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Special educator salary
Average special educator salary
$53,565
Average Special Educator Salary
The salary of a special educator varies significantly based on location, experience, and the specific educational setting. As of October 2025, the national average salary is approximately $53,565 per year, translating to around $26 per hour. This figure can differ based on various factors, including the type of institution (public vs. private), geographic location, and the educator's years of experience.
Where Can Special Educators Earn More?
Special educators in urban areas or states with a higher cost of living typically earn more. For instance, states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to demand and living expenses. Additionally, educators with advanced degrees or certifications may qualify for higher-paying positions.
Highest Paying Cities
Cities such as San Francisco and Boston are known for offering competitive salaries for special educators, often exceeding the national average. Understanding the salary trends in your area can help you make informed career choices and seek out opportunities that align with your financial goals.
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Where can a Special Educator earn more?
Average special educator salary by state
The highest-paying states for special educators are New York, Connecticut, and Maryland. The lowest average special educator salary states are South Dakota, Indiana, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special educators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $75,396 | $36.25 |
| 2 | Alaska | $71,541 | $34.39 |
| 3 | Maryland | $74,301 | $35.72 |
| 4 | Vermont | $57,007 | $27.41 |
| 5 | New York | $76,018 | $36.55 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $56,111 | $26.98 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $66,934 | $32.18 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $60,296 | $28.99 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $53,427 | $25.69 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $55,366 | $26.62 |
| 11 | Delaware | $56,179 | $27.01 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $72,366 | $34.79 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $72,131 | $34.68 |
| 14 | Nevada | $50,637 | $24.34 |
| 15 | Oregon | $56,285 | $27.06 |
| 16 | Michigan | $50,717 | $24.38 |
| 17 | Ohio | $51,817 | $24.91 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $48,986 | $23.55 |
| 19 | Illinois | $53,042 | $25.50 |
| 20 | California | $61,687 | $29.66 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $50,724 | $24.39 |
| 23 | Washington | $55,163 | $26.52 |
| 24 | Georgia | $55,467 | $26.67 |
| 25 | Missouri | $50,107 | $24.09 |
| 26 | Maine | $49,468 | $23.78 |
| 27 | Texas | $52,306 | $25.15 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $50,653 | $24.35 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $48,685 | $23.41 |
| 30 | Alabama | $48,346 | $23.24 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $45,219 | $21.74 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $47,367 | $22.77 |
| 33 | Virginia | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| 34 | Kansas | $45,546 | $21.90 |
| 35 | Arizona | $43,125 | $20.73 |
| 36 | Iowa | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 37 | Idaho | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $47,122 | $22.65 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $49,778 | $23.93 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $44,895 | $21.58 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $42,125 | $20.25 |
| 43 | Florida | $46,696 | $22.45 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $46,048 | $22.14 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $41,058 | $19.74 |
| 46 | Montana | $40,696 | $19.57 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $44,964 | $21.62 |
| 48 | Colorado | $41,578 | $19.99 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $42,354 | $20.36 |
| 50 | Indiana | $41,987 | $20.19 |
| 51 | Utah | $41,748 | $20.07 |
Highest paying cities for special educators
The highest-paying cities for special educators are Oceanside, NY, Stratford, CT, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside, NY | $76,295 | $36.68 |
| 2 | Stratford, CT | $75,564 | $36.33 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $74,387 | $35.76 |
| 4 | Brick, NJ | $67,154 | $32.29 |
| 5 | South San Francisco, CA | $64,850 | $31.18 |
| 6 | Auburn, WA | $55,469 | $26.67 |
| 7 | Arlington Heights, IL | $53,294 | $25.62 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $52,642 | $25.31 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $50,717 | $24.38 |
| 10 | Danville, VA | $47,737 | $22.95 |
| 11 | Charleston, SC | $47,357 | $22.77 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| 13 | Gilbert, AZ | $43,121 | $20.73 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $41,599 | $20.00 |
| 15 | Helena, MT | $40,681 | $19.56 |
Special educator salary details
A special educator's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $75,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special educator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $53,565 | $4,464 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying special educator jobs
The highest paying types of special educators are special education teacher, middle school teacher, and summer school teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Certified Teacher | $50,708 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 92,051 |
| Toddler Teacher | $30,703 | $2,559 | $14.76 | 67,810 |
| Learning Support Teacher | $33,914 | $2,826 | $16.30 | 120,054 |
| Infant Teacher | $29,076 | $2,423 | $13.98 | 63,079 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for special educators, 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 educators now:
Which companies pay special educators the most?
Special educator salaries at Capistrano Unified and Staten Island Academy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special educator salary at companies like Baltimore City Public Schools and The City University of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capistrano Unified | $70,979 | $34.12 |
| 2 | Staten Island Academy | $67,553 | $32.48 |
| 3 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $66,483 | $31.96 |
| 4 | The City University of New York | $65,070 | $31.28 |
| 5 | Bilingual Therapies | $64,289 | $30.91 |
| 6 | San Jacinto Unified School District | $64,162 | $30.85 |
| 7 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $62,884 | $30.23 |
| 8 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $62,274 | $29.94 |
| 9 | San Diego Unified School District | $62,237 | $29.92 |
| 10 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $61,065 | $29.36 |
| 11 | Rancho Alamitos High School | $60,493 | $29.08 |
| 12 | Bristol Public School District | $58,801 | $28.27 |
| 13 | Chicago Public Schools | $58,766 | $28.25 |
| 14 | Childhaven | $58,401 | $28.08 |
| 15 | Auburn City Schools | $58,376 | $28.07 |
| 16 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $58,263 | $28.01 |
| 17 | Irving Isd | $58,251 | $28.01 |
| 18 | Denver Public Schools | $58,078 | $27.92 |
| 19 | Los Angeles Unified School District | $57,641 | $27.71 |
| 20 | Houston ISD Foundation | $57,468 | $27.63 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special educator salary trends
The average special educator salary has risen by $5,967 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special educator earned $47,598 annually, but today, they earn $53,565 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for special educators over the last decade.
Compare special educator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special educator salary over time
Compare special educator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special educator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,600 | $25.75 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | $53,400 | $25.68 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $52,500 | $25.23 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $51,800 | $24.89 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $50,400 | $24.23 | +2.2% |
Recently added special educator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Special Education Tutor-Remote | WFH | Phoenix, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Special Education Speech Pathology-Remote | WFH | Virginia Beach, VA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Special Education-Virtual Case Management-Remote | WFH | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Family of Kidz | Special Educator Ei/Seis | Riverhead, NY | 06/29/2025 | $133,568 |
| William Penn School District | Special Education (Emotional Support) | Kane, PA | 06/28/2025 | $51,619 |
| Lawrence Public Schools | Sy26 Special Education Middle School | Lawrence, MA | 06/27/2025 | $56,415 |
| Waltham Public Schools | ESY Elementary Connections Special Educator | Waltham, MA | 06/27/2025 | $104,350 |
| Tutor Doctor Chandler Gilbert Ahwatukee-Tutor In Gilbert | Special Education Tutor | Chandler, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public | R 2662 ESY Special Education Tutors Summer | Barnstable Town, MA | 06/26/2025 | $104,350 |
| Winchester Public Schools | .5 Special Education ESP (Paraprofessional) Lincoln School | Winchester, MA | 06/26/2025 | $52,154 |
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