Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA is $61,940/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.56), which stretches that salary to about $66,204 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,252/month, about 30.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Scranton--Wilkes-Barre’s Regional Price Parity (93.56). 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school pay in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,252/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.56 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools in metros near Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $74K | $72K |
| Pittsburgh | $63K | $67K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $75K | $75K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $65K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $37K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Scranton--Wilkes-Barre numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 30.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,252/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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,196/month. At HUD’s $1,252/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Scranton--Wilkes-Barre compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median is $61,940 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,260, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $90,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,159/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,252/month, which eats 30.1% 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre?
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has a Regional Price Parity of 93.56 (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 $66,204 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.