Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Ponce, PR is $60,430/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $60,430 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $538/month, or 13.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $60K actually covers in Ponce, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ponce’s Regional Price Parity (100). 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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What this looks like in Ponce
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school pay in Ponce tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $538/month, 12.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100) 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools in metros near Ponce, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $58K | $58K |
| Arecibo | $60K | $60K |
| Aguadilla | $59K | $59K |
| Mayaguez | $57K | $57K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ponce, PR
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $10K 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
View Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98K | +50% | 1,070 |
| California | $97K | +49% | 23,280 |
| Washington | $95K | +46% | 3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $91K | +40% | 7,220 |
| Rhode Island | $84K | +29% | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $83K | +27% | 2,810 |
| New York | $81K | +25% | 21,130 |
| Alaska | $80K | +23% | 320 |
| Maryland | $79K | +21% | 2,760 |
| Illinois | $78K | +20% | 14,040 |
| Oregon | $78K | +19% | 1,520 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +18% | 11,610 |
| New Mexico | $76K | +17% | 880 |
| Michigan | $75K | +15% | 4,010 |
| Colorado | $74K | +14% | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $74K | +14% | 770 |
| Ohio | $74K | +14% | 9,550 |
| Georgia | $73K | +12% | 9,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $73K | +12% | 7,640 |
| Virginia | $68K | +4% | 7,440 |
| Minnesota | $68K | +4% | 3,960 |
| Delaware | $66K | +1% | 1,070 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +0% | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $65K | -0% | 430 |
| Alabama | $65K | -1% | 870 |
| Idaho | $64K | -2% | 620 |
| Tennessee | $63K | -4% | 3,910 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -4% | 1,900 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -4% | 2,950 |
| Texas | $62K | -4% | 56,760 |
| Maine | $62K | -5% | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -6% | 4,280 |
| Utah | $61K | -6% | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $61K | -6% | 1,270 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -6% | 650 |
| Iowa | $60K | -7% | 2,560 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -8% | 3,710 |
| Kansas | $60K | -8% | 1,610 |
| Florida | $59K | -10% | 8,740 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -10% | 4,000 |
| Indiana | $59K | -10% | 3,640 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -11% | 4,430 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -11% | 590 |
| Montana | $58K | -12% | 560 |
| Missouri | $57K | -12% | 2,860 |
| Arizona | $56K | -14% | 2,450 |
| Arkansas | $54K | -17% | 1,430 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -22% | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -22% | 2,360 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -22% | 2,530 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -23% | 1,690 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary changes
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Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ponce?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 12.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $538/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools in Ponce?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,091/month. At HUD’s $538/month FMR, rent would take 17% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school a high-paying job in Ponce?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Ponce compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
Ponce pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in Ponce, PR?
The median is $60,430 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,520, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $61,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Ponce?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $538/month, which eats 12.8% 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 Ponce?
Ponce has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary is worth about $60,430 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.