Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ is $53,910/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.1), which stretches that salary to about $57,290 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,365/month, about 37.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $54K get you in Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lake Havasu City-Kingman’s Regional Price Parity (94.1). 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 Lake Havasu City-Kingman
Pay for special education teachers, secondary school in Lake Havasu City-Kingman runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $74K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,365/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.1 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for special education teachers, secondary schools.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, secondary schools in metros near Lake Havasu City-Kingman, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $64K | $62K |
| Flagstaff | $60K | $60K |
| Tucson | $57K | $59K |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $61K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $14K 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 Lake Havasu City-Kingman numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,365/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, secondary schools in Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,779/month. At HUD’s $1,365/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $54K here vs. $74K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lake Havasu City-Kingman compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Lake Havasu City-Kingman pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ?
The median is $53,910 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,320, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $60,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,667/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,365/month, which eats 37.2% 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, secondary school salary go in Lake Havasu City-Kingman?
Lake Havasu City-Kingman has a Regional Price Parity of 94.1 (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 $57,290 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.