Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Cedar Rapids, IA is $62,110/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.96), which stretches that salary to about $69,818 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $956/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $62K get you in Cedar Rapids?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cedar Rapids’s Regional Price Parity (88.96). 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, secondary schools
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What this looks like in Cedar Rapids
Pay for special education teachers, secondary school in Cedar Rapids runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $956/month, 23.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.96 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Cedar Rapids can be a reasonable trade-off for special education teachers, secondary schools who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, secondary schools in metros near Cedar Rapids, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $60K | $66K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $62K | $69K |
| Iowa City | $63K | $69K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $60K | $69K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cedar Rapids, IA
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $101K | +36% | 2,510 |
| California | $101K | +36% | 12,100 |
| District of Columbia | $100K | +34% | 440 |
| Maryland | $94K | +26% | 1,560 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | +25% | 830 |
| New York | $89K | +20% | 15,250 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +13% | 5,470 |
| New Jersey | $84K | +13% | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $82K | +10% | 1,920 |
| Alaska | $81K | +9% | 590 |
| Illinois | $80K | +8% | 9,490 |
| Vermont | $79K | +7% | 660 |
| Delaware | $78K | +6% | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $78K | +5% | 2,570 |
| Oregon | $77K | +4% | 1,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | +4% | 11,040 |
| New Mexico | $77K | +4% | 2,150 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +3% | 4,130 |
| Ohio | $76K | +3% | 10,580 |
| Georgia | $74K | -0% | 4,090 |
| New Hampshire | $70K | -6% | 910 |
| Virginia | $68K | -8% | 6,380 |
| Colorado | $67K | -9% | 2,970 |
| Hawaii | $66K | -11% | 800 |
| Texas | $65K | -13% | 10,200 |
| Arizona | $64K | -13% | 1,960 |
| Utah | $64K | -14% | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -14% | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -15% | 1,240 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -15% | 350 |
| Montana | $62K | -16% | 480 |
| Alabama | $62K | -16% | 740 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -16% | 1,780 |
| Maine | $62K | -17% | 860 |
| Florida | $62K | -17% | 7,940 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -17% | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $61K | -18% | 520 |
| Indiana | $61K | -18% | 2,580 |
| Nevada | $61K | -18% | 350 |
| Iowa | $61K | -18% | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -18% | 2,680 |
| Kansas | $61K | -18% | 1,650 |
| Idaho | $61K | -18% | 470 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -20% | 2,020 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -20% | 3,160 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -23% | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -24% | 3,400 |
| Missouri | $56K | -25% | 2,760 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -25% | 840 |
| South Dakota | $55K | -26% | 500 |
| Mississippi | $52K | -30% | 1,670 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track special education teachers, secondary school salary changes
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Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cedar Rapids?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 23.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $956/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, secondary schools in Cedar Rapids?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,960/month. At HUD’s $956/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special education teachers, secondary school a high-paying job in Cedar Rapids?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $62K here vs. $74K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Cedar Rapids compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Cedar Rapids pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median is $62,110 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,330, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $83,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Cedar Rapids?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,069/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $956/month, which eats 23.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special education teachers, secondary school salary go in Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids has a Regional Price Parity of 88.96 (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, secondary school salary is worth about $69,818 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special education teachers, secondary schools 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.