Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Lancaster, PA is $81,040/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.26), that's roughly $82,475 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,526/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in Lancaster?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lancaster’s Regional Price Parity (98.26). 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 Lancaster
Special education teachers, secondary school pay in Lancaster tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,526/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.26) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, secondary schools in metros near Lancaster, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $80K | $78K |
| Pittsburgh | $75K | $79K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $78K | $78K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $65K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lancaster, PA
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $39K 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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Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lancaster?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,526/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, secondary schools in Lancaster?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,640/month. At HUD’s $1,526/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Lancaster?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Lancaster compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Lancaster pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.26), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Lancaster, PA?
The median is $81,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,670, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $99,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Lancaster?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,243/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,526/month, which eats 29.1% 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 Lancaster?
Lancaster has a Regional Price Parity of 98.26 (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 $82,475 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.