Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Hickory, NC

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

Median annual salary $61,600 -11.5% vs national
Median hourly —
10th percentile $43,480
90th percentile $72,220
Employed locally 130
National median $69,590

Compare Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary & buying power

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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,480
    25th
    $51,600
    50th (median)
    $61,600
    75th
    $68,670
    90th
    $72,220

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary vs area income 102% Median Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary is 2% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $108,790
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $103,800
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $103,150
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,250
    Modesto, CA $102,240
    California $101,250

    Nearby metros — Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,250
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $88,720
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $82,760
    Lancaster, PA $78,190
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $76,080
    North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $74,380

    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, Secondary School make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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, Secondary School salaries?

    The median Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Hickory, NC is 11.5% below the national median of $69,590. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (10th percentile) earn around $43,480 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,600.