Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, middle school in Virginia is $63,820/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $67,328 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 39.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Virginia?
About special education teachers, middle schools
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What this looks like in Virginia
Special education teachers, middle school pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 39.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level special education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary by metro in Virginia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $77K | +20% | 860 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $71K | +11% | 70 |
| Charlottesville | $61K | -4% | 70 |
| Lynchburg | $61K | -5% | 50 |
| Richmond | $61K | -5% | 390 |
| Roanoke | $58K | -9% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track special education teachers, middle school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 39.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, middle schools in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,082/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for special education teachers, middle schools?
Virginia pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, middle schools make in Virginia?
The median is $63,820 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,360, and experienced special education teachers, middle schools can clear $100,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,178/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 39.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a special education teachers, middle school salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $67,328 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.