Pay vs cost of living

How far does a Special Education Teachers, Middle School's pay go, state by state?

A Special Education Teachers, Middle School's pay leaves the most room in Rhode Island — about $5,785/mo take-home against $1,289/mo typical rent — and the least in Nevada.

StateEst. take-homeTypical rentRent share
Rhode Island$5,785/mo$1,289/mo22%
New York$5,981/mo$1,621/mo27%
California$6,200/mo$1,969/mo32%
Alaska$5,420/mo$1,361/mo25%
Delaware$5,335/mo$1,321/mo25%
Connecticut$5,457/mo$1,483/mo27%
Pennsylvania$5,111/mo$1,176/mo23%
Washington$5,561/mo$1,641/mo30%
Oregon$5,332/mo$1,431/mo27%
New Mexico$4,878/mo$1,034/mo21%
District of Columbia$5,702/mo$1,900/mo33%
Georgia$5,071/mo$1,320/mo26%
Massachusetts$5,465/mo$1,716/mo31%
New Jersey$5,084/mo$1,656/mo33%
Maryland$5,008/mo$1,683/mo34%
Ohio$4,284/mo$986/mo23%
Montana$4,327/mo$1,031/mo24%
Wyoming$4,157/mo$979/mo24%
Vermont$4,358/mo$1,207/mo28%
North Dakota$4,057/mo$911/mo22%
Michigan$4,193/mo$1,072/mo26%
Illinois$4,327/mo$1,246/mo29%
Nebraska$4,095/mo$1,017/mo25%
Minnesota$4,241/mo$1,230/mo29%
Iowa$3,866/mo$932/mo24%
Wisconsin$3,960/mo$1,033/mo26%
Alabama$3,867/mo$967/mo25%
Maine$3,995/mo$1,104/mo28%
Indiana$3,910/mo$1,022/mo26%
Kansas$3,903/mo$1,025/mo26%
South Carolina$3,953/mo$1,131/mo29%
Texas$4,133/mo$1,328/mo32%
Utah$4,055/mo$1,396/mo34%
Kentucky$3,468/mo$918/mo26%
Virginia$4,089/mo$1,547/mo38%
New Hampshire$3,954/mo$1,424/mo36%
Arkansas$3,392/mo$903/mo27%
Colorado$4,129/mo$1,659/mo40%
North Carolina$3,606/mo$1,147/mo32%
Louisiana$3,450/mo$1,028/mo30%
South Dakota$3,314/mo$910/mo27%
Tennessee$3,437/mo$1,111/mo32%
Florida$3,810/mo$1,542/mo40%
Oklahoma$3,236/mo$970/mo30%
Mississippi$3,176/mo$933/mo29%
West Virginia$3,082/mo$848/mo28%
Missouri$3,171/mo$997/mo31%
Arizona$3,463/mo$1,419/mo41%
Idaho$3,091/mo$1,163/mo38%
Nevada$3,339/mo$1,478/mo44%

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.

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