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Special education teacher salary
Average special education teacher salary
$54,290
Understanding Special Education Teacher Salaries
The average salary for a special education teacher is about $54,290 per year, or $26 per hour. This salary can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific educational roles. For instance, teachers in states like California and New York often report higher salaries compared to those in other regions.
In addition, experience plays a significant role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically offer lower compensation, while seasoned professionals can command significantly higher salaries. For example, teachers with over 10 years of experience may earn upwards of $70,000 annually in certain districts.
Furthermore, specific roles such as behavioral specialists or resource teachers often come with additional responsibilities and, consequently, higher pay. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective educators make informed decisions about their career paths and seek opportunities that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Special Education Teacher earn more?
Special education teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average special education teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for special education teachers are Maryland, Alaska, and Washington. The lowest average special education teacher salary states are Arizona, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special education teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $76,282 | $36.67 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,497 | $29.09 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $70,901 | $34.09 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $55,136 | $26.51 |
| 5 | New York | $63,837 | $30.69 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $59,716 | $28.71 |
| 7 | Washington | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| 8 | Oregon | $60,141 | $28.91 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $54,260 | $26.09 |
| 10 | Alaska | $75,943 | $36.51 |
| 11 | Illinois | $53,005 | $25.48 |
| 12 | Nevada | $49,544 | $23.82 |
| 13 | Delaware | $55,178 | $26.53 |
| 14 | Ohio | $50,996 | $24.52 |
| 15 | Michigan | $49,911 | $24.00 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $58,846 | $28.29 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $55,311 | $26.59 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $47,264 | $22.72 |
| 19 | Virginia | $57,946 | $27.86 |
| 20 | California | $61,205 | $29.43 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $46,566 | $22.39 |
| 22 | Kansas | $48,446 | $23.29 |
| 23 | Missouri | $47,705 | $22.94 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $50,480 | $24.27 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $49,577 | $23.84 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $45,158 | $21.71 |
| 27 | Vermont | $46,129 | $22.18 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $46,953 | $22.57 |
| 29 | Georgia | $49,447 | $23.77 |
| 30 | Florida | $48,507 | $23.32 |
| 31 | Iowa | $45,427 | $21.84 |
| 32 | Texas | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| 33 | Colorado | $44,431 | $21.36 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $44,153 | $21.23 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $41,761 | $20.08 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $42,128 | $20.25 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $50,073 | $24.07 |
| 39 | Arizona | $40,759 | $19.60 |
| 40 | Idaho | $44,706 | $21.49 |
| 41 | Indiana | $40,958 | $19.69 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,179 | $20.76 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $41,739 | $20.07 |
| 44 | Montana | $38,737 | $18.62 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $42,212 | $20.29 |
| 46 | Utah | $41,739 | $20.07 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $39,241 | $18.87 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $41,370 | $19.89 |
| 49 | Maine | $38,878 | $18.69 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $40,523 | $19.48 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $38,081 | $18.31 |
Highest paying cities for special education teachers
The highest-paying cities for special education teachers are Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, and Richmond, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $76,511 | $36.78 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $70,892 | $34.08 |
| 3 | Richmond, CA | $66,364 | $31.91 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $64,308 | $30.92 |
| 5 | Ashburn, VA | $59,143 | $28.43 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,645 | $26.27 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $53,361 | $25.65 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $50,193 | $24.13 |
| 9 | Savannah, GA | $49,338 | $23.72 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $48,784 | $23.45 |
| 11 | Covington, KY | $48,406 | $23.27 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $48,243 | $23.19 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,983 | $22.59 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $45,781 | $22.01 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,438 | $21.36 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,224 | $20.30 |
| 17 | Columbia, SC | $41,816 | $20.10 |
| 18 | Provo, UT | $41,524 | $19.96 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,921 | $19.67 |
| 20 | Lake Charles, LA | $40,863 | $19.65 |
Special Education Teachers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Special education teacher salary details
A special education teacher's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special education teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $54,290 | $4,524 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying special education teacher jobs
The highest paying types of special education teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and special educator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Grade Teacher | $46,850 | $3,904 | $22.52 | 59,077 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Learning Support Teacher | $33,914 | $2,826 | $16.30 | 120,054 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Resource Teacher | $43,487 | $3,624 | $20.91 | 73,796 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for special education teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Top companies hiring special education teachers now:
Which companies pay special education teachers the most?
Special education teacher salaries at Baltimore City Public Schools and Boston Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special education teacher salary at companies like Maxim Healthcare Group and Prince George's County Memorial Library System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $79,153 | $38.05 |
| 2 | Boston Public Schools | $71,829 | $34.53 |
| 3 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $71,668 | $34.46 |
| 4 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $71,016 | $34.14 |
| 5 | Alvord Unified School District | $70,541 | $33.91 |
| 6 | East Side Union High School District | $70,220 | $33.76 |
| 7 | Renaissance Learning | $69,728 | $33.52 |
| 8 | Redondo Beach Unified School District | $69,707 | $33.51 |
| 9 | California State University | $69,681 | $33.50 |
| 10 | Da Vinci Schools | $69,147 | $33.24 |
| 11 | West Contra Costa Unified School District | $68,693 | $33.03 |
| 12 | CyberCoders | $67,805 | $32.60 |
| 13 | Savannah-Chatham County Public School System | $67,537 | $32.47 |
| 14 | Alliance College-Ready Public Schools | $67,336 | $32.37 |
| 15 | Wellpath | $67,201 | $32.31 |
| 16 | Salinas Union High School District | $67,132 | $32.27 |
| 17 | COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | $66,902 | $32.16 |
| 18 | Hinsdale Central High School | $66,900 | $32.16 |
| 19 | DC International School | $66,697 | $32.07 |
| 20 | Bonita Unified School District | $66,540 | $31.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special education teacher salary trends
The average special education teacher salary has risen by $6,048 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special education teacher earned $48,242 annually, but today, they earn $54,290 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for special education teachers over the last decade.
Compare special education teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special education teacher salary over time
Compare special education teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special education teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,300 | $26.10 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $54,100 | $26.03 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $53,200 | $25.57 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $52,500 | $25.23 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $51,100 | $24.56 | +2.2% |
Recently added special education teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boards of Cooperative Educational Services | Special Education Teacher | Cody, WY | 06/30/2025 | $60,916 |
| Corvallis School District | Special Education Teacher | Corvallis, OR | 06/30/2025 | $52,980 |
| Illinois Association of School | Special Education Teacher | Louisville, KY | 06/30/2025 | $42,411 |
| Virtua | Special Education Teacher-, Weekend and Evening Availability Preferred | Marlton, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $57,823 |
| Amergis | Special Education Teachers SY | Winder, GA | 06/30/2025 | $87,654 |
| Strideinc | High School Special Education Teacher | Guttenberg, IA | 06/30/2025 | $26,104 |
| Amergis | Special Education Teacher | Hope, AR | 06/30/2025 | $91,202 |
| Strideinc | High School Special Education Teacher | Lewisville, TX | 06/30/2025 | $52,000 |
| Bancroft | Special Education Teacher-High School Transition Program | Mount Laurel, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $60,587 |
| Chancelight Behavioral Health, Therapy, & Education | Special Education Teacher ! | Rome, GA | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
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