Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $76,870/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $80,924 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Special education teachers, secondary school pay in Lansing-East Lansing tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,268/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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 Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $82K | $81K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $65K | $68K |
| Ann Arbor | $68K | $68K |
| Flint | $74K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $56K 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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Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 25.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, secondary schools in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,821/month. At HUD’s $1,268/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $76,870 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,010, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $102,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,933/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 25.7% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $80,924 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.