Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Stockton-Lodi, CA is $79,760/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.09), so that salary is closer to $75,897 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,742/month, about 33.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $80K get you in Stockton-Lodi?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Stockton-Lodi’s Regional Price Parity (105.09). 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 Stockton-Lodi
Stockton-Lodi sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,742/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.09), so groceries and services cost more too. 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 Stockton-Lodi, 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, Stockton-Lodi, CA
Entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $54K 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 Stockton-Lodi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 34.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,742/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Stockton-Lodi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,511/month. At HUD’s $1,742/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Stockton-Lodi?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $80K here vs. $65K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Stockton-Lodi compare to the national average for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools?
Stockton-Lodi pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools make in Stockton-Lodi, CA?
The median is $79,760 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,520, and experienced special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary schools can clear $112,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Stockton-Lodi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,079/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,742/month, which eats 34.3% 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 Stockton-Lodi?
Stockton-Lodi has a Regional Price Parity of 105.09 (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 $75,897 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.