Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Kansas City, MO-KS is $119,560/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $129,198 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,358/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $120K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.54). 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 Kansas City
Kansas City sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, preschool, local pay runs about 84% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,358/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kansas City offers a genuinely strong financial position for special education teachers, preschools at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, preschools in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $48K | $55K |
| St. Louis | $51K | $54K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $62K | $60K |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $37K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $72K 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 Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
Yes — at the median salary of $120K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, preschools in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,832/month. At HUD’s $1,358/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Kansas City?
Local pay is 84% above the national median — $120K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Kansas City pays $120K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +84%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $119,560 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,200, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $119,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,296/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 18.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special education teachers, preschool salary go in Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 92.54 (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 $129,198 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.