SalaryExplorer

SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolSouth Bend

South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI · 9 metro areas compared

$56,040 /year
150jobs in area
13.9%vs US median

The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in South Bend, IN is $56,040 per year, 13.9% below the national median of $65,120.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $65,12010TH$47,030MEDIAN$56,04075TH$72,42090TH$79,560

Salary overview

The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in South Bend, IN is $56,040 per year, 13.9% below the national median of $65,120. Half of workers earn between $48,410 and $72,420. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $47,030 and the ninetieth at $79,560.

The area has 150 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Elkhart records the highest median at $63,430. Of the 387 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 197th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$47,030−27.8%
25th$48,410−25.7%
Median (50th)$56,040−13.9%
75th$72,420+11.2%
90th$79,560+22.2%
Mean$60,350−7.3%

Other metro areas in Indiana

Median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Elkhart$63,43040
2Indianapolis$60,2201,030
3Fort Wayne$59,000330
4Michigan City$58,96060
5Bloomington$57,230120
6Muncie$56,90040
7Terre Haute$51,32080
8Evansville$51,120150
9Lafayette$49,050170

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in South Bend run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $56,040 goes as far as $60,064 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.8% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$56,040as reported by BLS

Local price level

93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$60,064US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $56,040 a year, 13.9% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $47,030 to $79,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $63,430.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in South Bend, IN?

The median annual wage is $56,040, 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 South Bend, IN is 13.9% lower. 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 South Bend, IN earns more than $79,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $47,030 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 Elkhart, at $63,430 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 150 jobs in this occupation in South Bend, IN. 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.

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in South Bend, IN (2025): $56,040 Median | Salary Explorer