SOC 25-2057 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Middle School — Colorado
Colorado · 7 metro areas compared
At $66,130, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Middle School in Colorado tracks the national median of $66,810 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $66,130, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Middle School in Colorado tracks the national median of $66,810 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $60,870 and $80,530. The lowest tenth earn under $50,750, while the highest tenth earn more than $98,620.
Employment stands at 2,020, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 22nd by median wage. Boulder leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $80,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 336th of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,750 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $60,870 | −8.9% |
| Median (50th) | $66,130 | −1.0% |
| 75th | $80,530 | +20.5% |
| 90th | $98,620 | +47.6% |
| Mean | $71,610 | +7.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $80,960 | 150 | |
| 2 | Denver | $76,400 | 1,000 | |
| 3 | Pueblo | $65,830 | 60 | |
| 4 | Fort Collins | $63,790 | 100 | |
| 5 | Grand Junction | $63,480 | 60 | |
| 6 | Greeley | $63,160 | 90 | |
| 7 | Colorado Springs | $61,340 | 260 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $66,130 buys what $64,142 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$66,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,142US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $66,130 a year, 1.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,750 to $98,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,020 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 22nd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $80,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Middle School in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $66,130, 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 $66,810, so pay in Colorado is 1.0% 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 Colorado earns more than $98,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,750 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 Boulder, at $80,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,020 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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