SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Raleigh
Raleigh-Cary, NC · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay in Raleigh, NC is $53,140 a year, 28.4% under the national median of $74,260 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Raleigh, NC is $53,140 a year, 28.4% under the national median of $74,260 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $47,460 and $61,300. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $46,640 and the ninetieth at $74,000.
The area has 510 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Hickory leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,630. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 325th of 571 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,640 | −37.2% |
| 25th | $47,460 | −36.1% |
| Median (50th) | $53,140 | −28.4% |
| 75th | $61,300 | −17.5% |
| 90th | $74,000 | −0.4% |
| Mean | $55,640 | −25.1% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory | $64,630 | 110 | |
| 2 | Charlotte | $60,070 | 1,070 | |
| 3 | Durham | $58,490 | 250 | |
| 4 | Greensboro | $56,660 | 360 | |
| 5 | Asheville | $55,490 | 50 | |
| 6 | Rocky Mount | $54,910 | 40 | |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $53,100 | 140 | |
| 8 | Wilmington | $51,710 | 120 | |
| 9 | Winston-Salem | $50,820 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Raleigh run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $53,140 goes as far as $56,352 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,352US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,140 a year, 28.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,640 to $74,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hickory, at $64,630.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Raleigh, NC?
The median annual wage is $53,140, 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 Raleigh, NC is 28.4% 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 Raleigh, NC earns more than $74,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,640 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 Hickory, at $64,630 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 510 jobs in this occupation in Raleigh, NC. 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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