Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $57,250 -9.1% vs national
Median hourly —
10th percentile $38,960
90th percentile $63,710
Employed locally 110
National median $63,000

Compare Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary & buying power

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Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,960
    25th
    $41,140
    50th (median)
    $57,250
    75th
    $59,310
    90th
    $63,710

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary vs area income 95% Median Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary is 5% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $112,850
    Visalia, CA $102,630
    El Centro, CA $100,980
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $99,170
    Fresno, CA $98,550
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $98,050

    Nearby metros — Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $91,730
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $79,410
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $77,880
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $77,700
    Lancaster, PA $76,830
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $74,650

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $48,620
    Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $50,830
    Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $30,620
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $26,420
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $51,270
    Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary $59,860

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Hickory, NC is —, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make — or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries?

    The median Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in Hickory, NC is 9.1% below the national median of $63,000. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Hickory?

    Entry-level Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (10th percentile) earn around $38,960 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,140.