Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Fort Smith, AR-OK, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $52,620 at the median. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $61,264 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $937/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $53K get you in Fort Smith?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Smith’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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 Fort Smith
Pay for elementary school teachers, except special education in Fort Smith runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $937/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% 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 Fort Smith, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $59K | $66K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $61K | $67K |
| Jonesboro | $56K | $66K |
| Hot Springs | $58K | $67K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $34K 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 Fort Smith?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $937/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 Fort Smith?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,819/month. At HUD’s $937/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Fort Smith?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $53K here vs. $64K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Fort Smith compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Fort Smith pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $52,620 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,990, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $81,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,536/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month, which eats 26.5% 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 Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (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 $61,264 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.