Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,710 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Merced earn between $76,740 and $102,550.
- $62K10th
- $77K25th
- $97KMedian
- $103K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,780 | $7,648 | — |
| Median | $97,340 | $8,112 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,740 | $6,395 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,550 | $8,546 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Merced earn about the same as the California average ($93,510) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is +49% against the U.S. median of $65,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $91,780 | $97,340 | $61,600 | $123,710 | 160 |
| California | $93,510 | $97,170 | $63,180 | $123,590 | 23,280 |
| United States | $72,650 | $65,120 | $49,350 | $103,010 | 260,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $91,780, a single filer in Merced takes home about $68,954 a year, or $5,746 a month and $2,652 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $91,780 buys what about $93,391 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 9th of 22 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($110,170).
- El Centro$110,170
- San Jose$102,260
- Oxnard$101,530
- San Francisco$100,660
- Santa Maria$99,170
- Fresno$95,540
- Vallejo$95,460
- Los Angeles$93,880
- Merced$91,780
- San Diego$91,530
All Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($110,170).
- El Centro, CA$110,170
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,830
- San Jose, CA$102,260
- Oxnard, CA$101,530
- San Francisco, CA$100,660
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by city
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Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in Merced: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school take-home pay in Merced?
About $68,954 a year ($5,746 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,780. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2052; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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