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What does a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School earning $101,120 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $92,094 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $67,880 | $61,821 | $-6,058 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $80,620 | $73,424 | $-7,195 |
| Median (P50) | $101,120 | $92,094 | $-9,025 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $112,750 | $102,686 | $-10,063 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $128,090 | $116,657 | $-11,432 |
While $101,120 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $92,094. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Washington's RPP of 109.8 puts it 9.8% above the national baseline cost of living. A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Washington's RPP, the $101,120 median salary translates to $92,095 in real terms — a 8.9% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, Washington places #1 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #1 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 Washington after taxes →
A Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington earns a median salary of $101,120 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $92,094 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington: $101,120 x (100 / 109.8) = $92,094. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School's nominal salary of $101,120 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $92,094. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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