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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Iowa

The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Iowa is $58,780/year ($null/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$59K
Median annual
$/hr
Hourly rate
$45K
Entry level (10th %)
$75K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $59K get you in Iowa?

Estimated monthly take-home$3,862/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,064/mo
Rent as % of take-home27.6% (within guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$66,149/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$2,798/mo

About special education teachers, secondary schools

U.S. employed: 2,100
Category: Education

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa

Bar chart showing Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary percentiles in Iowa: 10th percentile $45,140, 25th percentile $48,670, median $58,780, 75th percentile $68,400, 90th percentile $75,220. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$45K25th$49KMedian$59K75th$68K90th$75K
Bar chart showing Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary percentiles in Iowa: 10th percentile $45,140, 25th percentile $48,670, median $58,780, 75th percentile $68,400, 90th percentile $75,220. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.

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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by metro in Iowa

8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island$61K+4%200
Cedar Rapids$60K+2%260
Iowa City$60K+2%100
Sioux City$59K+0%60
Ames$59K-0%60
Waterloo-Cedar Falls$59K-0%110
Dubuque$59K-0%80
Des Moines-West Des Moines$58K-1%640

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Track special education teachers, secondary school salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Iowa?

The median is $58,780 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,140, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $75,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $59K enough to live in Iowa?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,862/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 27.6% 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 Iowa?

Iowa 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 $66,149 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.

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