Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The mean pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Cleveland, OH is $79,890/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. BLS does not publish the median for this occupation because wages exceed the reportable ceiling. The figure shown is the mean (average). Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.92), which stretches that salary to about $85,062 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,279/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K (mean) get you in Cleveland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cleveland’s Regional Price Parity (93.92). 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 Cleveland
Cleveland sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, middle school, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,279/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.92 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Cleveland 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 Cleveland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $61K | $64K |
| Cincinnati | $64K | $67K |
| Toledo | $63K | $69K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $77K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cleveland, OH
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $40K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track special education teachers, middle school salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cleveland?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,279/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Cleveland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,560/month. At HUD’s $1,279/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Cleveland?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $80K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Cleveland compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Cleveland pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.92), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Cleveland, OH?
BLS reports a mean (average) wage of $79,890 a year for this occupation in Cleveland, OH. The median is not published because wages exceed the BLS reportable ceiling. Entry-level workers start around $59,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Cleveland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,257/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,279/month, which eats 24.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special education teachers, middle school salary go in Cleveland?
Cleveland has a Regional Price Parity of 93.92 (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 $85,062 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.