Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay range in St. Joseph
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,910 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in St. Joseph earn between $46,410 and $59,470.
- $46K10th
- $46K25th
- $51KMedian
- $59K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,880 | $4,657 | — |
| Median | $51,490 | $4,291 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,410 | $3,868 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,470 | $4,956 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay in St. Joseph vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in St. Joseph earn 6% less than the Missouri average ($59,660) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $65,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | $55,880 | $51,490 | $45,550 | $72,910 | 40 |
| Missouri | $59,660 | $57,260 | $43,880 | $83,330 | 2,860 |
| United States | $72,650 | $65,120 | $49,350 | $103,010 | 260,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary after taxes in St. Joseph
On the average salary of $55,880, a single filer in St. Joseph takes home about $45,391 a year, or $3,783 a month and $1,746 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $45,391 | $3,783 |
| Working in KS | $44,761 | $3,730 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is St. Joseph a good place for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Joseph area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.4), so the average $55,880 buys what about $64,689 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Joseph ($47,350). A typical home costs $215,126, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in other Missouri cities
St. Joseph ranks 3rd of 7 Missouri metro areas for this job; St. Louis pays the most ($66,340).
- St. Louis$66,340
- Kansas City$61,950
- St. Joseph$55,880
- Joplin$54,520
- Springfield$53,690
- Columbia$51,690
- Jefferson City$51,040
All Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries in Missouri
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($110,170).
- El Centro, CA$110,170
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,830
- San Jose, CA$102,260
- Oxnard, CA$101,530
- San Francisco, CA$100,660
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by city
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Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in St. Joseph: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in St. Joseph?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school take-home pay in St. Joseph?
About $45,391 a year ($3,783 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,880. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn more in St. Joseph than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2052; area St. Joseph, MO-KS (41140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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