Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of special education teacher salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Maryland continues to lead with the highest special education teacher salary of $76,282.
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Mississippi remains at the bottom, with the lowest special education teacher salary of $38,081.
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The national average salary for special education teachers is now $54,290.
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The national hourly pay for special education teachers is $26.1.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary is the most crucial factor when evaluating job opportunities for many individuals, including special education teachers. Understanding salary expectations in your area is vital in navigating your career path.
Numerous factors influence your potential earnings, but comprehensive data on average salaries for special education teachers by state, broken down by seniority level, can provide a reliable benchmark. While local figures may vary, these averages serve as a useful guide for salary expectations.
As of 2026, Maryland once again ranks as the state offering the top salary for special education teachers.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for special education teacher salaries:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Special Education Teachers By State
| Rank | State | Average Special Education Teacher Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $76,282 | $54,000 | $107,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $75,943 | $62,000 | $92,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $64,030 | $46,000 | $87,000 |
| 4 | New York | $63,837 | $45,000 | $89,000 |
| 5 | California | $61,205 | $44,000 | $84,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $60,497 | $43,000 | $84,000 |
| 7 | Oregon | $60,141 | $43,000 | $82,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $59,716 | $42,000 | $83,000 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $58,846 | $42,000 | $80,000 |
| 10 | Virginia | $57,946 | $41,000 | $81,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $55,311 | $39,000 | $76,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $55,178 | $39,000 | $77,000 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $55,136 | $41,000 | $73,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $54,260 | $38,000 | $76,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $53,005 | $38,000 | $73,000 |
| 16 | Ohio | $50,996 | $36,000 | $71,000 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $50,480 | $37,000 | $68,000 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $50,073 | $43,000 | $58,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $49,911 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $49,577 | $35,000 | $69,000 |
| 21 | Nevada | $49,544 | $35,000 | $68,000 |
| 22 | Georgia | $49,447 | $37,000 | $64,000 |
| 23 | Florida | $48,507 | $37,000 | $62,000 |
| 24 | Kansas | $48,446 | $36,000 | $64,000 |
| 25 | Missouri | $47,705 | $35,000 | $63,000 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $47,264 | $35,000 | $63,000 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $46,953 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $46,566 | $34,000 | $63,000 |
| 29 | Vermont | $46,129 | $34,000 | $62,000 |
| 30 | Texas | $45,510 | $34,000 | $59,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $45,427 | $33,000 | $62,000 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $45,158 | $33,000 | $61,000 |
| 33 | Idaho | $44,706 | $32,000 | $61,000 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $44,450 | $33,000 | $58,000 |
| 35 | Colorado | $44,431 | $33,000 | $58,000 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $44,153 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 37 | Alabama | $43,179 | $33,000 | $56,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $42,212 | $30,000 | $57,000 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $42,128 | $31,000 | $55,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $41,761 | $31,000 | $54,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $41,739 | $31,000 | $55,000 |
| 42 | Utah | $41,739 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $41,370 | $30,000 | $55,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $40,958 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 45 | Arizona | $40,759 | $30,000 | $54,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $40,523 | $31,000 | $52,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $39,241 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 48 | Maine | $38,878 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $38,737 | $28,000 | $52,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $38,081 | $29,000 | $49,000 |
Methodology: Special Education Teacher Salary By State
To understand special education teacher pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We also consider actual salaries listed in job postings, calculating a weighted average to derive the average pay for special education teachers across states.
We ranked all states based on average annual salary data for special education teachers, with the state showing the highest salary placed at the top.
Special Education Teacher Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for special education teachers?
The highest-paid state for special education teachers is Maryland with an average salary of $76,282 per year.
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What city pays special education teachers the most?
Baltimore, MD pays special education teachers the most, with an average salary of $76,511 per year.
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What is the worst state for special education teachers?
The worst state for special education teachers is Mississippi with an average salary of $38,081 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
