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Best states for an elementary special education teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for elementary special education teachers in the United States. Elementary special education teacher positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for elementary special education teachers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for elementary special education teacher jobs.
We figured that the best places for elementary special education teacher jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as an elementary special education teacher, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for elementary special education teachers in 2025
1. Maryland
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 1,081 Average annual salary: $69,666 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Pennsylvania
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 1,752 Average annual salary: $64,392 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Connecticut
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 608 Average annual salary: $61,267 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
4. New York
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 1,757 Average annual salary: $68,849 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
5. District of Columbia
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 235 Average annual salary: $69,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. New Jersey
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 1,398 Average annual salary: $61,243 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
7. Wyoming
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 117 Average annual salary: $53,366 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
8. Oregon
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 541 Average annual salary: $63,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1
9. Alaska
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $69,865 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
10. Delaware
Total elementary special education teacher jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $56,859 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
Elementary special education teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an elementary special education teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an elementary special education teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $69,666 | $49,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,081 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $64,392 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,752 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $61,267 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 608 |
| 4 | New York | $68,849 | $48,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,757 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $69,311 | $49,000 | 693,972 | 235 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $61,243 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,398 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $53,366 | $40,000 | 579,315 | 117 |
| 8 | Oregon | $63,477 | $45,000 | 4,142,776 | 541 |
| 9 | Alaska | $69,865 | $58,000 | 739,795 | 99 |
| 10 | Delaware | $56,859 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 220 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $62,589 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 999 |
| 12 | Vermont | $52,130 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 140 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $49,840 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 332 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $57,061 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 136 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $45,488 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 439 |
| 16 | Michigan | $46,398 | $33,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,324 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $44,367 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 705 |
| 18 | Washington | $53,516 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 796 |
| 19 | Georgia | $52,595 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 998 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,687 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 937 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,496 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 97 |
| 22 | Nevada | $44,620 | $32,000 | 2,998,039 | 654 |
| 23 | Illinois | $46,921 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,095 |
| 24 | Virginia | $53,353 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 907 |
| 25 | Kansas | $45,923 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 376 |
| 26 | California | $55,549 | $40,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,749 |
| 27 | Florida | $47,716 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,738 |
| 28 | Iowa | $44,095 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 410 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,319 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 110 |
| 30 | Ohio | $42,567 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,482 |
| 31 | Maine | $44,625 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 165 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $41,419 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 355 |
| 33 | Texas | $45,092 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,111 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $43,506 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 578 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $42,685 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 641 |
| 36 | Idaho | $42,190 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 217 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $43,451 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 479 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $48,894 | $41,000 | 1,427,538 | 71 |
| 39 | Alabama | $42,931 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 266 |
| 40 | Colorado | $40,598 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,008 |
| 41 | Arizona | $38,130 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,084 |
| 42 | Missouri | $38,973 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 980 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $38,575 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 345 |
| 44 | Montana | $35,827 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 232 |
| 45 | Indiana | $38,773 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 917 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $37,473 | $29,000 | 3,930,864 | 487 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $39,564 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,051 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $40,605 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 310 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $39,882 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 97 |
| 50 | Utah | $39,113 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 326 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,936 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 212 |
Highest paying states for elementary special education teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $69,666 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $64,392 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $61,267 |
| 4 | New York | $68,849 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $69,311 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $61,243 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $53,366 |
| 8 | Oregon | $63,477 |
| 9 | Alaska | $69,865 |
| 10 | Delaware | $56,859 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $62,589 |
| 12 | Vermont | $52,130 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $49,840 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $57,061 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $45,488 |
| 16 | Michigan | $46,398 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $44,367 |
| 18 | Washington | $53,516 |
| 19 | Georgia | $52,595 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,687 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,496 |
| 22 | Nevada | $44,620 |
| 23 | Illinois | $46,921 |
| 24 | Virginia | $53,353 |
| 25 | Kansas | $45,923 |
| 26 | California | $55,549 |
| 27 | Florida | $47,716 |
| 28 | Iowa | $44,095 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,319 |
| 30 | Ohio | $42,567 |
| 31 | Maine | $44,625 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $41,419 |
| 33 | Texas | $45,092 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $43,506 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $42,685 |
| 36 | Idaho | $42,190 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $43,451 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $48,894 |
| 39 | Alabama | $42,931 |
| 40 | Colorado | $40,598 |
| 41 | Arizona | $38,130 |
| 42 | Missouri | $38,973 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $38,575 |
| 44 | Montana | $35,827 |
| 45 | Indiana | $38,773 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $37,473 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $39,564 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $40,605 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $39,882 |
| 50 | Utah | $39,113 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,936 |
Expert opinions on the best states for elementary special education teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for elementary special education teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
Elementary special education teacher best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025