Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in St. Cloud, MN is $59,480/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.63), which stretches that salary to about $67,876 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,206/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in St. Cloud?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by St. Cloud’s Regional Price Parity (87.63). 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 St. Cloud
Special education teachers, preschool pay in St. Cloud tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,206/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.63 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, preschools in metros near St. Cloud, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $81K | $77K |
| Rochester | $77K | $84K |
| Duluth | $75K | $85K |
| Mankato | $77K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Cloud, MN
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $58K 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 St. Cloud numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, preschool afford a 2BR apartment alone in St. Cloud?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 30.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,206/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 St. Cloud?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,108/month. At HUD’s $1,206/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 St. Cloud?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does St. Cloud compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
St. Cloud pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.63), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in St. Cloud, MN?
The median is $59,480 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,130, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $93,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in St. Cloud?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,934/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,206/month, which eats 30.7% 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 St. Cloud?
St. Cloud has a Regional Price Parity of 87.63 (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 $67,876 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.