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What is a special ed teacher and how to become one
A special ed teacher provides education to students with special needs. They work with students who have physical, emotional, and learning disabilities. Special ed teachers assess students' abilities and develop individualized plans to achieve their goals. They create a safe and supportive environment and use various teaching techniques to promote success. Special ed teachers work with parents, teachers, and support staff . They aim to help students reach their full potential both academically and socially.
What general advice would you give to a special ed teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $49,456
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%
Asian 3.61%
Black or African American 9.31%
Hispanic or Latino 11.51%
Unknown 3.96%
White 71.24%
Genderfemale 70.28%
male 29.72%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a special ed teacher?
Pros
Opportunity to work with diverse populations
Chance to develop creative teaching strategies
Variety in daily tasks and activities
Potential for job stability and security
Opportunity to advocate for special education rights
Cons
Heavy workload and long hours
Limited resources and funding
Burnout and compassion fatigue
Limited career advancement opportunities
Difficulty balancing multiple student needs simultaneously
Special ed teacher career paths
Key steps to become a special ed teacher
Explore special ed teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific special ed teacher skills
Skills Percentages Classroom Management 19.62% Instructional Materials 10.52% Behavior Management 8.88% Classroom Environment 8.63% Math 7.21% Research special ed teacher duties and responsibilities
- Manage a classroom conducive to learning by creating an environment that encourages students to read, write, and master math.
- Assist children with autism and special needs navigate the school curriculum.
- Develop individualize lessons to accommodate learning differences and write IEPs.
- Challenge students to master basic math concepts through implementation of manipulative.
Prepare your special ed teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special ed teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a special ed teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable special ed teacher resume templates
Build a professional special ed teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your special ed teacher resume.
Apply for special ed teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a special ed teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first special ed teacher job
Are you a special ed teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average special ed teacher salary
The average special ed teacher salary in the United States is $49,456 per year or $24 per hour. Special ed teacher salaries range between $34,000 and $71,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do special ed teachers rate their job?
Special ed teacher reviews
The kids light up my days.
The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.
You got to work with learners who will love you unconditionally. It gives a great satisfaction to be able to help them. I love learners with Special Needs and I am a Mom of one.
I can't say, maybe because there is none.
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Updated January 8, 2025
