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The average salary for a Secondary School Special Education Teacher is reported at $50,625 annually, which varies significantly depending on experience, location, and specific school districts. For instance, teachers in urban districts often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for specialized educators.
Factors influencing salary include:
Additionally, urban areas often provide benefits such as housing allowances. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective educators make informed career decisions. Explore opportunities that align with your goals in this fulfilling profession.
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The average secondary school special ed teacher salary in New York, New Jersey, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average secondary school special ed teacher salary states are Illinois, Iowa, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $64,684 | $31.10 |
| 2 | Michigan | $59,602 | $28.65 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $60,036 | $28.86 |
| 4 | New York | $64,933 | $31.22 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $61,177 | $29.41 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $61,177 | $29.41 |
| 7 | Vermont | $58,844 | $28.29 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $54,778 | $26.34 |
| 9 | Maine | $62,791 | $30.19 |
| 10 | Delaware | $58,892 | $28.31 |
| 11 | Alaska | $60,043 | $28.87 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $53,438 | $25.69 |
| 13 | Maryland | $57,796 | $27.79 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $60,679 | $29.17 |
| 15 | Idaho | $55,498 | $26.68 |
| 16 | Washington | $57,649 | $27.72 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $53,721 | $25.83 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $54,320 | $26.12 |
| 19 | Nevada | $53,906 | $25.92 |
| 20 | Texas | $54,825 | $26.36 |
| 21 | Ohio | $50,538 | $24.30 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $47,905 | $23.03 |
| 23 | Missouri | $48,398 | $23.27 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $57,454 | $27.62 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $48,492 | $23.31 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $49,404 | $23.75 |
| 27 | Georgia | $53,795 | $25.86 |
| 28 | Montana | $47,612 | $22.89 |
| 29 | Indiana | $49,067 | $23.59 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $49,815 | $23.95 |
| 31 | California | $55,285 | $26.58 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $50,676 | $24.36 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $50,504 | $24.28 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 35 | Utah | $48,787 | $23.46 |
| 36 | Oregon | $45,423 | $21.84 |
| 37 | Illinois | $43,635 | $20.98 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $47,839 | $23.00 |
| 39 | Arizona | $45,427 | $21.84 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $47,654 | $22.91 |
| 41 | Colorado | $46,215 | $22.22 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $46,489 | $22.35 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $49,704 | $23.90 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $44,028 | $21.17 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $42,063 | $20.22 |
| 46 | Virginia | $46,955 | $22.57 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $44,159 | $21.23 |
| 48 | Kansas | $41,507 | $19.96 |
| 49 | Iowa | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| 50 | Florida | $41,222 | $19.82 |
| 51 | Alabama | $41,812 | $20.10 |
The highest-paying cities for secondary school special ed teachers are Bethesda, MD, Santa Rosa, CA, and Harlingen, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda, MD | $57,524 | $27.66 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | $56,943 | $27.38 |
| 3 | Harlingen, TX | $55,880 | $26.87 |
| 4 | Gainesville, GA | $54,202 | $26.06 |
| 5 | Paradise, NV | $53,734 | $25.83 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | $41,884 | $20.14 |
| 8 | Clearwater, FL | $41,546 | $19.97 |
A secondary school special ed teacher's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $50,625 | $4,219 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
The highest paying types of secondary school special ed teachers are severe disabilities special education teacher, special education supervisor, and inclusion special educator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Special Education Supervisor | $72,268 | $6,022 | $34.74 | 49,236 |
| Lead Teacher | $33,652 | $2,804 | $16.18 | 56,131 |
| Visually Impaired Teacher | $56,263 | $4,689 | $27.05 | 67,272 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
Top companies hiring secondary school special ed teachers now:
Secondary school special ed teacher salaries at Olney Friends School and Rochambeau are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average secondary school special ed teacher salary at companies like Piedmont Unified School District and NEWMAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ARLINGTON are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olney Friends School | $75,636 | $36.36 |
| 2 | Rochambeau | $64,687 | $31.10 |
| 3 | Piedmont Unified School District | $63,698 | $30.62 |
| 4 | NEWMAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ARLINGTON | $59,281 | $28.50 |
| 5 | Marine Military Academy | $58,327 | $28.04 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $56,546 | $27.19 |
| 7 | Connections Academy | $55,714 | $26.79 |
| 8 | RAZI SCHOOL | $55,033 | $26.46 |
| 9 | Hernando County Public School System | $52,616 | $25.30 |
| 10 | The School District of Philadelphia | $52,029 | $25.01 |
| 11 | Riverside Military Academy | $51,063 | $24.55 |
| 12 | Santa Monica High School | $47,870 | $23.01 |
| 13 | Henry Clay High School | $47,105 | $22.65 |
| 14 | Pinellas County Schools | $46,545 | $22.38 |
The average secondary school special ed teacher salary has risen by $5,914 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average secondary school special ed teacher earned $44,711 annually, but today, they earn $50,625 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for secondary school special ed teachers over the last decade.
Compare secondary school special ed teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare secondary school special ed teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | $49,500 | $23.78 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $48,400 | $23.27 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | $48,100 | $23.10 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $47,700 | $22.92 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amergis | School Year (OT, SLP, Social Workers, Special/General Education Teachers) | Cranston, RI | 06/25/2025 | $32,870 |
| AOB | Teacher, Theology, Secondary School (EX) Archbishop Curley H.S, Baltimore MD | Baltimore, MD | 05/17/2025 | $46,000 |
| Derby Public Schools | Special ED. Para Junior Derby Hills Elementary | Derby, KS | 05/08/2025 | $28,404 |
| USD 260 | Special ED. Para Junior HRS, Park Hill Elementary | Lane, KS | 05/03/2025 | $28,404 |
| Derby Public Schools | Special ED Para Senior Park Hill Elementary | Derby, KS | 04/15/2025 | $29,865 |
| USD 260 | Special ED. Para Junior HRS, Stone Creek Elementary | Lane, KS | 04/10/2025 | $28,404 |
| Amergis | School Based Slpas Needed for The Upcoming SY | Orlando, FL | 04/04/2025 | $79,306 |
| Derby Public Schools | Special ED. Para Junior HRS, Oaklawn Elementary | Derby, KS | 03/28/2025 | $28,404 |
| Poudre School District | Teacher Secondary-Video Production-Fossil Ridge High School | Fort Collins, CO | 03/18/2025 | $54,329 |
| USD 260 | Special ED Para Senior Derby North Middle School | Lane, KS | 03/15/2025 | $29,865 |
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