State comparison · 2025
Special Education Teachers salary: California vs South Dakota
Special Education Teachers in California earn a median of $101,060. In South Dakota, $54,810. After cost-of-living, the gap is 47.6% — not 84.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+84.4%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+47.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Special Education Teachers
- Median
- $101,060
- p25
- $79,740
- p75
- $123,840
- p10
- $63,390
- p90
- $131,600
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -39%
South Dakota
Special Education Teachers
- Median
- $54,810
- p25
- $48,800
- p75
- $58,360
- p10
- $45,610
- p90
- $63,020
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +200%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.