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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Louisiana: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary really buy you in Louisiana?

Louisiana is 9.4% cheaper than the US average

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

Nominal Salary
$59,100
Median annual (2025)
+10.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$65,231
COL-adjusted (RPP=90.6)

Louisiana Cost of Living Index

Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.6, meaning prices are 9.4% lower the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School earning $59,100 in Louisiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,231 in an average-cost US state.

LA: 90.6
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 Louisiana's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $48,620 $53,664 +$5,044
25th Percentile (P25) $50,870 $56,147 +$5,277
Median (P50) $59,100 $65,231 +$6,131
75th Percentile (P75) $60,650 $66,942 +$6,292
90th Percentile (P90) $64,460 $71,147 +$6,687
Key Insight

A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Louisiana earns $59,100 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $65,231 in an average-cost state. This makes Louisiana one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Louisiana Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 90.6

Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 90.6 means a basket of goods and services costs about 9.4% less than the national average. For a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Sizable COL Effect Reshapes This Salary

+10.4%

Adjusting $59,100 for Louisiana's cost of living yields $65,232 — a 10.4% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#40 / 51

Louisiana ranks #40 of 51 — bottom quartile for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 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, Secondary School (After Cost of Living)

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

$92,094
RPP 109.8
$89,831
RPP 112.5
$89,076
RPP 105.0
$88,815
RPP 104.7
$85,480
RPP 116.6
$84,549
RPP 91.0
$83,565
RPP 93.4
8. Ohio
$83,256
RPP 91.5
$83,001
RPP 107.6
10. Delaware
$80,091
RPP 98.0

Louisiana ranks #40 out of 51 states for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Special Education Teachers, Secondary School take-home pay in Louisiana after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Louisiana after cost of living?

A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Louisiana earns a median salary of $59,100 per year. After adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (RPP=90.6), the real purchasing power is $65,231 — a +10.4% difference.

Is Louisiana expensive to live in?

Louisiana's cost of living is 9.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Louisiana is 90.6 (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, Secondary School in Louisiana: $59,100 x (100 / 90.6) = $65,231. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Louisiana financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Louisiana enjoys 10.4% 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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