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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

Delaware is 2.0% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$59,250
Median annual (2025)
+2.0%
Real Purchasing Power
$60,459
COL-adjusted (RPP=98.0)

Delaware Cost of Living Index

Delaware's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 98.0, meaning prices are 2.0% lower the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool earning $59,250 in Delaware has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,459 in an average-cost US state.

DE: 98.0
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 Delaware's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $46,600 $47,551 +$951
25th Percentile (P25) $56,330 $57,479 +$1,149
Median (P50) $59,250 $60,459 +$1,209
75th Percentile (P75) $59,400 $60,612 +$1,212
90th Percentile (P90) $63,430 $64,724 +$1,294
Key Insight

Delaware's cost of living is close to the national average, so $59,250 keeps most of its value at $60,459 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Delaware Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 98.0

With an RPP of 98.0, Delaware 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 Delaware's cost of living, $59,250 nominal nets out to $60,459 in real purchasing power — a small 2.0% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Special Education Teachers, Preschool.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#33 / 45

Delaware's rank of #33 of 45 states means real purchasing power for Special Education Teachers, Preschool trails the national half-way line.

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

Delaware ranks #33 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 Delaware after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Delaware earns a median salary of $59,250 per year. After adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (RPP=98.0), the real purchasing power is $60,459 — a +2.0% difference.

Is Delaware expensive to live in?

Delaware's cost of living is 2.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Delaware is 98.0 (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 Delaware: $59,250 x (100 / 98.0) = $60,459. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Delaware financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Delaware enjoys 2.0% 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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