Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Lancaster, PA, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $78,360 at the median. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.26), that's roughly $79,748 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,526/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $78K get you in Lancaster?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lancaster’s Regional Price Parity (98.26). 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 Lancaster
Lancaster sits well above the national pay line for elementary school teachers, except special education, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,526/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.26) 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 Lancaster, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $79K | $77K |
| Pittsburgh | $77K | $81K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $79K | $79K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $77K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lancaster, PA
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $33K 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 Lancaster?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,526/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for elementary school teachers, except special educations in Lancaster?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elementary school teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,644/month. At HUD’s $1,526/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Lancaster?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $78K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Lancaster compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Lancaster pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.26), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Lancaster, PA?
The median is $78,360 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,740, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $93,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Lancaster?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,092/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,526/month, which eats 30% 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 Lancaster?
Lancaster has a Regional Price Parity of 98.26 (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 $79,748 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.