SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Worcester
Worcester, MA · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Worcester, MA comes to $81,330 a year, ahead of the national median of $65,120 by 24.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Worcester, MA comes to $81,330 a year, ahead of the national median of $65,120 by 24.9%. Pay ranges from under $46,460 at the tenth percentile to more than $101,970 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $64,540 to $95,730.
The area has 960 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.63 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Boston records the highest median at $97,410. Of the 481 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 169th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,460 | −28.7% |
| 25th | $64,540 | −0.9% |
| Median (50th) | $81,330 | +24.9% |
| 75th | $95,730 | +47.0% |
| 90th | $101,970 | +56.6% |
| Mean | $80,740 | +24.0% |
Other metro areas in Massachusetts
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $97,410 | 4,980 | |
| 2 | Amherst Town | $84,730 | 90 | |
| 3 | Barnstable Town | $81,250 | 160 | |
| 4 | Springfield | $79,970 | 600 | |
| 5 | Pittsfield | $64,460 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Worcester run 5.8% above the national average, so the median of $81,330 buys what $76,871 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,871US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,330 a year, 24.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,460 to $101,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 960 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boston, at $97,410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Worcester, MA?
The median annual wage is $81,330, 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 Worcester, MA is 24.9% 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 Worcester, MA earns more than $101,970 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,460 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 Boston, at $97,410 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 960 jobs in this occupation in Worcester, MA. 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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