Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Battle Creek, MI is $77,460/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.54), which stretches that salary to about $85,553 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,176/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Battle Creek?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Battle Creek’s Regional Price Parity (90.54). 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, middle schools
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What this looks like in Battle Creek
Battle Creek sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, middle school, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,176/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Battle Creek offers a genuinely strong financial position for special education teachers, middle schools at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, middle schools in metros near Battle Creek, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $79K | $78K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $64K | $67K |
| Ann Arbor | $82K | $81K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $77K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Battle Creek, MI
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $102K | +52% | 4,860 |
| Washington | $100K | +49% | 1,550 |
| Rhode Island | $94K | +41% | 380 |
| New York | $94K | +40% | 7,870 |
| Connecticut | $93K | +39% | 1,260 |
| Massachusetts | $85K | +27% | 3,110 |
| Alaska | $81K | +21% | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $79K | +19% | 520 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +18% | 5,660 |
| Utah | $79K | +18% | 690 |
| Oregon | $78K | +17% | 590 |
| Delaware | $77K | +16% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | +15% | 3,710 |
| Maryland | $76K | +14% | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $76K | +14% | 1,410 |
| Illinois | $75K | +12% | 4,460 |
| Ohio | $75K | +12% | 7,540 |
| New Mexico | $74K | +11% | 1,090 |
| Vermont | $73K | +9% | 470 |
| Georgia | $71K | +6% | 3,740 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -0% | 650 |
| Colorado | $66K | -1% | 2,020 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -1% | 2,650 |
| Montana | $64K | -4% | 190 |
| Virginia | $64K | -4% | 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $64K | -5% | 1,930 |
| Iowa | $64K | -5% | 990 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -5% | 680 |
| Maine | $63K | -5% | 310 |
| Texas | $63K | -5% | 12,580 |
| Nevada | $63K | -5% | 290 |
| Alabama | $63K | -6% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -6% | 330 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -7% | 980 |
| Arizona | $62K | -7% | 580 |
| Hawaii | $62K | -8% | 380 |
| Florida | $60K | -10% | 2,630 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -10% | 1,530 |
| Idaho | $60K | -10% | 300 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -10% | 1,310 |
| Kansas | $60K | -11% | 550 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -11% | 1,130 |
| North Carolina | $59K | -11% | 2,470 |
| Indiana | $59K | -12% | 1,070 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -14% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -15% | 750 |
| West Virginia | $56K | -16% | 1,080 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -23% | 310 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -24% | 1,020 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -24% | 930 |
| Missouri | $50K | -25% | 1,050 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track special education teachers, middle school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Battle Creek numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Battle Creek?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,176/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Battle Creek?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,646/month. At HUD’s $1,176/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special education teachers, middle school a high-paying job in Battle Creek?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $77K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Battle Creek compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Battle Creek pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Battle Creek, MI?
The median is $77,460 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,100, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $89,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Battle Creek?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,966/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,176/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special education teachers, middle school salary go in Battle Creek?
Battle Creek has a Regional Price Parity of 90.54 (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, middle school salary is worth about $85,553 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special education teachers, middle 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.