Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,230 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, secondary school in Columbia earn between $46,680 and $59,170.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $48KMedian
- $59K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,500 | $4,375 | — |
| Median | $47,570 | $3,964 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,680 | $3,890 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,170 | $4,931 | — |
*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, Secondary School pay in Columbia vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Special education teachers, secondary school in Columbia earn 8% less than the Missouri average ($56,900) and 32% less than the U.S. average ($77,260). At the median the gap is -36% against the U.S. median of $74,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $52,500 | $47,570 | $40,160 | $69,230 | 110 |
| Missouri | $56,900 | $55,920 | $43,010 | $76,930 | 2,760 |
| United States | $77,260 | $74,260 | $49,800 | $109,100 | 163,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $52,500, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $42,834 a year, or $3,569 a month and $1,647 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). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Columbia a good place for special education teachers, secondary school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.4), so the average $52,500 buys what about $58,700 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($47,260). A typical home costs $323,951, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other Missouri cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 6 Missouri metro areas for this job; Kansas City pays the most ($64,350).
- Kansas City$64,350
- St. Louis$62,780
- Springfield$55,100
- Columbia$52,500
- Jefferson City$52,220
- Joplin$51,260
All Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in Missouri
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school
San Diego, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,230).
- San Diego, CA$121,230
- San Jose, CA$110,740
- San Francisco, CA$106,980
- Mount Vernon, WA$105,910
- Riverside, CA$105,440
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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Columbia: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, secondary school salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in Columbia?
About $42,834 a year ($3,569 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,500. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do special education teachers, secondary school earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% less than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).
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 25-2058; area Columbia, MO (17860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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