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Special education teacher for grades salary

Quoted expert
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.

Average special education teacher for grades salary

$50,555

$24.31 hourly rate

Entry-level special education teacher for grades salary
$39,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Special Education Teacher for Grades Salary

The average salary for a Special Education Teacher for Grades in the United States is approximately $50,555 per year, translating to about $24 per hour. This compensation can vary significantly based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the educational institution type.

How Compensation Varies

For instance, teachers working in urban areas often earn higher salaries compared to those in rural settings. Additionally, teachers with advanced degrees or certifications typically have the potential to earn higher wages. According to recent data, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries for special education teachers, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for qualified professionals.

Opportunities for Growth

As the demand for special education services continues to grow, so do opportunities for career advancement and higher salaries. Pursuing further education, such as a master’s degree or specialized certifications, can significantly enhance earning potential. By focusing on these factors, special education teachers can position themselves to achieve both personal and professional financial success.

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Where can a Special Education Teacher For Grades earn more?

Compare salary by location
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67k
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Columbus, OH$60,346
Indianapolis, IN$36,964
Compare salary by company
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Boston Public Schools$60,602
New Brunswick Public Schools$42,495

Average special education teacher for grades salary by state

The average special education teacher for grades salary in Maryland, New York, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average special education teacher for grades salary states are South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Montana.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for special education teachers for grades

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Maryland$60,216$28.95
2Pennsylvania$48,968$23.54
3Wyoming$50,796$24.42
4Connecticut$55,093$26.49
5District of Columbia$59,122$28.42
6New York$57,202$27.50
7New Jersey$49,517$23.81
8Nevada$45,227$21.74
9Kentucky$43,879$21.10
10Illinois$45,577$21.91
11Alaska$55,110$26.50
12California$56,126$26.98
13Missouri$45,121$21.69
14Oregon$49,035$23.57
15Georgia$48,908$23.51
16Ohio$43,269$20.80
17Massachusetts$50,090$24.08
18Nebraska$43,275$20.81
19Washington$48,035$23.09
20Delaware$44,834$21.55
21Tennessee$43,752$21.03
22Hawaii$54,727$26.31
23Colorado$43,700$21.01
24New Mexico$41,342$19.88
25West Virginia$43,074$20.71
26Texas$42,603$20.48
27Alabama$42,787$20.57
28Kansas$41,149$19.78
29Michigan$40,121$19.29
30South Carolina$41,515$19.96
31North Dakota$42,858$20.60
32Arizona$40,092$19.27
33Rhode Island$42,725$20.54
34Iowa$40,882$19.65
35North Carolina$40,171$19.31
36Oklahoma$37,658$18.10
37Arkansas$38,835$18.67
38Virginia$42,145$20.26
39Montana$36,853$17.72
40Louisiana$40,244$19.35
41Minnesota$39,053$18.78
42New Hampshire$36,273$17.44
43Florida$39,492$18.99
44Vermont$38,053$18.29
45Indiana$36,727$17.66
46Idaho$38,890$18.70
47Wisconsin$37,201$17.89
48Utah$37,989$18.26
49Mississippi$37,826$18.19
50South Dakota$37,221$17.89
51Maine$32,359$15.56
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Highest paying cities for special education teachers for grades

The highest-paying cities for special education teachers for grades are Gaithersburg, MD, New York, NY, and Oakland, CA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Gaithersburg, MD$60,346$29.01
2New York, NY$57,695$27.74
3Oakland, CA$57,502$27.65
4Bridgeport, CT$55,747$26.80
5Fall River, MA$51,634$24.82
6New Brunswick, NJ$49,665$23.88
7Philadelphia, PA$49,302$23.70
8Rockford, IL$45,252$21.76
9Denver, CO$43,701$21.01
10Norfolk, VA$42,503$20.43
11Detroit, MI$40,220$19.34
12Phoenix, AZ$40,072$19.27
13Indianapolis, IN$36,964$17.77

Special education teacher for grades salary details

A special education teacher for grades's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average special education teacher for grades salary graph
Average special education teacher for grades salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a special education teacher for grades's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$65,000$5,417$31
75th Percentile$57,000$4,750$27
Average$50,555$4,213$24
25th Percentile$44,000$3,667$21
10th Percentile$39,000$3,250$19

Highest paying special education teacher for grades jobs

The highest paying types of special education teachers for grades are student teacher, reading teacher, and special education teacher.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Teacher$47,989$3,999$23.0771,918
English Language Arts Teacher$48,483$4,040$23.3188,793
5th Grade Teacher$46,300$3,858$22.2657,358
2nd Grade Teacher$46,850$3,904$22.5259,077
4th Grade Teacher$47,619$3,968$22.8968,138
6th Grade Teacher$45,615$3,801$21.9369,523

How would you rate the starting salaries for Special education teachers for grades, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?

Patricia Rogan Ph.D.

Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Teacher salaries continue to grow, but they vary from state to state and district to district. According to the NEA, the average starting salary for beginning teachers in 2017-18 was $39,249. The average salary of all teachers in the U.S. was $61,730 in 2018-19, which was a 2.1% increase from the previous year. Despite COVID-19 and its impact on teachers, it is doubtful that teacher salaries will jump significantly in the years ahead (due to state economic challenges) unless teachers strike.

Top companies hiring special education teachers for grades now:

  1. Chicago Public Schools jobs (11)
  2. Newark Public Schools jobs (6)
  3. Lowell School jobs (4)
  4. Denver Public Schools jobs (5)
  5. Jefferson County Schools jobs (5)

Which companies pay special education teachers for grades the most?

Special education teacher for grades salaries at Boston Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special education teacher for grades salary at companies like Alhambra Unified School District and Santa Rosa City Schools are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$47,000$46,600$46,200$45,800$45,400$45,000
MaleFemale

Special education teacher for grades salary trends

The average special education teacher for grades salary has risen by $5,632 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special education teacher for grades earned $44,923 annually, but today, they earn $50,555 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for special education teachers for grades over the last decade.

Compare special education teacher for grades salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average special education teacher for grades salary over time

Compare special education teacher for grades salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Special education teacher for grades salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$50,600$24.31+0.3%
2025$50,400$24.24+1.8%
2024$49,500$23.81+1.3%
2023$48,900$23.50+2.7%
2022$47,600$22.87+2.2%

Recently added special education teacher for grades salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Neighborhood House Charter School11Th Grade Special Education TeacherBoston, MA06/27/2025$67,500
Amergis6Th Grade Special Education TeacherWaynesville, MO06/27/2025$93,915
The School District of South Orange and MaplewoodLR Special Education Teacher/Inclusion-Grade 4Maplewood, NJ06/26/2025$70,785
Hebrew Public Charter Schools for Global CitizensGrade 8 Special Education TeacherNew York, NY06/25/2025$62,000
Mastery Charter SchoolsMiddle School Special Education Teacher-6Th-8Th Grade School YearCamden, NJ06/24/2025$60,000
Yorktown CSD (NySpecial Education Teacher Grade 3 ICT (Anticipated Vacancy)Yorktown Heights, NY06/18/2025$62,306
Lawrence Public Schools9Th Grade Special Education TeacherLawrence, MA06/17/2025$56,415
Monroe Township School DistrictTeacher of Special Education-Grade 5 Ics/Rc School Year (179)Monroe, NJ06/15/2025$64,175
Owen J Roberts School DistrictSpecial Education Teacher-HS-Emotional Support-GradesKane, PA06/13/2025$58,000
Carroll County SchoolsGrades Special Education TeacherCarrollton, KY06/13/2025$47,643

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