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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

Maine is near the US average cost of living

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

Nominal Salary
$60,680
Median annual (2025)
-0.8%
Real Purchasing Power
$60,198
COL-adjusted (RPP=100.8)

Maine Cost of Living Index

Maine's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 100.8, meaning prices are 0.8% higher the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool earning $60,680 in Maine has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,198 in an average-cost US state.

ME: 100.8
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 Maine's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $48,050 $47,668 $-381
25th Percentile (P25) $48,510 $48,125 $-385
Median (P50) $60,680 $60,198 $-481
75th Percentile (P75) $63,040 $62,539 $-500
90th Percentile (P90) $74,870 $74,275 $-594
Key Insight

Maine's cost of living is close to the national average, so $60,680 keeps most of its value at $60,198 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Maine Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 100.8

With an RPP of 100.8, Maine 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

-0.8%

After adjusting for Maine's cost of living, $60,680 nominal nets out to $60,198 in real purchasing power — a small 0.8% 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.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#34 / 45

Maine ranks #34 of 45 — bottom quartile for Special Education Teachers, Preschool real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.

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

Maine ranks #34 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 Maine after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Maine earns a median salary of $60,680 per year. After adjusting for Maine's cost of living (RPP=100.8), the real purchasing power is $60,198 — a -0.8% difference.

Is Maine expensive to live in?

Maine's cost of living is 0.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Maine is 100.8 (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 Maine: $60,680 x (100 / 100.8) = $60,198. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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