Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Albuquerque, NM is $63,790/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $66,761 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,464/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $64K get you in Albuquerque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albuquerque’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). 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, preschools
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What this looks like in Albuquerque
Special education teachers, preschool pay in Albuquerque tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,464/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, preschools in metros near Albuquerque, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $55K | $56K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $74K | $72K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $81K | , |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $59K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albuquerque, NM
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $99K | +53% | 710 |
| New Jersey | $92K | +42% | 1,720 |
| Connecticut | $88K | +36% | 380 |
| Washington | $87K | +34% | 820 |
| Maryland | $85K | +31% | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | +29% | 490 |
| Alaska | $80K | +24% | 110 |
| Vermont | $79K | +22% | 70 |
| Colorado | $78K | +20% | 810 |
| Virginia | $78K | +20% | 650 |
| Oregon | $77K | +20% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +17% | 1,250 |
| Michigan | $76K | +17% | 430 |
| Hawaii | $75K | +16% | 230 |
| Georgia | $72K | +12% | 380 |
| New York | $68K | +5% | 6,220 |
| New Mexico | $66K | +2% | 270 |
| Texas | $66K | +1% | 2,010 |
| Iowa | $64K | -2% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $63K | -3% | 80 |
| Illinois | $63K | -3% | 1,080 |
| Missouri | $62K | -4% | 940 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | -5% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -6% | 240 |
| Ohio | $61K | -6% | 1,150 |
| Maine | $61K | -6% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -7% | 640 |
| Arizona | $60K | -7% | 330 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -7% | 50 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -8% | 170 |
| California | $60K | -8% | 2,510 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -8% | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $59K | -9% | 120 |
| Delaware | $59K | -9% | 100 |
| Kansas | $59K | -9% | 350 |
| Florida | $58K | -10% | 1,370 |
| Utah | $58K | -10% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $57K | -12% | 960 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -16% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $52K | -19% | 110 |
| Wyoming | $52K | -20% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -23% | 60 |
| Idaho | $50K | -23% | 180 |
| Indiana | $49K | -25% | 380 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -45% | 510 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track special education teachers, preschool salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albuquerque numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in Albuquerque?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,464/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, preschools in Albuquerque?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,002/month. At HUD’s $1,464/month FMR, rent would take 73% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special education teachers, preschool a high-paying job in Albuquerque?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Albuquerque compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Albuquerque pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median is $63,790 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,370, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $80,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Albuquerque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,261/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,464/month, which eats 34.4% 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, preschool salary go in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (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, preschool salary is worth about $66,761 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special education teachers, preschools 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.