Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in South Carolina is $62,360/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $66,931 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in South Carolina?
About special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by metro in South Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $67K | +7% | 80 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $64K | +3% | 480 |
| Columbia | $63K | +1% | 300 |
| Spartanburg | $62K | -0% | 290 |
| Florence | $62K | -0% | 80 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $61K | -2% | 380 |
Compare to other states
Track special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,972/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
South Carolina pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in South Carolina?
The median is $62,360 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,540, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $79,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 30.4% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $66,931 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.