📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Special Education Teacher Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Very High Demand
Average
$66,280
per year
Median
$63,620
per year
Hourly
$31.87
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,589
25th Percentile — Junior$57,465
50th Percentile — Median$63,620
75th Percentile — Senior$81,936
90th Percentile — Top Earners$90,390
💡 The top 10% of Special Education Teachers earn $90,390 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $46,589, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$55.8k
2021
$57.8k
2022
$59.8k
2023
$61.9k
2024
$64.0k
2025
$66.3k
2026
📈 Special Education Teacher salaries have grown 3.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $10,474.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $102,734 | +55.0% | Very High |
| District of Columbia | $100,746 | +52.0% | Very High |
| California | $94,118 | +42.0% | Very High |
| New York | $91,466 | +38.0% | Very High |
| Alaska | $87,490 | +32.0% | Very High |
| Massachusetts | $86,164 | +30.0% | Very High |
| New Jersey | $84,838 | +28.0% | Very High |
| Washington | $82,850 | +25.0% | Very High |
| Connecticut | $80,862 | +22.0% | Very High |
| Maryland | $76,222 | +15.0% | Very High |
| Rhode Island | $76,222 | +15.0% | Very High |
| New Hampshire | $75,559 | +14.0% | Very High |
| Oregon | $74,234 | +12.0% | Very High |
| Colorado | $72,908 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Virginia | $72,908 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Vermont | $71,582 | +8.0% | Very High |
| Delaware | $69,594 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Illinois | $69,594 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Maine | $67,606 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Nevada | $67,606 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Minnesota | $66,280 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Utah | $66,280 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Arizona | $65,617 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Pennsylvania | $65,617 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Florida | $64,954 | -2.0% | Very High |
| Montana | $62,966 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Texas | $62,966 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Georgia | $61,640 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Idaho | $61,640 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Wyoming | $61,640 | -7.0% | Very High |
| North Dakota | $60,978 | -8.0% | Very High |
| Wisconsin | $60,978 | -8.0% | Very High |
| North Carolina | $60,315 | -9.0% | Very High |
| Michigan | $59,652 | -10.0% | Very High |
| Louisiana | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Nebraska | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| New Mexico | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Ohio | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| South Carolina | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Tennessee | $58,326 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Alabama | $57,664 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Missouri | $57,664 | -13.0% | Very High |
| South Dakota | $57,664 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Iowa | $57,001 | -14.0% | Very High |
| Indiana | $56,338 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Kansas | $56,338 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Oklahoma | $55,675 | -16.0% | Very High |
| Arkansas | $55,012 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Kentucky | $55,012 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Mississippi | $53,024 | -20.0% | Very High |
| West Virginia | $51,698 | -22.0% | Very High |
What Factors Affect Special Education Teacher Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Special Education Teacher's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Special Education Teachers typically earn $46,589–$57,465 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $81,936–$90,390 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Special Education Teacher role currently has very high demand in the job market with a 3.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Education sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Special Education Teacher?The average salary for a Special Education Teacher in the United States is $66,280 per year, with a median of $63,620.
-
What is the starting salary for a Special Education Teacher?Entry-level Special Education Teachers typically earn between $46,589 and $57,465 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Special Education Teachers the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Special Education Teachers the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Special Education Teacher make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $66,280, a Special Education Teacher earns approximately $31.87 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Special Education Teacher a good career in 2026?Yes — the Special Education Teacher role has very high demand with 3.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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