What is the best state to be a special education teachers, middle school?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a special education teachers, middle school: a BLS median of $99,520 is worth $92,998 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 136.3 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a special education teachers, middle school at $101,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 127.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

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Best States to Be a Special Education Teachers, Middle School

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a special education teachers, middle school salary goes furthest in Washington — a $99,520 BLS median worth $92,998 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 136.3).

Which US states are best for a special education teachers, middle school after cost of living and tax?

For a special education teachers, middle school, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $99,520 BLS median becomes $92,998 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 136.3). Hawaii ranks last ($53,285, index 78.1). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 51 states for a special education teachers, middle school. Index 100 = the average state; 136.3 means pay goes 36.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

136.3

Special Education Teachers, Middle School — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$99,520	—	107.0	$92,998	136.3
2	Rhode Island	$93,970	$2,924	102.3	$89,017	130.5
3	California	$101,530	$5,320	110.7	$86,894	127.4
4	Connecticut	$92,900	$3,535	103.6	$86,252	126.4
5	New York	$93,820	$4,581	107.9	$82,689	121.2
6	Alaska	$81,000	—	102.4	$79,133	116.0
7	Ohio	$74,590	$1,269	92.8	$79,032	115.8
8	New Mexico	$74,440	$2,385	92.2	$78,141	114.5
9	Pennsylvania	$77,040	$2,365	97.6	$76,533	112.2
10	Utah	$78,920	$3,591	98.9	$76,195	111.7
11	Massachusetts	$84,550	$4,008	105.8	$76,158	111.6
12	Michigan	$76,040	$2,985	96.2	$75,927	111.3
13	Delaware	$77,420	$3,769	99.8	$73,793	108.2
14	Vermont	$73,110	$2,444	98.0	$72,140	105.7
15	Illinois	$74,730	$3,558	100.0	$71,202	104.4
16	New Jersey	$79,110	$2,849	108.8	$70,089	102.7
17	Georgia	$70,550	$3,156	96.3	$69,989	102.6
18	Oregon	$78,360	$6,053	103.4	$69,956	102.5
19	Iowa	$63,590	$2,376	87.8	$69,750	102.2
20	Maryland	$76,410	$3,297	105.0	$69,659	102.1
21	District of Columbia	$79,170	$3,854	109.9	$68,530	100.4
22	Nebraska	$63,460	$2,204	90.1	$67,985	99.6
23	Wyoming	$62,770	—	92.7	$67,720	99.3
24	Alabama	$62,850	$2,878	88.8	$67,519	99.0
25	Wisconsin	$65,840	$2,337	94.1	$67,488	98.9
26	Louisiana	$59,420	$1,408	88.2	$65,768	96.4
27	Tennessee	$60,000	—	91.9	$65,310	95.7
28	Texas	$63,360	—	97.1	$65,281	95.7
29	North Dakota	$57,680	—	89.0	$64,839	95.0
30	Montana	$63,960	$2,635	94.6	$64,794	95.0
31	Kentucky	$60,200	$2,277	90.2	$64,245	94.2
32	New Hampshire	$66,760	—	104.2	$64,091	93.9
33	South Carolina	$62,310	$2,256	93.7	$64,058	93.9
34	Kansas	$59,780	$2,536	90.1	$63,556	93.2
35	Nevada	$63,280	—	100.0	$63,293	92.8
36	Arkansas	$56,830	$2,008	86.9	$63,060	92.4
37	Maine	$63,440	$2,667	97.0	$62,620	91.8
38	Colorado	$66,130	$2,250	103.1	$61,988	90.9
39	Minnesota	$63,630	$2,838	98.6	$61,642	90.3
40	Indiana	$58,900	$1,737	93.3	$61,249	89.8
41	West Virginia	$56,440	$1,807	89.5	$61,045	89.5
42	North Carolina	$59,360	$1,981	94.3	$60,831	89.2
43	Arizona	$62,130	$1,078	100.7	$60,641	88.9
44	Idaho	$60,170	$2,306	95.5	$60,594	88.8
45	Virginia	$63,820	$2,870	101.1	$60,285	88.4
46	Florida	$60,440	—	103.4	$58,445	85.7
47	South Dakota	$51,360	—	88.6	$57,978	85.0
48	Mississippi	$50,750	$1,428	87.0	$56,723	83.1
49	Oklahoma	$50,450	$1,859	87.8	$55,316	81.1
50	Missouri	$50,370	$1,486	90.8	$53,826	78.9
51	Hawaii	$61,750	$3,163	110.0	$53,285	78.1

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $99,520 salary is worth about $92,998 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $99,520 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $112,343, a $19,345 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$112,343	88.6
2	Arkansas	$110,009	86.9
3	Louisiana	$109,441	88.2
4	Mississippi	$109,417	87.0
5	Iowa	$109,088	87.8
6	North Dakota	$109,075	89.0
7	Tennessee	$108,327	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$107,912	87.8
9	Wyoming	$107,367	92.7
10	Alabama	$106,441	88.8
11	Kentucky	$105,967	90.2
12	West Virginia	$105,839	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Special Education Teachers, Middle School — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a special education teachers, middle school?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a special education teachers, middle school: a BLS median of $99,520 is worth $92,998 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 136.3 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a special education teachers, middle school at $101,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 127.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a special education teachers, middle school salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a special education teachers, middle school: a $61,750 BLS median is worth only $53,285 after tax and cost of living (index 78.1). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a special education teachers, middle school is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.