SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Lakeland, FL is $58,260 per year, 21.5% below the national median of $74,260.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Lakeland, FL is $58,260 per year, 21.5% below the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $50,980 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,330 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $50,980 to $58,260.
Employment stands at 140, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Jacksonville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 164th of 429 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,980 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $50,980 | −31.3% |
| Median (50th) | $58,260 | −21.5% |
| 75th | $58,260 | −21.5% |
| 90th | $60,330 | −18.8% |
| Mean | $55,960 | −24.6% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville | $78,450 | 1,270 | |
| 2 | Naples | $76,790 | 150 | |
| 3 | North Port | $74,960 | 400 | |
| 4 | Miami | $61,600 | 1,340 | |
| 5 | Orlando | $60,580 | 810 | |
| 6 | Cape Coral | $60,340 | 730 | |
| 7 | Tampa | $60,070 | 940 | |
| 8 | Crestview | $60,010 | 130 | |
| 9 | Tallahassee | $56,710 | 180 | |
| 10 | Port St. Lucie | $53,280 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $58,260 buys what $56,344 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 24.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,344US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,260 a year, 21.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,980 to $60,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jacksonville, at $78,450.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $58,260, 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 $74,260, so pay in Lakeland, FL is 21.5% 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $60,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,980 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 Jacksonville, at $78,450 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. 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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