BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Special Education Teachers in Rhode Island

$74,530 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$35.83 per hour

▼ 6.5% below U.S. average14th of 42 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$74,530per year
Median$80,080per year
Hourly$35.83per hour
10th – 90th percentile$50,670 – $98,940per year

Special Education Teachers Pay Range in Rhode Island

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,670
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$62,800
  • 50th Percentile — Median$80,080
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$83,300
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$98,940

Half of Special Education Teachers in Rhode Island earn more than $80,080. The top 10% make $98,940 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,670.

Special Education Teachers in Rhode Island: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Rhode Island ranks 14th of 42 states for Special Education Teachers pay, at $74,530 per year (6.5% below the U.S. average of $79,750).
  • 110 people work as Special Education Teachers in Rhode Island — 0.3% of all U.S. Special Education Teachers jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.05: Special Education Teachers jobs are more concentrated in Rhode Island than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,670; the top 10% earn over $98,940.
  • Hourly equivalent: $35.83 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is California at $101,160.
  • Among education jobs in Rhode Island, Business Professors pays the most ($125,040).

Special Education Teachers Job Market in Rhode Island

Key factors affecting compensation

Rhode Island's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, and its job market is rated moderate. Special Education Teachers here earn $74,530 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.15 (U.S. = 1.00), a Rhode Island salary of $74,530 is roughly equivalent to $64,809 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($76,690), Georgia ($76,370), Michigan ($75,610) are the closest alternatives for Special Education Teachers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Special Education Teachers salary in Rhode Island?

The average Special Education Teachers salary in Rhode Island is $74,530 per year (median $80,080), which is 6.5% below the national average of $79,750.

How does Rhode Island rank for Special Education Teachers pay?

Rhode Island ranks 14th out of 42 states. The highest-paying state is California ($101,160/yr).

How much do entry-level Special Education Teachers make in Rhode Island?

The lowest-paid 10% of Special Education Teachers in Rhode Island earn about $50,670 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,800.

How much do Special Education Teachers make per hour in Rhode Island?

About $35.83 per hour, based on the $74,530 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Special Education Teachers work in Rhode Island?

BLS counts 110 Special Education Teachers jobs in Rhode Island (OEWS May 2025).

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