Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI is $80,700/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.82), that's roughly $76,989 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,709/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $81K actually covers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington’s Regional Price Parity (104.82). 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, preschool, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,709/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.82) 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, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $53K 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 annually. We'll email you when Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,709/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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,230/month. At HUD’s $1,709/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, preschool a high-paying job in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $81K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median is $80,700 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,990, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $101,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,092/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,709/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington?
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington has a Regional Price Parity of 104.82 (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 $76,989 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.