Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI is $56,040/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.86), which stretches that salary to about $60,349 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $993/month, or 26.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $56K get you in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by South Bend-Mishawaka’s Regional Price Parity (92.86). 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 South Bend-Mishawaka
Pay for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in South Bend-Mishawaka runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $993/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $60K | $63K |
| Fort Wayne | $59K | $64K |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $49K | $52K |
| Evansville | $51K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $33K 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 South Bend-Mishawaka?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $993/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 South Bend-Mishawaka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,822/month. At HUD’s $993/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 South Bend-Mishawaka?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $56K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Bend-Mishawaka compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
South Bend-Mishawaka pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median is $56,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,030, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $79,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in South Bend-Mishawaka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,780/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $993/month, which eats 26.3% 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 South Bend-Mishawaka?
South Bend-Mishawaka has a Regional Price Parity of 92.86 (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 $60,349 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.