Kentucky Median
$60,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-8% vs US median
US median $65,120
State Rank
#37 of 51
3,710 employed here
How much do Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School make in Kentucky?
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Kentucky take home a median of $60,060 annually — roughly $28.88 an hour — which runs 8% below the national median of $65,120.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $46,070 while the top 10% make $75,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,630 and $63,240 a year.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,070 | $22.15 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,630 | $23.38 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,060 | $28.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $63,240 | $30.40 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,560 | $36.33 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in other states
District of Columbia $97,910California $97,170Washington $95,040Massachusetts $91,350Rhode Island $84,300Connecticut $82,950New York $81,260Alaska $80,230Maryland $78,850Illinois $77,960Oregon $77,700New Jersey $76,660New Mexico $76,420Michigan $74,600Colorado $74,290Vermont $74,200Ohio $73,970Georgia $72,880Pennsylvania $72,680Virginia $67,740Minnesota $67,620Delaware $65,990New Hampshire $65,160Nevada $65,110Alabama $64,520Idaho $63,610Tennessee $62,560Nebraska $62,420South Carolina $62,360Texas $62,330Maine $61,880Wisconsin $61,520Utah $61,290Hawaii $60,940Wyoming $60,930Iowa $60,440Kansas $59,970Florida $58,850Louisiana $58,800Indiana $58,760North Carolina $58,260North Dakota $57,950Montana $57,630Missouri $57,260Arizona $56,030Arkansas $54,290South Dakota $51,090Oklahoma $50,630Mississippi $50,570West Virginia $50,380
Working as Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Kentucky
Nationally, about 261,000 people work as Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($60,060) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School make in Kentucky?
The median Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in Kentucky is $60,060 per year, or about $28.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,070 at the entry level to $75,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School about 8% less than the national median of $65,120. Kentucky ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $60,060 a year. About 3,710 Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.