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Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Minnesota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary really buy you in Minnesota?

Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$67,620
Median annual (2025)
+2.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$69,211
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.7)

Minnesota Cost of Living Index

Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School earning $67,620 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,211 in an average-cost US state.

MN: 97.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $49,050 $50,204 +$1,154
25th Percentile (P25) $58,730 $60,112 +$1,382
Median (P50) $67,620 $69,211 +$1,591
75th Percentile (P75) $80,340 $82,231 +$1,891
90th Percentile (P90) $96,240 $98,505 +$2,265
Key Insight

Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $67,620 keeps most of its value at $69,211 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Minnesota Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.7

With an RPP of 97.7, Minnesota is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+2.4%

After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living, $67,620 nominal nets out to $69,212 in real purchasing power — a small 2.4% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#23 / 51

Minnesota sits at #23 of 51 states for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (After Cost of Living)

Where does Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$86,557
RPP 109.8
$86,373
RPP 112.5
$83,978
RPP 91.0
$83,970
RPP 116.6
$83,500
RPP 109.4
6. Ohio
$80,841
RPP 91.5
$80,515
RPP 104.7
$79,871
RPP 93.4
9. Alaska
$78,656
RPP 102.0
$77,960
RPP 106.4

Minnesota ranks #23 out of 51 states for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School take-home pay in Minnesota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Minnesota after cost of living?

A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Minnesota earns a median salary of $67,620 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $69,211 — a +2.4% difference.

Is Minnesota expensive to live in?

Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Minnesota: $67,620 x (100 / 97.7) = $69,211. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Minnesota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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