Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Merced, CA is $98,040/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $99,756 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,503/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $98K get you in Merced?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Merced’s Regional Price Parity (98.28). 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 Merced
Merced sits well above the national pay line for special education teachers, secondary school, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,503/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.28) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Merced offers a genuinely strong financial position for special education teachers, secondary schools at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, secondary schools in metros near Merced, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano | $75K | $74K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $101K | $89K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $104K | $97K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $105K | $91K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $63K 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 Merced?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,503/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, secondary schools in Merced?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,719/month. At HUD’s $1,503/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Merced?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $98K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Merced compare to the national average for special education teachers, secondary schools?
Merced pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Merced, CA?
The median is $98,040 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,990, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $124,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,009/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 25% 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 Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 98.28 (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 $99,756 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.