Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Special Ed Teacher's pay go, state by state?
A Special Ed Teacher's pay leaves the most room in Oregon — about $5,793/mo take-home against $1,431/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $5,793/mo | $1,431/mo | 25% |
| Alaska | $5,403/mo | $1,361/mo | 25% |
| New York | $5,507/mo | $1,621/mo | 29% |
| Rhode Island | $5,151/mo | $1,289/mo | 25% |
| Washington | $5,497/mo | $1,641/mo | 30% |
| Connecticut | $5,327/mo | $1,483/mo | 28% |
| California | $5,803/mo | $1,969/mo | 34% |
| Illinois | $4,995/mo | $1,246/mo | 25% |
| Massachusetts | $5,355/mo | $1,716/mo | 32% |
| Ohio | $4,622/mo | $986/mo | 21% |
| Georgia | $4,843/mo | $1,320/mo | 27% |
| District of Columbia | $5,333/mo | $1,900/mo | 36% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,482/mo | $1,176/mo | 26% |
| Michigan | $4,360/mo | $1,072/mo | 25% |
| New Jersey | $4,875/mo | $1,656/mo | 34% |
| Wyoming | $4,163/mo | $979/mo | 24% |
| New Mexico | $4,131/mo | $1,034/mo | 25% |
| Nebraska | $4,038/mo | $1,017/mo | 25% |
| Wisconsin | $3,988/mo | $1,033/mo | 26% |
| Montana | $3,975/mo | $1,031/mo | 26% |
| Alabama | $3,889/mo | $967/mo | 25% |
| Tennessee | $4,024/mo | $1,111/mo | 28% |
| Vermont | $4,119/mo | $1,207/mo | 29% |
| Maine | $3,993/mo | $1,104/mo | 28% |
| Kansas | $3,902/mo | $1,025/mo | 26% |
| Minnesota | $4,078/mo | $1,230/mo | 30% |
| Idaho | $3,979/mo | $1,163/mo | 29% |
| Texas | $4,115/mo | $1,328/mo | 32% |
| Iowa | $3,705/mo | $932/mo | 25% |
| South Carolina | $3,902/mo | $1,131/mo | 29% |
| Kentucky | $3,679/mo | $918/mo | 25% |
| Delaware | $4,066/mo | $1,321/mo | 32% |
| Indiana | $3,756/mo | $1,022/mo | 27% |
| North Dakota | $3,632/mo | $911/mo | 25% |
| Virginia | $4,196/mo | $1,547/mo | 37% |
| Nevada | $4,124/mo | $1,478/mo | 36% |
| New Hampshire | $4,011/mo | $1,424/mo | 36% |
| Maryland | $4,262/mo | $1,683/mo | 39% |
| Colorado | $4,132/mo | $1,659/mo | 40% |
| Arkansas | $3,341/mo | $903/mo | 27% |
| West Virginia | $3,253/mo | $848/mo | 26% |
| South Dakota | $3,305/mo | $910/mo | 28% |
| Louisiana | $3,409/mo | $1,028/mo | 30% |
| North Carolina | $3,449/mo | $1,147/mo | 33% |
| Mississippi | $3,214/mo | $933/mo | 29% |
| Oklahoma | $3,222/mo | $970/mo | 30% |
| Utah | $3,617/mo | $1,396/mo | 39% |
| Missouri | $3,148/mo | $997/mo | 32% |
| Arizona | $3,379/mo | $1,419/mo | 42% |
| Florida | $3,422/mo | $1,542/mo | 45% |
| Hawaii | $3,631/mo | $1,927/mo | 53% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.