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Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary in Alaska: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary really buy you in Alaska?

Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$80,390
Median annual (2025)
-2.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$78,813
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.0)

Alaska Cost of Living Index

Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool earning $80,390 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $78,813 in an average-cost US state.

AK: 102.0
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 Alaska's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $51,760 $50,745 $-1,014
25th Percentile (P25) $65,760 $64,470 $-1,289
Median (P50) $80,390 $78,813 $-1,576
75th Percentile (P75) $96,030 $94,147 $-1,882
90th Percentile (P90) $98,240 $96,313 $-1,926
Key Insight

Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $80,390 keeps most of its value at $78,813 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Alaska Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.0

With an RPP of 102.0, Alaska is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.0%

After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living, $80,390 nominal nets out to $78,814 in real purchasing power — a small 2.0% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Special Education Teachers, Preschool.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Alaska

#8 / 45

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Alaska places #8 of 45 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Special Education Teachers, Preschool (After Cost of Living)

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

$90,557
RPP 109.4
$86,808
RPP 96.2
$84,613
RPP 108.8
$82,669
RPP 106.4
$81,220
RPP 93.4
$80,961
RPP 105.0
$78,852
RPP 109.8
8. Alaska
$78,813
RPP 102.0
9. Vermont
$78,140
RPP 101.1
10. Minnesota
$77,666
RPP 97.7

Alaska ranks #8 out of 45 states for Special Education Teachers, Preschool after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Special Education Teachers, Preschool take-home pay in Alaska after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Alaska after cost of living?

A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Alaska earns a median salary of $80,390 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $78,813 — a -2.0% difference.

Is Alaska expensive to live in?

Alaska's cost of living is 2.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Alaska is 102.0 (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, Preschool in Alaska: $80,390 x (100 / 102.0) = $78,813. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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