Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI is $70,780/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.52), which stretches that salary to about $76,502 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,236/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in Muskegon-Norton Shores?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Muskegon-Norton Shores’s Regional Price Parity (92.52). 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 Muskegon-Norton Shores
Special education teachers, middle school pay in Muskegon-Norton Shores tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,236/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.52 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, middle schools in metros near Muskegon-Norton Shores, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $79K | $78K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $64K | $67K |
| Ann Arbor | $82K | $81K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $77K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $39K 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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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Muskegon-Norton Shores?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 26.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,236/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Muskegon-Norton Shores?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,716/month. At HUD’s $1,236/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Muskegon-Norton Shores?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Muskegon-Norton Shores compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Muskegon-Norton Shores pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI?
The median is $70,780 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,260, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $84,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Muskegon-Norton Shores?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,598/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,236/month, which eats 26.9% 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 Muskegon-Norton Shores?
Muskegon-Norton Shores has a Regional Price Parity of 92.52 (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 $76,502 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.