Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $78,450/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers.
So what does $78K get you in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
About special education teachers, secondary schools
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, secondary schools in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $62K | , |
| Boulder | $82K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $63K | , |
| Greeley | $72K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $38K 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 states
Track special education teachers, secondary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 40.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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, secondary schools in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,723/month.
Is special education teachers, secondary school a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +6%.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $78,450 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,050, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $100,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,010/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 40.8% 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, secondary school salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special education teachers, secondary school salary is worth about $78,450 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.