Research conducted at the beginning of the decade found that salary does make a difference in the retention of Special Education professionals (Singer, 1991). Beginning salaries are especially important in retaining personnel in the first several years, a time when the likelihood of leaving the profession is the highest. There is also evidence that salary makes a difference in whether experienced Special Education professionals choose to remain in the profession.
Beginning Teacher's Salaries - 2004
Oregon ranks fourth out of the 11 Western and Mountain Plains states with an average salary of $33,396. When cost of living is factored in, Oregon ranks first with an average salary of $33,598.
Salary and cost-of-living information are from the Survey & Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends 2004, located on the American Federation of Teachers website. The cost-of-living adjustment was developed by the AFT Research department comparing differences in the cost of living in different geographical regions of the U.S.
| State | Beginning Salary | Adjusted salary |
| Oregon | $33,396 | $33,598 |
| Alaska | $40,027 | $32,569 |
| Colorado | $31,296 | $30,925 |
| Washington | $30,159 | $29,831 |
| California | $35,135 | $29,775 |
| Arizona | $28,236 | $28,812 |
| Nevada | $27,942 | $28,310 |
| Utah | $26,130 | $28,249 |
| Idaho | $25,908 | $27,978 |
| Hawaii | $37,615 | $26,964 |
| Montana | $24,032 | $25,758 |
Average Teacher's Salaries - 2004
Oregon ranks third out of the 11 Western and Mountain Plains states with an average salary of $47,829. When cost of living is factored in, Oregon ranks first with an average salary of $48,118.
Salary and cost-of-living information are from the Survey & Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends 2004, located on the American Federation of Teachers website. The cost-of-living adjustment was developed by the AFT Research department comparing differences in the cost of living in different geographical regions of the U.S.
| State | Average Salary | Adjusted salary |
| Oregon | $47,829 | $48,118 |
| California | $56,444 | $47,834 |
| Washington | $45,437 | $44,943 |
| Nevada | $43,211 | $43,780 |
| Idaho | $40,111 | $43,316 |
| Arizona | $42,324 | $43,188 |
| Colorado | $43,318 | $42,804 |
| Utah | $38,976 | $42,136 |
| Alaska | $51,136 | $41,608 |
| Montana | $37,184 | $39,854 |
| Hawaii | $45,456 | $32,585 |