Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Hawaii is $60,940/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $55,315 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 56.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Hawaii. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $61K get you in Hawaii?
About special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 57.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 57.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,524/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
Hawaii pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in Hawaii?
The median is $60,940 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,730, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $78,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,909/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 57.3% 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary is worth about $55,315 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools 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.