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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 311 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 308 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 317 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,448 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,291 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,437 | $29.54 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $60,031 | $28.86 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $58,728 | $28.23 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $58,321 | $28.04 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $57,856 | $27.82 | +2.1% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 85 | 12% |
| 2 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 508 | 11% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 218 | 11% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 147 | 11% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 67 | 11% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 56 | 10% |
| 7 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 486 | 8% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 80 | 8% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 872 | 7% |
| 10 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 833 | 7% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 241 | 7% |
| 12 | Alaska | 739,795 | 49 | 7% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 424 | 6% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 263 | 6% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 47 | 6% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 519 | 5% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 391 | 5% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 210 | 5% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 157 | 5% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 110 | 5% |
University of Maine
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of California - San Diego
University of Utah
Georgia College and State University
Auburn University Main Campus
Saint Xavier University
Adelphi University
Michigan State University
Fort Hays State University
Jennifer Lesh Ph.D.: Exercise discernment in your job selection: As a special education teacher, the range of positions available to you will be diverse and plentiful. Remember, a job interview is a two-way street. While school administrators will inquire about your qualifications, it’s equally important for you to evaluate the support and resources the school offers. Inquire about the school's induction programs for new teachers, mentorship opportunities, and the student-teacher ratio. Request a tour of the classrooms. It’s crucial that you feel a sense of belonging and alignment with both the environment and the team. The right fit for your initial teaching role can greatly enhance your capacity for resilience in this rewarding career. Never Stop Learning: Treat every day as an opportunity to learn something new. The most successful special educators are those who continue to grow their knowledge base and skill set long after formal education ends. Build Genuine Connections: Networking is more about building real relationships than accumulating contacts. Seek out educators as mentors whose work or path you admire and do are they are generally positive about teaching. Join a special education professional organization such as Council for Exceptional Children and get involved in the association at the local level. Maintain Work-Life Balance: It's crucial to find a balance that allows you to be productive at school while also taking care of your personal well-being. Burnout is real in the special education profession, and preventing it starts with recognizing the importance of your own health and happiness. Cultivate Your Personal Brand: Think about how you want to be perceived professionally as a special educator and make efforts to build your personal brand around those qualities. Whether it's through social media, blogging, or professional engagements, make sure your personal brand reflects your professional goals and values. Starting your career is the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery, growth, and fulfillment. By staying curious, resilient, and connected, you'll set the stage for a rewarding and successful career.
Jennifer Lesh Ph.D.: Technological Proficiency: With the ongoing integration of technology in educational settings, teachers will need to be adept at using assistive technology to support students with special needs. This includes both hardware and software that facilitate communication, learning, and accessibility. Definitely include the use of generative AI in your teacher preparation practices for positive time saver! Data Literacy: Being able to collect, interpret, and apply data to tailor educational approaches to individual student needs will be crucial. Data-driven decision-making can help in creating effective IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) and monitoring student progress. Cultural Competency: As classrooms continue to diversify, understanding and respecting cultural differences and incorporating culturally responsive teaching methods will be essential. Collaboration and Teamwork: Special education often involves working closely with general education teachers, parents, and other professionals such as speech therapists or psychologists. Skills in collaboration and co-teaching will be vital. Emotional Intelligence: The ability to recognize and respond to students' emotional needs, as well as manage your own emotions, will be increasingly important in creating a supportive learning environment. Flexibility and Adaptability: With the fast pace of change in educational policies, practices, and student populations, special education teachers will need to be able to adapt their teaching styles and strategies quickly and effectively. Advocacy Skills: Being able to advocate for the rights and needs of students with disabilities will remain an important skill, including navigating the legal aspects of special education and working with families to ensure that students receive the services and support which they are entitled. Behavior Management: Developing strategies to effectively support positive behavior and address challenging behavior will continue to be a critical skill in the special education field. These skills will support a holistic and adaptive approach to special education, ensuring that educators are well-equipped to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field.
Dr. Pamela Brillante: Attaining additional certifications and credentials while in your first few years of teaching will grow your salary quickly.
Dr. Pamela Brillante: Understanding that disability is a natural part of the human experience, and that we all fall on some part of the continuum or spectrum of learning.
Being able to self-reflect on our own ableist views and change our mindset to believe that children are more alike than different.
Understanding a medical diagnosis doesn’t drive educational practices.
The need for initiative, persistence, creativity and problem solving in both ourselves and our students.
Dr. Pamela Brillante: View the profession as a puzzle you need to take time to solve. Never give up on a child. Given time and “outside of the box thinking” you will find what works. Understanding how someone learns is not black or white / right or wrong. We all do learn differently and it is our job as special educators to find that path for that specific child.
University of Maine
Education
Dr. William Nichols Ph.D.: Future graduating education majors can expect to immediately enter the 'survival phase of teaching.' Up to this point, they have had university faculty, university mentors, collaborating teacher mentors, and their peer candidates all supporting their development into excellent professionals in the field of education. However, upon the first minute of the first day of teaching, they will enter the survival phase and, in many cases, they will fight for personal and professional existence.
Dr. Melissa Tapp PhD: First, I like to tell future special education teachers that teaching is a tough job, but, they are ready for it! Beginning teachers need to use the knowledge they've learned in their program and apply it in their future classrooms. The best advice I can give is to prepare, prepare, prepare! Be intentional about all aspects of the day, from classroom management to academic instruction and try to be proactive and set up systems for students to be successful.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Special Education And Teaching
Krista James Ph.D.: Shop around to various school districts. Look at their salary scale but also at any signing bonuses they might offer.
Krista James Ph.D.: I would recommend that they find a mentor work with to assist with questions and challenges that they may encounter in their early years in the classroom and also to gain experience in a variety of different settings to see where their preferences lie. Special Education is a large field with many different specializations available. Once you determine where your interests lie then you can seek further education to gain expertise in a particular area.
Krista James Ph.D.: We have always known that inclusion is best practice and many districts have begun moving in that direction so skills in Universal Design for Learning are necessary for teaching in inclusive settings.
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.
Dr. Kimberly Coy: A career as a special education teacher is interesting and rewarding. Also known in California as an Education Specialist, the job involves being both creative and persistent. My advice at the beginning of a career is to find the teachers you want to be most like and watch them, learn from them. They might be other special education teachers, or they might be other types of teachers. Find the positive innovators and stick with them.
Amy Kunkel Ph.D.: The need for good special education teachers is greater than ever before, thus graduates with a special education teaching license can often find teaching positions within their own communities. Take your time to look around at your options, ask questions about your caseload, and try to gauge the support provided by administration and the special education team you will be joining. Oftentimes our student teachers have multiple job offers prior to finishing up their student teaching semester. You want to choose an environment that feels welcoming and supportive.
One piece of advice that all new teachers should remember is the importance of self-care. Teaching is not an easy profession, and teachers teach because they love working with children and young adults. Special education teachers have a very unique passion, and it's helpful to always remember your reason for teaching. The kids will help you with this! I recommend new teachers keep a journal of their thoughts, keep their evenings and weekends work-free, and find time to nourish their hobbies and skills outside the classroom.
Amy Kunkel Ph.D.: Special education teachers need to develop collaboration skills with multiple audiences. In addition to teaching, special education teachers work with parents, caregivers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and general education teachers to develop comprehensive, individualized education programs (IEPs). The implementation of the IEP is a coordinated effort orchestrated by the special education case manager. Thus, skills in collaboration (listening, problem solving, empathy, and willingness to accept constructive feedback) are of the utmost importance.
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.
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.
Francesca Go Ph. D.: I think understanding good instruction and keeping up with the science of what works will be critical. Understanding how to help students' social-emotional development will also be critical and, again, understanding the research in this area on what works for teach and support students in the area of social and emotional growth.
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.
Dr. Marija Čolić: Special Education is a vital and rewarding field. SPED teachers have the power to change lives, which is incredibly fulfilling. There is always a need for SPED teachers, making it a stable career choice. People are drawn to this profession because of the immense satisfaction that comes from seeing students improve and their happiness, as well as the joy it brings to their families. The profession offers constant opportunities for growth and learning, making it a dynamic and impactful career path.
Chris Halter: My best advice for any new professional is to find yourself a mentor. Even better, have several mentors. Depending on the areas that you want to grow or excel, there may be a different mentor who could guide you towards those goals. We should also acknowledge that education is a social field. We are in service of others and should always strive to recognize the communities that we serve. Learn, be curious, and understand the values, goals, and strengths that can be found in our communities.
Breda O’Keeffe Ph.D.: Create connections; special education can feel isolating. You may be the only special education teacher in your building or in your content department, but you share students with virtually every teacher in the building, so move beyond your immediate team and connect with teachers in general education. It’s easier to ask a teacher to participate in a meeting when you already have that connection. Seek mentoring and ask for help from professionals in your building and beyond. Be persistent and get yourself organized. Continue to seek professional learning to grow as a teacher, but you will also find yourself as the resident expert in special education, specially designed instruction, behavior supports, assessment, and problem solving.
Breda O’Keeffe Ph.D.: In special education, inclusion, collaboration, behavior supports, mental health supports, effective instruction, providing supports for students from a wide range of backgrounds, and systems change are becoming more important. In addition, advocating for the profession is important, due to the devaluing of education and special education. Seek training that will help you provide excellent, engaging, specially designed instruction for students with disabilities, ideally in inclusive settings. Classroom behavior management and more specialized, individualized behavior supports will help you become a great teacher and a resource within your school. Working successfully with families and students from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds is important across rural, suburban, and urban settings. In addition, special education teachers should have a voice in school wide behavior plans, multitiered systems of supports, and accessibility to activities and programs. By advocating for yourself and your position, you can create a greater platform of advocacy for the individual students you work with.
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.
Bailey McAlister PhD: Maximizing salary potential is a valuable point that I unfortunately don't have much positive experience in as a college teacher. I always ask for salary increase whenever I can. When I start a job, when I've been at a job a year, when I get another job offer, etc. It doesn't hurt to ask. I guess I'd advise new graduates to note quantities of money, sales, funding, etc. on their resumes. Showing in numbers how much you've grown is important.
Bailey McAlister PhD: I think that any skills rooted in confident experimentation will be increasingly valuable in the near future. For example, you don’t need to be an AI expert, but you should be curious about AI innovations and open to experimenting with AI in your work. Technical knowledge can be learned. But there's real value in being confident to experiment, make mistakes, learn, practice, reflect.
Auburn University Main Campus
Education
Andrew Pendola Ph.D.: Hi Alex, I’d be happy to chat with you — my area is in labor markets for educators—so recruitment, hiring, retention, etc.
Andrew Pendola Ph.D.: Thanks! We've found we get better responses over email than the phone because it gives you some time to think about it. We were hoping you could answer the following questions:
LaSheba Hilliard Ed.D.: Embrace continuous learning: Special education is an incredible field with evolving best practices and methodologies. Stay updated with research, attend workshops, and pursue professional development opportunities.
Develop strong communication skills: Effective communication with students, parents, guardians, colleagues, and other stakeholders is crucial. Cultivate empathy, patience, and clarity in your interactions.
Build a support network: Connect with experienced educators, mentors, and professional communities to seek guidance, share experiences, and gain insights into navigating challenges.
Prioritize self-care: Working in special education can be emotionally demanding. Establish boundaries, engage in self-care practices, and seek support to prevent burnout and maintain well-being.
Saint Xavier University
Special Education And Teaching
Margaret Carroll: Most schools pay more for each year of experience and for additional professional education. While an increasing salary is desirable, I encourage new teachers to wait at least until they complete their first year of teaching before they begin to pursue an additional teaching credential or degree.
Dr. Stephen Shore Ed.D.: On a day to day basis a special education teacher assures that all students under their care receive appropriate adjustments to the delivery of curriculum, different opportunities for processing information received, and options for the student to demonstrate mastery of material according to their abilities. Sometimes adjustments to the curriculum itself will be made. A person entering the field as a special educator does the very same thing, under the guidance of a mentor teacher who shares their educational experiences.
Dr. Stephen Shore Ed.D.: With increasing recognition of the wide diversity of how people think, increasing numbers of students are being identified as having special needs. An additional bonus is that the instructor becomes a better teacher overall since adjustments made on their students' behalf are actually just extensions of good teaching practice.
Dr. PJ Sedillo: Patience
Creativity
Communication
Organization
Advocacy
Troy Mariage: There has been a chronic shortage of special education teachers in nearly all 50 states for decades. Special education is an equity pedagogy: The definition of special education is to provide individualized and specialized instruction to support a learner where they are. This can often be provided in general education, but may also require more specialized settings for small periods of time. Special education teachers often see themselves playing multiple roles, including academic interventionist, behavior interventionist, and inclusion specialist. Special education teachers today can provide direct service to students with IEP who might require specialized instruction, but also can provide support for IEP students as partners with general education teachers to support students in these inclusive classrooms.
Fort Hays State University
Special Education And Teaching
Jerrie Brooks Ed.D.: Special education is a very hard job, but you don't have to know all the answers to be a great teacher. Every year you teach, you acquire more skills to use with students.
Do rely on evidenced-based instructional strategies for your teaching.
Most importantly, always remember each day is a new day to make a change in a student's life. Never give up on your students.
Work to build relationships with your students and their families. Those relationships are the basis of communication and collaboration.
Jennifer Kurth: Being a special education teacher is a wonderful career - it offers lasting opportunities to make a difference and change lives. With this opportunity comes needs to build relationships with students and families to work towards effective collaboration and support. Special education is a team approach, and collaborating with others lets teachers leverage the skills and expertise of others as the team works towards the common goal of supporting the student in pursuing their goals. I would also recommend new teachers stay organized - special education involves a lot of important paperwork, so developing a system to keep track of this, without letting it feel like overwhelming, is essential. I recommend that teachers seek strengths in themselves but especially in their students. Identifying those strengths lets us leverage them in ways that enable students to thrive - so always find those unique skills and interests to build upon. Finally, take care of yourself. Teaching can be demanding, especially in special education. Jake sure to prioritize your self-care and maintain a healthy and sustainable work-life balance. You'll be better able to support your students when you are well rested and emotionally grounded - these will also be traits that facilitate your longevity in this great field!