Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Utica-Rome, NY is $75,780/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.68), which stretches that salary to about $81,765 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,172/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $76K actually covers in Utica-Rome, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Utica-Rome’s Regional Price Parity (92.68). 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 Utica-Rome
Utica-Rome sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, middle school, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $67K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,172/month, 24.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.68 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Utica-Rome offers a genuinely strong financial position for special education teachers, middle schools at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, middle schools in metros near Utica-Rome, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $95K | $84K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $73K | $76K |
| Syracuse | $76K | $79K |
| Rochester | $63K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utica-Rome, NY
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $47K 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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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utica-Rome?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 24.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,172/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Utica-Rome?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,483/month. At HUD’s $1,172/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Utica-Rome?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $76K here vs. $67K nationally.
How does Utica-Rome compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Utica-Rome pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.68), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Utica-Rome, NY?
The median is $75,780 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,310, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $99,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Utica-Rome?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,845/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,172/month, which eats 24.2% 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 Utica-Rome?
Utica-Rome has a Regional Price Parity of 92.68 (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 $81,765 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.