Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Virginia, elementary school teachers, except special educations earn $65,550 at the median. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $69,153 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 38.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Virginia?
About elementary school teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Virginia
Elementary school teachers, except special education pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 38.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level elementary school teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | $77K | +18% | 660 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $63K | -3% | 7,130 |
| Roanoke | $62K | -5% | 1,450 |
| Richmond | $61K | -6% | 5,270 |
| Winchester | $61K | -7% | 730 |
| Charlottesville | $61K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $61K | -7% | 560 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $61K | -8% | 630 |
| Lynchburg | $50K | -23% | 1,080 |
Compare to other states
Track elementary school teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 38.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Virginia?
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 $2,986/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for elementary school teachers, except special educations?
Virginia pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elementary school teachers, except special educations make in Virginia?
The median is $65,550 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,770, and experienced elementary school teachers, except special educations can clear $100,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,271/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 38.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a elementary school teachers, except special education salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $69,153 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.