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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Texas: 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 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
$64,830
Median annual (2025)
+2.6%
Real Purchasing Power
$66,492
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, Secondary School earning $64,830 in Texas has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,492 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) $52,270 $53,610 +$1,340
25th Percentile (P25) $61,340 $62,912 +$1,572
Median (P50) $64,830 $66,492 +$1,662
75th Percentile (P75) $73,180 $75,056 +$1,876
90th Percentile (P90) $77,700 $79,692 +$1,992
Key Insight

Texas's cost of living is close to the national average, so $64,830 keeps most of its value at $66,492 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, Secondary School 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, $64,830 nominal nets out to $66,492 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, Secondary School.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#35 / 51

Texas's rank of #35 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School trails the national half-way line.

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

Texas ranks #35 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 Texas after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Texas earns a median salary of $64,830 per year. After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (RPP=97.5), the real purchasing power is $66,492 — 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, Secondary School in Texas: $64,830 x (100 / 97.5) = $66,492. 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 Texas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 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.

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