State comparison · 2025
Special Education Teachers salary: California vs Tennessee
Special Education Teachers in California earn a median of $101,060. In Tennessee, $61,360. After cost-of-living, the gap is 36.7% — not 64.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+64.7%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+36.7%
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%
Tennessee
Special Education Teachers
- Median
- $61,360
- p25
- $52,540
- p75
- $65,770
- p10
- $50,190
- p90
- $77,640
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
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.