Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
The median pay for a special education teachers, secondary school in Tuscaloosa, AL is $59,470/year ($null/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $67,795 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,169/month, or 29.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $59K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level special education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $101K | +45% | 12,190 |
| Washington | $98K | +41% | 2,470 |
| District of Columbia | $97K | +39% | 470 |
| New York | $92K | +32% | 17,030 |
| Rhode Island | $89K | +29% | 750 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +19% | 4,050 |
| New Jersey | $80K | +15% | 7,700 |
| Maryland | $79K | +14% | 2,450 |
| Oregon | $79K | +13% | 960 |
| Alaska | $79K | +13% | 470 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +11% | 2,040 |
| Illinois | $77K | +11% | 8,890 |
| Delaware | $76K | +9% | 1,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | +8% | 10,090 |
| Ohio | $74K | +7% | 10,570 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +3% | 1,610 |
| Vermont | $72K | +3% | 780 |
| Michigan | $71K | +2% | 2,310 |
| Minnesota | $71K | +2% | 4,720 |
| Georgia | $71K | +2% | 4,180 |
| Virginia | $65K | -7% | 6,040 |
| Nevada | $64K | -8% | 320 |
| New Hampshire | $63K | -10% | 1,090 |
| Texas | $63K | -10% | 10,490 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -10% | 1,210 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -10% | 400 |
| Arizona | $62K | -11% | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -11% | 1,650 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -12% | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -12% | 2,850 |
| Montana | $61K | -12% | 460 |
| Florida | $61K | -13% | 8,250 |
| Maine | $60K | -13% | 920 |
| Alabama | $60K | -14% | 680 |
| Utah | $60K | -14% | 1,370 |
| Indiana | $60K | -14% | 2,570 |
| Kansas | $60K | -14% | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $59K | -16% | 2,100 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -16% | 880 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -16% | 1,990 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -16% | 2,350 |
| Louisiana | $58K | -16% | 3,050 |
| West Virginia | $56K | -20% | 810 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -21% | 4,010 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -23% | 1,440 |
| Missouri | $51K | -26% | 2,170 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -28% | 1,560 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -28% | 1,590 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -28% | 530 |
| Idaho | $48K | -31% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track special education teachers, secondary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tuscaloosa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do special education teachers, secondary schools make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $59,470 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,770, and experienced special education teachers, secondary schools can clear $61,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,918/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 29.8% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $67,795 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.