Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Jonesboro, AR is $51,800/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.88), which stretches that salary to about $60,317 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,040/month, about 30.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $52K get you in Jonesboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Jonesboro’s Regional Price Parity (85.88). 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 Jonesboro
Pay for special education teachers, middle school in Jonesboro runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $67K. Rent runs $1,040/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, middle schools in metros near Jonesboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $59K | $66K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $60K | $66K |
| Fort Smith | $56K | $66K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $66K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Jonesboro, AR
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $13K 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
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Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Jonesboro?
Yes — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,040/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Jonesboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,908/month. At HUD’s $1,040/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 Jonesboro?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $52K here vs. $67K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Jonesboro compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Jonesboro pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Jonesboro, AR?
The median is $51,800 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,470, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $61,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Jonesboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,484/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,040/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Jonesboro?
Jonesboro has a Regional Price Parity of 85.88 (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 $60,317 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.