Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $98,640/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $89,332 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month, about 56.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $99K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, local pay runs about 51% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,483/month, which is 57.7% 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 110.42), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools in metros near San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $97K | $85K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $105K | $91K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $92K | $86K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $98K | $87K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $64K 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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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 57.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,093/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Local pay is 51% above the national median — $99K here vs. $65K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +51%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $98,640 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,220, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $132,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,039/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 57.7% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $89,332 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.