Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Delaware is $59,250/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $60,763 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 37.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Delaware. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Delaware?
About special education teachers, preschools
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What this looks like in Delaware
Special education teachers, preschool pay in Delaware tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,448/month, which is 37% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary by metro in Delaware
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $59K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track special education teachers, preschool salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 37% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,796/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Delaware?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Delaware pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Delaware?
The median is $59,250 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,600, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $63,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,912/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 37% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $60,763 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.