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Best states for an early childhood special educator
Quoted expert
Tara Martin
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to early childhood special educator jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research found that Connecticut is the best state for early childhood special educators, while New Jersey and New York are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Connecticut has a median salary of $42,207 and New Jersey has the highest median salary among all 50 states for early childhood special educators.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for early childhood special educators.We found that Connecticut is the best state for early childhood special educator jobs, whereas Hawaii is the worst.
10 best states for early childhood special educators in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 674 Average annual salary: $42,207 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
2. Delaware
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $42,185 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
3. New Hampshire
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 354 Average annual salary: $40,305 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
4. Michigan
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 1,295 Average annual salary: $39,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
5. Pennsylvania
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 1,629 Average annual salary: $42,177 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
6. New Jersey
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 1,276 Average annual salary: $42,606 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
7. Vermont
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $39,146 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
8. Rhode Island
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $41,860 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
9. New York
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 1,628 Average annual salary: $42,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Ohio
Total early childhood special educator jobs: 1,453 Average annual salary: $39,101 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
Early childhood special educator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an early childhood special educator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an early childhood special educator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $42,207 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 674 |
| 2 | Delaware | $42,185 | $25,000 | 961,939 | 203 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $40,305 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 354 |
| 4 | Michigan | $39,567 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,295 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $42,177 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,629 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $42,606 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,276 |
| 7 | Vermont | $39,146 | $25,000 | 623,657 | 158 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $41,860 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 143 |
| 9 | New York | $42,511 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,628 |
| 10 | Ohio | $39,101 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,453 |
| 11 | Maine | $38,608 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 189 |
| 12 | Maryland | $41,338 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 925 |
| 13 | Indiana | $37,692 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 841 |
| 14 | Illinois | $38,096 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,928 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $35,790 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 713 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $38,309 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 632 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $41,195 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 834 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $38,655 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 112 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $37,033 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 843 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $40,891 | $25,000 | 693,972 | 180 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $33,992 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 433 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $35,684 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 109 |
| 23 | Iowa | $36,373 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 387 |
| 24 | Missouri | $33,723 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 939 |
| 25 | Virginia | $39,346 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 800 |
| 26 | Nevada | $31,653 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 668 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $31,450 | $21,000 | 579,315 | 123 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $34,996 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 113 |
| 29 | Montana | $32,486 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 223 |
| 30 | Arizona | $31,424 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,289 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $34,826 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 940 |
| 32 | Kansas | $32,338 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 374 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $30,783 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 339 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $30,523 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 500 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $30,241 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 337 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $32,467 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 536 |
| 37 | Idaho | $30,504 | $20,000 | 1,716,943 | 259 |
| 38 | Oregon | $31,154 | $20,000 | 4,142,776 | 527 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $31,815 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 450 |
| 40 | Colorado | $30,377 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 953 |
| 41 | Washington | $31,303 | $20,000 | 7,405,743 | 830 |
| 42 | California | $32,804 | $20,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,043 |
| 43 | Alaska | $30,029 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 122 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $29,841 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 221 |
| 45 | Alabama | $30,228 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 285 |
| 46 | Georgia | $30,812 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 895 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,422 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 328 |
| 48 | Texas | $29,671 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,936 |
| 49 | Utah | $29,756 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 338 |
| 50 | Florida | $28,975 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,682 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $29,469 | $19,000 | 1,427,538 | 87 |
Highest paying states for early childhood special educators
| Rank | State | Avg. Early Childhood Special Educator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $42,207 |
| 2 | Delaware | $42,185 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $40,305 |
| 4 | Michigan | $39,567 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $42,177 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $42,606 |
| 7 | Vermont | $39,146 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $41,860 |
| 9 | New York | $42,511 |
| 10 | Ohio | $39,101 |
| 11 | Maine | $38,608 |
| 12 | Maryland | $41,338 |
| 13 | Indiana | $37,692 |
| 14 | Illinois | $38,096 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $35,790 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $38,309 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $41,195 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $38,655 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $37,033 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $40,891 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $33,992 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $35,684 |
| 23 | Iowa | $36,373 |
| 24 | Missouri | $33,723 |
| 25 | Virginia | $39,346 |
| 26 | Nevada | $31,653 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $31,450 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $34,996 |
| 29 | Montana | $32,486 |
| 30 | Arizona | $31,424 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $34,826 |
| 32 | Kansas | $32,338 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $30,783 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $30,523 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $30,241 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $32,467 |
| 37 | Idaho | $30,504 |
| 38 | Oregon | $31,154 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $31,815 |
| 40 | Colorado | $30,377 |
| 41 | Washington | $31,303 |
| 42 | California | $32,804 |
| 43 | Alaska | $30,029 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $29,841 |
| 45 | Alabama | $30,228 |
| 46 | Georgia | $30,812 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,422 |
| 48 | Texas | $29,671 |
| 49 | Utah | $29,756 |
| 50 | Florida | $28,975 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $29,469 |
Expert opinions on the best states for early childhood special educators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for early childhood special educators to find work opportunities?
Tara Martin
Director- Bridge to Independence, Nicholls State University
Special education teachers are a rare breed. Because our world will always have students who require specialized education, special education teachers should gain employment across the United States. Students who need these services typically don't learn with an array of modifications and accommodations. For this to happen, a real-life teacher will be essential.
Early childhood special educator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025