Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,270 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Hickory earn between $44,510 and $57,630.
- $44K10th
- $45K25th
- $54KMedian
- $58K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,830 | $4,319 | — |
| Median | $54,350 | $4,529 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,510 | $3,709 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,630 | $4,802 | — |
*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 Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Hickory earn 9% less than the North Carolina average ($57,160) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $65,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $51,830 | $54,350 | $44,150 | $59,270 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $57,160 | $58,260 | $44,720 | $73,990 | 4,430 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $51,830, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $42,266 a year, or $3,522 a month and $1,626 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $51,830 buys what about $58,574 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($62,500).
- Charlotte$62,500
- Raleigh$62,060
- Greensboro$58,040
- Durham$56,800
- Greenville$55,080
- Asheville$54,960
- Fayetteville$54,690
- Winston-Salem$53,970
- Burlington$52,730
- Hickory$51,830
All Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries in North Carolina
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 Hickory: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school take-home pay in Hickory?
About $42,266 a year ($3,522 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,830.
Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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