Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, preschool in Winston-Salem, NC is $57,760/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.04), which stretches that salary to about $62,755 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,232/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $58K actually covers in Winston-Salem, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Winston-Salem’s Regional Price Parity (92.04). 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 Winston-Salem
Pay for special education teachers, preschool in Winston-Salem runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,232/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.04 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, preschools in metros near Winston-Salem, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $62K | $63K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $64K | $65K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $47K | $48K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $78K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Winston-Salem, NC
Entry-level special education teachers, preschools (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $25K 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 Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,232/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Winston-Salem?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, preschools typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,607/month. At HUD’s $1,232/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Winston-Salem?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $58K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Winston-Salem compare to the national average for special education teachers, preschools?
Winston-Salem pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.04), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, preschools make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The median is $57,760 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,560, and experienced special education teachers, preschools can clear $63,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Winston-Salem?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,821/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,232/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Winston-Salem?
Winston-Salem has a Regional Price Parity of 92.04 (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 $62,755 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.