Special Education Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Special Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Renton is approximately $61,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Special Education Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$256,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($367,500) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Special Education
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Renton
Instructional Design & Technology
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$61K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$61K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.