Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Las Cruces, NM is $72,810/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers.
So what does $73K get you in Las Cruces?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Las Cruces’s Regional Price Parity (90.2). 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 Las Cruces
Special education teachers, middle school pay in Las Cruces tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,042/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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 Las Cruces, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $76K | , |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $81K | , |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $66K | , |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $66K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Las Cruces, NM
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $18K 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 Las Cruces numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Las Cruces?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,042/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Las Cruces?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,382/month. At HUD’s $1,042/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Las Cruces?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Las Cruces compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Las Cruces pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Las Cruces, NM?
The median is $72,810 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,370, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $74,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Las Cruces?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,753/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,042/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Las Cruces?
Las Cruces 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 $80,721 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.