Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Bellingham, WA, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $101,230 at the median. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.33), that's roughly $97,968 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,794/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $101K get you in Bellingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bellingham’s Regional Price Parity (103.33). 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 Bellingham
Bellingham sits well above the national pay line for elementary school teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 58% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,794/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.33) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Bellingham, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $103K | $93K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $99K | $98K |
| Kennewick-Richland | $100K | $100K |
| Yakima | $98K | $103K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bellingham, WA
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $64K 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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Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bellingham?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,794/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 Bellingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,820/month. At HUD’s $1,794/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Bellingham?
Local pay is 58% above the national median — $101K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Bellingham compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Bellingham pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +58%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Bellingham, WA?
The median is $101,230 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,670, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $127,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Bellingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,633/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,794/month, which eats 27% 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 Bellingham?
Bellingham has a Regional Price Parity of 103.33 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary is worth about $97,968 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.