Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Colorado is $78,040/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $75,248 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 35.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $78K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About special education teachers, preschools
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, preschool, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary by metro in Colorado
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $81K | +4% | 350 |
| Boulder | $80K | +3% | 90 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $62K | -21% | 90 |
| Colorado Springs | $61K | -21% | 120 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,600/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Colorado?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $78K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Colorado pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Colorado?
The median is $78,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,200, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $102,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,988/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 36.7% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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, preschool salary is worth about $75,248 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.