Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Alabama, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $61,380 at the median. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $69,466 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Alabama?
About elementary school teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Alabama
Elementary school teachers, except special education pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $63K | +2% | 5,340 |
| Huntsville | $62K | +1% | 1,990 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $62K | +0% | N/A |
| Anniston-Oxford | $61K | -0% | 670 |
| Decatur | $61K | -0% | N/A |
| Mobile | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Dothan | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $61K | -1% | N/A |
| Tuscaloosa | $60K | -2% | 1,150 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $60K | -2% | 550 |
| Montgomery | $60K | -3% | 1,560 |
| Gadsden | $58K | -6% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track elementary school teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for elementary school teachers, except special educations in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,865/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is elementary school teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Alabama pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Alabama?
The median is $61,380 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,750, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $73,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,038/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 26.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a elementary school teachers, except special education salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary is worth about $69,466 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do elementary school teachers, except special educations get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.