Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Iowa
Secondary school special education teachers in Iowa earned a median of $60,780 a year and a mean of $63,800 in May 2025. The median is 18.2% below the U.S. median of $74,260, ranking 40th of 52 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $60,780
- Median hourly
- not published
- Mean annual
- $63,800
- Jobs on record
- 1,570
Grey needle: U.S. median, $74,260 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Iowa compare on pay for secondary school special education teachers?
Iowa ranks 40th of 52 states and territories. Washington is highest at $101,120, $40,340 more than the Iowa median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 38 | $61,130 | -18% | 2,580 |
| Nevada | 39 | $60,810 | -18% | 350 |
| Iowa | 40 | $60,780 | -18% | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | 41 | $60,730 | -18% | 2,680 |
| Idaho | 42 | $60,700 | -18% | 470 |
| Kansas | 42 | $60,700 | -18% | 1,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 52 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Iowa pay go further after prices?
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the U.S. average, so the $60,780 median buys about what $69,255 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $74,260 U.S. median. On this measure Iowa ranks 23rd of 51, up from 40th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Iowa pay secondary school special education teachers the most?
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area is highest at $63,540, 4.5% above the Iowa median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,540 | 100 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,000 | 130 |
| Iowa City, IA | $62,760 | 80 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,110 | 200 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,830 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,710 | 170 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,310 | 580 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $60,210 | 140 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,760 | 70 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,720 | 50 |
| Dubuque, IA | $58,950 | 50 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Iowa is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many secondary school special education teachers work in Iowa?
BLS counts 1,570 jobs in Iowa, 0.96% of the 163,930 in the U.S. That is the 31st largest count among the 52 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in Iowa, a location quotient of 0.96: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.96 times its national share, so it is about as concentrated here as in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Iowa
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.