Spartanburg, SC	$62,200	$46,890	$69,740	$68,310
207	San Antonio, TX	$62,190	$55,380	$65,540	$65,660
208	Decatur, AL	$62,150	$49,860	$68,200	$71,260
209	Anniston, AL	$62,140	$51,580	$67,350	$72,300
210	Wheeling, WV-OH	$62,120	$46,810	$69,660	$70,330
211	Wausau, WI	$62,070	$49,420	$68,300	$66,990
212	Raleigh, NC	$62,060	$50,650	$67,680	$63,230
213	Dalton, GA	$62,060	$48,170	$68,900	$69,080
214	St. George, UT	$62,050	$44,030	$70,920	$63,760
215	Davenport, IA-IL	$62,030	$45,590	$70,130	$69,630
216	Kansas City, MO-KS	$61,950	$47,200	$69,220	$66,940
217	Laredo, TX	$61,930	$59,050	$63,340	$71,220
218	Oshkosh, WI	$61,890	$47,240	$69,100	$66,600
219	Twin Falls, ID	$61,850	$48,860	$68,240	$67,150
220	Indianapolis, IN	$61,780	$47,040	$69,040	$64,560
221	Wichita Falls, TX	$61,570	$50,090	$67,220	$68,780
222	Brownsville, TX	$61,560	$56,920	$63,850	$71,600
223	Roanoke, VA	$61,450	$50,210	$66,980	$65,640
224	McAllen, TX	$61,430	$52,520	$65,820	$71,520
225	Sherman, TX	$61,410	$55,190	$64,470	$65,490
226	Cedar Rapids, IA	$60,980	$46,400	$68,160	$68,550
227	Fort Wayne, IN	$60,840	$46,640	$67,830	$65,720
228	Oklahoma City, OK	$60,790	$42,670	$69,720	$67,240
229	Austin, TX	$60,770	$54,840	$63,690	$61,970
230	Tuscaloosa, AL	$60,760	$50,200	$65,960	$69,260
231	Aguadilla, PR	$60,740	$53,570	$64,280	N/A
232	Johnson City, TN	$60,730	$50,020	$66,000	$69,070
233	Fayetteville, AR	$60,720	$53,010	$64,510	$66,470
234	Corpus Christi, TX	$60,710	$55,440	$63,300	$65,510
235	Wichita, KS	$60,700	$50,950	$65,500	$68,240
236	Michigan City, IN	$60,640	$48,200	$66,770	$66,140
237	South Bend, IN-MI	$60,350	$46,280	$67,280	$64,990
238	Midland, TX	$60,210	$47,000	$66,710	$62,860
239	Lewiston, ME	$60,200	$44,910	$67,720	$63,550
240	Amarillo, TX	$60,140	$54,970	$62,690	$65,500
241	Iowa City, IA	$60,090	$46,850	$66,610	$65,670
242	Lakeland, FL	$59,910	$49,410	$65,080	$61,670
243	Tampa, FL	$59,880	$53,780	$62,890	$59,350
244	Phoenix, AZ	$59,840	$46,420	$66,440	$57,920
245	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$59,790	$46,520	$66,330	$69,160
246	Miami, FL	$59,400	$52,520	$62,790	$52,030
247	Arecibo, PR	$59,290	$53,060	$62,360	N/A
248	Lynchburg, VA	$59,280	$48,460	$64,610	$66,340
249	Knoxville, TN	$59,190	$48,990	$64,220	$63,940
250	Evansville, IN	$59,060	$45,950	$65,510	$64,530
251	Topeka, KS	$58,910	$50,800	$62,900	$66,330
252	Savannah, GA	$58,710	$37,000	$69,400	$61,670
253	Houma, LA	$58,570	$51,090	$62,250	$68,820
254	Ponce, PR	$58,550	$52,000	$61,770	N/A
255	Bloomington, IN	$58,500	$43,520	$65,880	$61,520
256	Dubuque, IA	$58,430	$45,890	$64,610	$66,910
257	Bangor, ME	$58,360	$45,480	$64,710	$60,470
258	Owensboro, KY	$58,230	$48,250	$63,150	$65,710
259	Crestview, FL	$58,210	$50,400	$62,050	$59,990
260	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$58,090	$49,940	$62,100	$67,630
261	Macon, GA	$58,080	$39,780	$67,090	$65,610
262	Greensboro, NC	$58,040	$45,880	$64,030	$62,500
263	Waterloo, IA	$57,940	$46,860	$63,400	$66,550
264	Bowling Green, KY	$57,880	$46,760	$63,360	$64,180
265	Beaumont, TX	$57,820	$48,910	$62,210	$64,210
266	Waco, TX	$57,810	$49,850	$61,730	$62,460
267	Elizabethtown, KY	$57,760	$46,040	$63,540	$63,770
268	Muncie, IN	$57,740	$46,240	$63,410	$65,500
269	College Station, TX	$57,650	$51,890	$60,480	$63,390
270	Guayama, PR	$57,580	$50,850	$60,900	N/A
271	Tyler, TX	$57,480	$50,610	$60,870	$62,370
272	New Orleans, LA	$57,380	$45,110	$63,420	$61,970
273	Mayaguez, PR	$57,330	$51,320	$60,290	N/A
274	Cleveland, TN	$57,320	$47,150	$62,320	$65,080
275	Pensacola, FL	$57,240	$49,890	$60,860	$58,580
276	Manhattan, KS	$57,220	$47,290	$62,120	$63,460
277	Kingsport, TN-VA	$57,100	$46,900	$62,130	$66,050
278	Little Rock, AR	$57,010	$50,250	$60,340	$63,800
279	Hot Springs, AR	$57,000	$49,150	$60,870	$66,490
280	Lawrence, KS	$56,880	$45,040	$62,720	$63,030
281	Durham, NC	$56,800	$45,630	$62,300	$58,210
282	Rapid City, SD	$56,780	$47,310	$61,450	$63,680
283	Longview, TX	$56,650	$45,590	$62,100	$63,310
284	Monroe, LA	$56,610	$44,240	$62,710	$67,720
285	Jackson, TN	$56,440	$49,320	$59,940	$65,990
286	San Juan, PR	$56,380	$49,940	$59,550	N/A
287	Lawton, OK	$56,230	$48,800	$59,880	$65,430
288	Fargo, ND-MN	$56,160	$45,340	$61,500	$61,800
289	Port St. Lucie, FL	$56,150	$51,000	$58,690	$56,020
290	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$55,880	$45,390	$61,040	$64,690
291	Jonesboro, AR	$55,710	$51,450	$57,820	$64,870
292	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$55,270	$43,870	$60,880	$62,510
293	Abilene, TX	$55,220	$45,880	$59,810	$61,110
294	Greenville, NC	$55,080	$44,970	$60,060	$62,310
295	Gulfport, MS	$55,010	$48,470	$58,230	$61,120
296	Asheville, NC	$54,960	$44,790	$59,960	$56,950
297	Tucson, AZ	$54,890	$47,090	$58,730	$56,650
298	Terre Haute, IN	$54,860	$43,080	$60,670	$62,490
299	Florence, SC	$54,810	$35,880	$64,130	$63,160
300	Fayetteville, NC	$54,690	$44,860	$59,530	$59,460
301	Lafayette, IN	$54,560	$48,500	$57,550	$58,400
302	Joplin, MO-KS	$54,520	$43,120	$60,130	$63,600
303	Victoria, TX	$54,390	$45,140	$58,950	$60,540
304	Logan, UT-ID	$54,210	$33,760	$64,290	$56,510
305	Tulsa, OK	$54,190	$45,130	$58,660	$60,740
306	Paducah, KY-IL	$54,000	$43,150	$59,340	$62,730
307	Winston, NC	$53,970	$41,000	$60,360	$58,640
308	Springfield, MO	$53,690	$44,470	$58,230	$60,610
309	Lake Charles, LA	$53,370	$49,960	$55,050	$62,170
310	Provo, UT	$53,280	$33,320	$63,110	$54,240
311	Texarkana, TX-AR	$53,170	$45,850	$56,770	$63,290
312	San Angelo, TX	$52,990	$44,340	$57,250	$57,320
313	Burlington, NC	$52,730	$44,200	$56,940	$56,580
314	Jackson, MS	$52,700	$46,920	$55,540	$59,180
315	Charleston, WV	$52,700	$44,190	$56,890	$59,400
316	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$52,580	$46,630	$55,510	$58,020
317	Missoula, MT	$52,000	$43,130	$56,370	$53,920
318	Hickory, NC	$51,830	$44,020	$55,670	$58,570
319	Yuma, AZ	$51,790	$45,820	$54,730	$55,860
320	Columbia, MO	$51,690	$41,900	$56,510	$57,790
321	Clarksville, TN-KY	$51,550	$42,780	$55,860	$56,680
322	Lafayette, LA	$51,430	$46,850	$53,680	$58,970
323	Wilmington, NC	$51,130	$44,600	$54,350	$53,030
324	Pinehurst, NC	$51,070	$40,340	$56,350	$57,810
325	Jefferson City, MO	$51,040	$40,410	$56,270	$58,020
326	Goldsboro, NC	$50,970	$43,290	$54,760	$57,620
327	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$50,920	$44,550	$54,070	$54,110
328	Jacksonville, NC	$50,830	$42,600	$54,890	$55,200
329	Enid, OK	$50,530	$41,380	$55,040	$59,960
330	Hattiesburg, MS	$50,470	$46,270	$52,540	$57,590
331	Prescott Valley, AZ	$50,230	$42,060	$54,250	$51,120
332	Rocky Mount, NC	$50,150	$39,900	$55,200	$56,980
333	Alexandria, LA	$50,120	$47,380	$51,460	$58,490
334	Morgantown, WV	$49,220	$40,680	$53,430	$52,740
335	Sierra Vista, AZ	$48,310	$38,840	$52,980	$54,130

More on special education teachers

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School career profile Special Education Teacher, Elementary School salary by state Cost of living calculator

Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays special education teachers the most?

El Centro, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $110,170 a year, followed by Mount Vernon, WA ($103,830), San Jose, CA ($102,260), Oxnard, CA ($101,530). The national mean is $74,730 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do special education teachers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($115,760 at national prices, $110,170 nominal), Mount Vernon, WA ($101,350 at national prices, $103,830 nominal), Fresno, CA ($93,520 at national prices, $95,540 nominal).

How much do special education teachers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $94,060; Los Angeles, CA: $93,880; Chicago, IL-IN: $80,080; Dallas, TX: $66,270; Houston, TX: $65,300 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do special education teachers earn the least?

Of the 335 metro areas with their own estimate, Sierra Vista, AZ has the lowest mean wage, $48,310. At local prices that is worth $54,130.