Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $117,200/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $104,746 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month, about 41.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $117K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, preschool, local pay runs about 81% 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 $3,001/month, which is 43% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 12% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.89), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, preschools in metros near San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano | $62K | $62K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $72K | $68K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $82K | $71K |
| Fresno | $94K | $92K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $63K 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
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 43% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,001/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,100/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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,272/month. At HUD’s $3,001/month FMR, rent would take 92% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Local pay is 81% above the national median — $117K here vs. $65K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 12% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +81%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $117,200 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,530, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $117,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,983/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 43% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 $104,746 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.