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Job outlook for adapted physical education teachers in the United States
Are adapted physical education teacher jobs in demand?
Adapted physical education teacher job and salary trends over time
Adapted physical education teacher jobs over time
Adapted physical education teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 669 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 686 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 720 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 710 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 709 | 0.00% |
Average adapted physical education teacher salary over time
Adapted physical education teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,864 | $24.45 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $49,804 | $23.94 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $48,602 | $23.37 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $47,709 | $22.94 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $46,574 | $22.39 | +1.7% |
Adapted physical education teacher jobs by state
Most common states for adapted physical education teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 239 | 38% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 252 | 36% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 299 | 31% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 165 | 28% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,719 | 25% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,485 | 25% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 261 | 25% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 862 | 24% |
| 9 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 734 | 24% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 510 | 24% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 454 | 24% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 322 | 24% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 242 | 23% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,457 | 21% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,200 | 21% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 577 | 20% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 270 | 20% |
| 18 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 178 | 20% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 148 | 20% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,737 | 19% |
Most common cities for adapted physical education teachers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fredericksburg | 1 | 4% | $47,023 |
| 2 | Monterey | 1 | 4% | $58,776 |
| 3 | Seaside | 1 | 3% | $58,741 |
| 4 | Gilroy | 1 | 2% | $58,618 |
| 5 | Watsonville | 1 | 2% | $58,752 |
| 6 | Salinas | 1 | 1% | $58,647 |
Adapted Physical Education Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of adapted physical education teacher experts
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Utah
San Francisco State University
University of New Mexico
What Adapted Physical Education Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kimberly Coy: In the next 3-5 years, the skills that will be most important are the ability to be reflective of your practice. Teaching is an ever-evolving skill set for each person. Make sure you can look at your teaching and learn from it by being reflective and keeping your sense of wonder. Another skill will be the ability to understand that you are going to prepare students for jobs and challenges that have not been invented yet. Teach them the important skills of cultivating curiosity and adapting to change.
What will help Adapted Physical Education Teachers increase their earning potential?
Amy Kunkel Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, first ask to see the hiring district’s salary schedule. Most districts operate on a “step and lane” system in which you receive higher pay for each year of service (step) and receive substantial raises for additional degrees earned (lane). For example, some districts will raise your salary for every 15 graduate credits you have earned, maximizing at a terminal degree. Teachers with a master’s degree + additional credits will earn substantially more than those without a master’s degree.
What general advice would you give to an Adapted Physical Education Teacher?
Francesca Go Ph. D.: For a new Special Education teacher, the key, if possible, is to be well trained in individualizing instruction, making data-based decisions, knowing the law and students' rights, and understanding the importance of collaborating well with students and parents. A good teacher will know what the science and research say about what works and what does not, especially around instruction in areas like reading and mathematics. More broadly, what a new teacher needs, at the minimum, is empathy and understanding for the student and parents and a willingness to meet the student where they are in learning.
What Adapted Physical Education Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Donna Jurich Ph.D.: Salaries vary by state and by school districts. Signing bonuses may indicate districts with high turnover. Discuss with the districts what opportunities will add to your base salary and how salaries are advanced. For example, does the district provide financial support for getting an advanced degrees which would increase your base salary? Does the district pay for attending professional development or conferences that develop your skills?
What general advice would you give to an Adapted Physical Education Teacher?
Dr. Marija Čolić: People love being SPED teachers because of the profound impact they can have on students' lives. Watching students make progress, achieve their goals, and seeing the joy this brings to their families is incredibly rewarding. The profession offers a sense of purpose and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.
What will help Adapted Physical Education Teachers increase their earning potential?
Breda O’Keeffe Ph.D.: Before even starting your career in special education, look for programs and scholarships that provide financial support for your education and teaching license/credential. Because special education teachers are in high demand, many states, districts, and institutes of higher education provide financial incentives and supports for preservice teachers. Another option is to look for programs that provide loan forgiveness for working in high need areas (e.g., special education), schools (e.g., Title I schools), or districts. Graduating with low or no debt can help maximize your take-home pay as a teacher. Also, be aware that each state has its own teacher licensing/credentialing systems and that licenses/credentials do not always transfer directly when going from one state to another. If you know what state you will be teaching in, make sure your license/credential will be easily recognized in that state (or you may face additional educational requirements and costs). In addition, be aware that teacher salaries vary widely across states, across cities within states, and across different settings (e.g., private, public, preschool, K-12, etc.). In seeking preparation to become a special education teacher, you have many options that will ultimately affect your salary potential. Alternative routes to licensure which do not include the typical supports of a traditional teacher education program may be tempting, because they tend to be shorter and less expensive. Unfortunately, special education teachers prepared through these routes leave the field sooner and at higher rates than teachers provided with higher quality training at an institute of higher education (e.g., colleges and universities). Look for accredited programs that provide hands-on instruction and multiple supervised field experiences in the settings you will be teaching in, with high quality supervision and feedback (e.g., from a faculty member with teaching experience in your area), support for preparing for licensing/credentialing requirements, and instruction in evidence-based practices in academics, classroom management, intensive behavior supports, assessment, and special education law and policy. You will be more competitive when you start and more likely to persist, which will make the costs of your education worthwhile! When you are seeking a job, district salary schedules are posted on their respective websites. If salary is of utmost interest to you, start looking for high paying districts. Typically, charter and private schools do not have posted salary schedules, but if you are applying to those institutions, you should feel comfortable asking them to match the neighboring district pay. Some districts also offer additional compensation through incentive programs, “buying out” preparation periods, or other school-related duties. Don’t jump into committees and “extra duties” right away. Look for incentive programs specifically for high needs areas, such as special education. For example, in Utah, special education teachers can access the Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP). This fund serves to reward and retain qualified educators in positions that have been identified as having staffing shortages. The state has also provided additional paid workdays outside of contract days to special education teachers to help prepare files and paperwork at the start or end of the school year. In addition, you can increase your pay by seeking further education such as a master’s degree or endorsements.
Stephanie Sisk-Hilton Ph.D.
ProfessorSan Francisco State University
Department of Elementary Education
What's a good job out of college for Adapted Physical Education Teachers?
Stephanie Sisk-Hilton Ph.D.: The good news for recent graduates of teacher training programs is that the job market looks very strong in almost every area of education. In California, we have had a strong job market for teachers for several years due to our aging educator workforce. The pandemic and the challenges of teaching over the past year, coupled with strong returns for retirement funds, appears to be accelerating the wave of retirements. While it will be particularly challenging to be a new teacher in the coming years, new teachers will likely have abundant job opportunities to select from. Teaching is not the highest earning career path, and there is much work to be done to ensure fair wages commiserate with the level of education and skill required for educators, but it is a stable and highly rewarding job, which may be particularly appealing during these uncertain times.
Dr. Ashley Phelps Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant ProfessorUniversity of New Mexico
Department of Physical Education Teacher Education
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Adapted Physical Education Teachers?
Dr. Ashley Phelps Ph.D.: COVID-19 has thrown the field of education into a tailspin. Preservice and in-service physical education teachers have been tasked with quite the challenge when it comes to teaching socially distanced, virtual, and hybrid physical education. For example, when it comes to field experiences and student teaching, our preservice teachers have been confronted with a unique teaching climate, unlike ever before.
For the first time in the history of our profession, all of our student teachers have had to develop lesson plans for virtual physical education, and although this type of environment is far from the norm, our students have welcomed this challenge head-on. If anything, our preservice physical education teachers will be well-rounded individuals, ready to take on the in-person and virtual physical education environment. With that said, this cohort may be more marketable than any cohort ever before.