SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — State College
State College, PA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in State College, PA is $62,730 per year, close to the national median of $65,120 for the same occupation.
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 State College, PA is $62,730 per year, close to the national median of $65,120 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $50,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $94,960 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,990 to $76,140.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Lancaster leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,470. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 90th of 237 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,210 | −22.9% |
| 25th | $57,990 | −10.9% |
| Median (50th) | $62,730 | −3.7% |
| 75th | $76,140 | +16.9% |
| 90th | $94,960 | +45.8% |
| Mean | $67,970 | +4.4% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster | $78,470 | 340 | |
| 2 | Reading | $77,230 | 280 | |
| 3 | York | $76,120 | 300 | |
| 4 | Allentown | $75,190 | 530 | |
| 5 | Philadelphia | $74,290 | 5,660 | |
| 6 | Chambersburg | $67,510 | 80 | |
| 7 | Harrisburg | $64,640 | 440 | |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | $63,200 | 990 | |
| 9 | Altoona | $62,430 | 50 | |
| 10 | Scranton | $61,940 | 290 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in State College run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $62,730 goes as far as $64,273 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,273US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,730 a year, 3.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,210 to $94,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lancaster, at $78,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in State College, PA?
The median annual wage is $62,730, 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 State College, PA is 3.7% 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 State College, PA earns more than $94,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,210 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 Lancaster, at $78,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in State College, PA. 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.
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