Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Athens-Clarke County, GA, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $76,600 at the median. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.34), which stretches that salary to about $82,066 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 26.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Athens-Clarke County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Athens-Clarke County’s Regional Price Parity (93.34). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About elementary school teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Athens-Clarke County
Athens-Clarke County sits well above the national pay line for elementary school teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,331/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.34 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for elementary school teachers, except special educations in metros near Athens-Clarke County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $77K | $77K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $63K | $69K |
| Savannah | $64K | $67K |
| Columbus | $61K | $69K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Athens-Clarke County, GA
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102K | +60% | 28,980 |
| California | $100K | +56% | 155,160 |
| District of Columbia | $97K | +51% | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $94K | +47% | 29,930 |
| Rhode Island | $91K | +42% | 3,830 |
| New York | $86K | +34% | 101,410 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +26% | 16,330 |
| Alaska | $79K | +24% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +22% | 40,300 |
| Maryland | $78K | +21% | 29,610 |
| Ohio | $77K | +21% | 47,870 |
| Oregon | $77K | +21% | 12,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | +20% | 48,370 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +19% | 26,640 |
| Delaware | $76K | +19% | 2,900 |
| Illinois | $75K | +18% | 61,520 |
| Utah | $75K | +17% | 14,820 |
| New Mexico | $75K | +17% | 6,210 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | +13% | 5,190 |
| Georgia | $72K | +13% | 43,820 |
| Hawaii | $71K | +12% | 6,040 |
| Virginia | $66K | +2% | 37,880 |
| Michigan | $65K | +2% | 40,910 |
| Nevada | $65K | +2% | 9,550 |
| Colorado | $63K | -1% | 24,860 |
| Vermont | $63K | -1% | 3,610 |
| Texas | $63K | -2% | 116,260 |
| Maine | $62K | -2% | 7,490 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -2% | 8,710 |
| Idaho | $62K | -4% | 6,850 |
| Alabama | $61K | -4% | 22,030 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -4% | 24,920 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -4% | 2,600 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -5% | 25,030 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -5% | 19,080 |
| Iowa | $61K | -5% | 17,300 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -6% | 4,430 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -6% | 28,240 |
| Indiana | $60K | -7% | 27,720 |
| Florida | $59K | -8% | 79,090 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -8% | 22,060 |
| Montana | $58K | -10% | 4,960 |
| Arizona | $57K | -12% | 24,240 |
| Kansas | $56K | -12% | 14,350 |
| West Virginia | $56K | -13% | 5,420 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -14% | 42,410 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -18% | 12,590 |
| Missouri | $51K | -20% | 33,180 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -22% | 4,290 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -22% | 11,060 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -25% | 18,500 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track elementary school teachers, except special education salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Athens-Clarke County?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/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 Athens-Clarke County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,983/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Athens-Clarke County?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $77K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Athens-Clarke County compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Athens-Clarke County pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The median is $76,600 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,710, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $90,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Athens-Clarke County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,877/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 27.3% 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 Athens-Clarke County?
Athens-Clarke County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.34 (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 $82,066 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.