Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Modesto, CA is $96,500/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $92,690 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,758/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $97K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). 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 Modesto
Modesto sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, middle school, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Rent runs $1,758/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $104K | $90K |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $97K | $90K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $102K | $89K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $99K | $93K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $54K 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 Modesto?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,069/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Modesto?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $97K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Modesto pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $96,500 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,820, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $122,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,930/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 29.6% 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 Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special education teachers, middle school salary is worth about $92,690 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.