SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Rhode Island is $84,300 per year, well above the national median of $65,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Rhode Island is $84,300 per year, well above the national median of $65,120. The gap of 29.5% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $62,170 and $95,000. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $60,420 and the ninetieth at $98,170.
Employment stands at 1,070, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Rhode Island ranks number 5th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Providence records the highest median at $85,330. Of the 545 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 173rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,420 | −7.2% |
| 25th | $62,170 | −4.5% |
| Median (50th) | $84,300 | +29.5% |
| 75th | $95,000 | +45.9% |
| 90th | $98,170 | +50.8% |
| Mean | $80,910 | +24.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $85,330 | 1,590 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $84,300 buys what $82,405 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$82,405US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,300 a year, 29.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,420 to $98,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,070 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $85,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $84,300, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $65,120, so pay in Rhode Island is 29.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Rhode Island earns more than $98,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,420 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Providence, at $85,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,070 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data