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Special needs teacher salary
Average special needs teacher salary
$47,334
Average Special Needs Teacher Salary
The average salary for a Special Needs Teacher in the United States is $47,334 per year. This figure may vary depending on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific school district. For instance, teachers in urban areas often earn higher salaries than those in rural districts due to higher living costs and demand for specialized education.
Where Can a Special Needs Teacher Earn More?
Some states and cities offer more lucrative opportunities for special needs teachers. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts frequently rank among the highest in terms of average salary. Additionally, larger cities often provide higher compensation due to the increased demand for qualified educators.
Job Opportunities and Career Advancement
Beyond salary, there are numerous job opportunities for special needs teachers across various educational settings, including public schools, private institutions, and special education programs. Continuous professional development and further education can also enhance career prospects and earning potential, making it essential for teachers to stay informed about available resources and job openings.
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Where can a Special Needs Teacher earn more?
Average special needs teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for special needs teachers are Alaska, Connecticut, and Maryland. The lowest average special needs teacher salary states are Arizona, Indiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special needs teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $66,516 | $31.98 |
| 2 | Maryland | $65,729 | $31.60 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $55,583 | $26.72 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $53,133 | $25.54 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $56,097 | $26.97 |
| 6 | New York | $62,605 | $30.10 |
| 7 | Alaska | $67,522 | $32.46 |
| 8 | California | $65,369 | $31.43 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $62,170 | $29.89 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $63,878 | $30.71 |
| 11 | Oregon | $53,452 | $25.70 |
| 12 | Washington | $54,091 | $26.01 |
| 13 | Illinois | $49,234 | $23.67 |
| 14 | Colorado | $49,428 | $23.76 |
| 15 | Nevada | $45,648 | $21.95 |
| 16 | Michigan | $46,099 | $22.16 |
| 17 | Ohio | $46,893 | $22.54 |
| 18 | Vermont | $49,415 | $23.76 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $45,537 | $21.89 |
| 20 | Delaware | $49,807 | $23.95 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $52,683 | $25.33 |
| 22 | Texas | $48,915 | $23.52 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $43,903 | $21.11 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $46,271 | $22.25 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $50,101 | $24.09 |
| 26 | Missouri | $45,193 | $21.73 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $44,842 | $21.56 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $45,306 | $21.78 |
| 29 | Iowa | $43,711 | $21.01 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $41,969 | $20.18 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $40,755 | $19.59 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $42,517 | $20.44 |
| 33 | Kansas | $41,301 | $19.86 |
| 34 | Florida | $43,405 | $20.87 |
| 35 | Georgia | $43,851 | $21.08 |
| 36 | Virginia | $44,306 | $21.30 |
| 37 | Arizona | $38,508 | $18.51 |
| 38 | Maine | $42,385 | $20.38 |
| 39 | Idaho | $42,005 | $20.19 |
| 40 | Alabama | $41,779 | $20.09 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $40,237 | $19.34 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $44,963 | $21.62 |
| 43 | Montana | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $37,837 | $18.19 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $39,972 | $19.22 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $40,705 | $19.57 |
| 47 | Indiana | $38,492 | $18.51 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 49 | Utah | $38,944 | $18.72 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $39,454 | $18.97 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,058 | $17.82 |
Highest paying cities for special needs teachers
The highest-paying cities for special needs teachers are Berkeley, CA, Baltimore, MD, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $69,172 | $33.26 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $65,942 | $31.70 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,856 | $30.22 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,066 | $29.84 |
| 5 | Harrisburg, PA | $55,479 | $26.67 |
| 6 | Redmond, WA | $54,277 | $26.09 |
| 7 | Loveland, CO | $49,728 | $23.91 |
| 8 | Evanston, IL | $49,607 | $23.85 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $48,878 | $23.50 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $46,533 | $22.37 |
| 11 | Fredericksburg, VA | $44,746 | $21.51 |
| 12 | Evans, GA | $44,147 | $21.22 |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | $43,797 | $21.06 |
| 14 | Appleton, WI | $42,287 | $20.33 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,591 | $18.55 |
Special needs teacher salary details
A special needs teacher's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special needs teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $47,334 | $3,945 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying special needs teacher jobs
The highest paying types of special needs teachers are special education teacher, special educator, and summer school teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| Learning Support Teacher | $33,914 | $2,826 | $16.30 | 120,054 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Early Childhood Teacher | $33,205 | $2,767 | $15.96 | 56,821 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for special needs 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 needs teachers now:
Which companies pay special needs teachers the most?
Special needs teacher salaries at San Mateo County Office Of Education and CARE are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special needs teacher salary at companies like The Arora Group and Hemet Unified School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Mateo County Office Of Education | $53,868 | $25.90 |
| 2 | CARE | $52,575 | $25.28 |
| 3 | The Arora Group | $52,555 | $25.27 |
| 4 | Hemet Unified School District | $52,054 | $25.03 |
| 5 | Broward County Public Schools | $51,524 | $24.77 |
| 6 | Andover Public Schools | $51,049 | $24.54 |
| 7 | Minnesota State Fair | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| 8 | Shillington Education | $47,062 | $22.63 |
| 9 | HealthPRO | $47,054 | $22.62 |
| 10 | The MED | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| 11 | SunnyvaleSD | $45,312 | $21.78 |
| 12 | Voices College-Bound Language Academies | $43,823 | $21.07 |
| 13 | Prestonwood Baptist Church | $43,608 | $20.97 |
| 14 | Paradise Valley Unified School District | $42,402 | $20.39 |
| 15 | Nevada Joint Union High School District | $41,913 | $20.15 |
| 16 | Albany Unified School District | $38,906 | $18.70 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special Needs Teacher salary by industry
The average special needs teacher salary varies across industries:
- The average special needs teacher salary in the education industry is $45,906, the highest of any industry.
- The average special needs teacher salary in the finance industry is $45,071.
- Special needs teachers in the media industry earn an average salary of $40,357, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for special needs teachers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $45,906 | $22.07 |
| 2 | Professional | $45,071 | $21.67 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $43,917 | $21.11 |
| 4 | Health Care | $43,564 | $20.94 |
| 5 | Media | $40,357 | $19.40 |
High paying special needs teacher jobs
Special needs teacher salary trends
The average special needs teacher salary has risen by $5,273 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special needs teacher earned $42,061 annually, but today, they earn $47,334 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for special needs teachers over the last decade.
Compare special needs teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special needs teacher salary over time
Compare special needs teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special needs teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,300 | $22.76 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $47,200 | $22.70 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $46,400 | $22.30 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $45,800 | $22.00 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $44,500 | $21.41 | +2.2% |
Recently added special needs teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Star Schools | Teacher On Special Assignment: Induction Mentor | Los Angeles, CA | 06/16/2025 | $93,915 |
| Pulaski County Special School District | Special Needs Para-Individual Support | Little Rock, AR | 06/15/2025 | $30,408 |
| Arkansas Department of Education | Special Needs Para-Individual Support | Little Rock, AR | 06/11/2025 | $30,408 |
| Jovie of Rockland County | Flexible Babysitter Needed | Ringwood, NJ | 06/06/2025 | $35,479 |
| Amergis | ELA Teachers Needed | Manitowoc WI SY | Manitowoc, WI | 06/04/2025 | $83,480 |
| West Virginia Department of Education | Extended School Year Itinerant Pre-School Special Needs Teacher Pending Student Enrollment | West Virginia | 05/23/2025 | $52,175 |
| Hopkinton Public School District | Intensive Special Needs Teacher | Rowe, MA | 05/22/2025 | $58,007 |
| Amergis | Speds Teacher Needed | Columbia Heights MN SY | Columbia Heights, MN | 05/21/2025 | $93,915 |
| Arkansas Department of Education | Special Needs Para-Individual Support School Year) | Little Rock, AR | 05/18/2025 | $30,408 |
| Learning Empowered | Special Needs Assistant Teacher | Noma, FL | 05/17/2025 | $43,827 |
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