Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $62,030/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.18), which stretches that salary to about $67,292 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,274/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K get you in Memphis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Memphis’s Regional Price Parity (92.18). 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $91K | +44% | 17,920 |
| Washington | $85K | +35% | 3,290 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +31% | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +29% | 2,570 |
| New York | $81K | +28% | 20,500 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +25% | 6,650 |
| Oregon | $78K | +24% | 1,730 |
| Rhode Island | $78K | +24% | 1,210 |
| Alaska | $77K | +23% | 370 |
| Illinois | $76K | +21% | 12,550 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +20% | 10,700 |
| Maryland | $76K | +20% | 3,640 |
| Michigan | $76K | +20% | 3,600 |
| Georgia | $68K | +7% | 9,700 |
| New Mexico | $66K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $65K | +3% | 7,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | +2% | 6,850 |
| Ohio | $64K | +2% | 10,050 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +1% | 610 |
| Nevada | $63K | +1% | 490 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +1% | 3,850 |
| Vermont | $63K | +0% | 910 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | -1% | 980 |
| Idaho | $62K | -1% | 720 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -3% | 1,460 |
| Alabama | $61K | -3% | 660 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -3% | 4,100 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -4% | 2,580 |
| Texas | $60K | -4% | 41,010 |
| Montana | $60K | -4% | 560 |
| Maine | $60K | -5% | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -5% | 3,340 |
| Kansas | $59K | -6% | 1,590 |
| Delaware | $59K | -6% | 880 |
| Utah | $59K | -6% | 2,080 |
| Indiana | $58K | -8% | 3,710 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -8% | 720 |
| Kentucky | $57K | -9% | 3,660 |
| North Carolina | $56K | -11% | 4,640 |
| Hawaii | $56K | -11% | 500 |
| Iowa | $55K | -12% | 1,820 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -14% | 3,510 |
| Florida | $53K | -16% | 8,450 |
| Missouri | $52K | -17% | 2,240 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -18% | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -20% | 800 |
| Arizona | $50K | -21% | 2,220 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -21% | 2,280 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -22% | 2,180 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -22% | 2,310 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Memphis numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median is $62,030 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,830, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $76,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Memphis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,323/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,274/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary go in Memphis?
Memphis has a Regional Price Parity of 92.18 (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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary is worth about $67,292 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.