Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links marked with (Ad). If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

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

Texas is 2.5% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$65,680
Median annual (2025)
+2.6%
Real Purchasing Power
$67,364
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.5)

Texas Cost of Living Index

Texas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.5, meaning prices are 2.5% lower the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool earning $65,680 in Texas has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,364 in an average-cost US state.

TX: 97.5
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 Texas's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,090 $40,092 +$1,002
25th Percentile (P25) $58,600 $60,102 +$1,502
Median (P50) $65,680 $67,364 +$1,684
75th Percentile (P75) $82,420 $84,533 +$2,113
90th Percentile (P90) $94,410 $96,830 +$2,420
Key Insight

Texas's cost of living is close to the national average, so $65,680 keeps most of its value at $67,364 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Texas Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.5

With an RPP of 97.5, Texas 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

+2.6%

After adjusting for Texas's cost of living, $65,680 nominal nets out to $67,364 in real purchasing power — a small 2.6% 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.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#21 / 45

Texas sits at #21 of 45 states for Special Education Teachers, Preschool COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

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

Texas ranks #21 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 Texas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Texas earns a median salary of $65,680 per year. After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (RPP=97.5), the real purchasing power is $67,364 — a +2.6% difference.

Is Texas expensive to live in?

Texas's cost of living is 2.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Texas is 97.5 (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 Texas: $65,680 x (100 / 97.5) = $67,364. 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 Texas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Texas enjoys 2.6% 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.

What To Do Next

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Related Salary Pages

Get Monthly Salary Insights & Career Data

Free data-driven career updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Join career-minded Americans who use data to make smarter decisions. Privacy Policy