Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Florida is $61,510/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $62,396 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 38.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Florida?
About special education teachers, secondary schools
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for special education teachers, secondary school in Florida runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $74K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 38.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for special education teachers, secondary schools.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by metro in Florida
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $78K | +28% | 1,270 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $77K | +25% | 150 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $75K | +22% | 400 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $62K | +0% | 1,340 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $61K | -2% | 810 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $60K | -2% | 730 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $60K | -2% | 940 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $60K | -2% | 130 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $58K | -5% | 140 |
| Tallahassee | $57K | -8% | 180 |
| Port St. Lucie | $53K | -13% | 190 |
| Gainesville | $53K | -14% | 40 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $52K | -16% | 290 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $50K | -18% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 38.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,082/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $62K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Florida pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Florida?
The median is $61,510 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,360, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $79,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 38.7% 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, secondary school salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $62,396 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.