Special Education Degree in Amarillo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Amarillo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Amarillo
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Amarillo, TX Overview
Amarillo, Texas (pop. 200,393) has 14 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,096/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Amarillo is approximately $54,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$9,030/yr
Private Tuition
$43,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,166/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,360/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
66%
Special Education Salary in Amarillo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Amarillo's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Amarillo adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Amarillo
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Amarillo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,030 | Private avg: $43,100
Amarillo avg aid: $15,360/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,784
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in Amarillo
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Amarillo
$251,216
Lifetime earnings premium ($324,000) minus total education cost ($72,784)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Amarillo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Amarillo for Special Education
West Texas A&M University
public
$9,030/yr
$36,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Amarillo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Amarillo
Amarillo offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Amarillo Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Education Majors in Amarillo
Instructional Design & Technology
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$54K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Amarillo — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Special Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Amarillo.