Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $76,400/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers.
Where the paycheck goes
What $76K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
About special education teachers, middle schools
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, middle schools in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $61K | , |
| Boulder | $81K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $64K | , |
| Albuquerque | $76K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $44K 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
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,672/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, middle schools in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,686/month.
Is special education teachers, middle school a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $76K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +14%.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $76,400 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,560, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $99,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,898/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,672/month, which eats 34.1% 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, middle school salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special education teachers, middle school salary is worth about $76,400 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.