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Best states for a special ed teacher
Quoted expert
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and education, training, and library careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to special ed teacher jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for special ed teachers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for special ed teachers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for special ed teacher jobs.
The median salary for special ed teachers in Michigan is $62,293. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $32,317, which ranked worst for special ed teachers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for special ed teachers, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for special ed teacher jobs, where as Michigan is the best state in the country.
10 best states for special ed teachers in 2026
1. Michigan
Total special ed teacher jobs: 1,161 Average annual salary: $62,293 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
2. District of Columbia
Total special ed teacher jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $71,937 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Pennsylvania
Total special ed teacher jobs: 1,525 Average annual salary: $61,438 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Connecticut
Total special ed teacher jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $55,947 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
5. New York
Total special ed teacher jobs: 1,374 Average annual salary: $62,815 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Maryland
Total special ed teacher jobs: 948 Average annual salary: $58,734 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
7. Alaska
Total special ed teacher jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $65,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Oregon
Total special ed teacher jobs: 451 Average annual salary: $57,616 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. New Jersey
Total special ed teacher jobs: 1,176 Average annual salary: $56,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
10. Washington
Total special ed teacher jobs: 734 Average annual salary: $58,508 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Special ed teacher jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special ed teacher
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special ed teacher
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $62,293 | $40,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,161 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $71,937 | $46,000 | 693,972 | 202 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $61,438 | $39,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,525 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $55,947 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 553 |
| 5 | New York | $62,815 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,374 |
| 6 | Maryland | $58,734 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 948 |
| 7 | Alaska | $65,400 | $47,000 | 739,795 | 79 |
| 8 | Oregon | $57,616 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 451 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $56,205 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,176 |
| 10 | Washington | $58,508 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 734 |
| 11 | Illinois | $51,984 | $33,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,875 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $59,692 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 817 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $53,217 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 718 |
| 14 | Iowa | $52,494 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 350 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $47,749 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 96 |
| 16 | Ohio | $49,729 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,321 |
| 17 | Delaware | $50,819 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 175 |
| 18 | Nevada | $45,287 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 466 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $51,311 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 109 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $50,606 | $32,000 | 755,393 | 79 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $41,592 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 641 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $43,545 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 291 |
| 23 | Vermont | $44,960 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 112 |
| 24 | California | $53,204 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,465 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $40,710 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 363 |
| 26 | Idaho | $44,098 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 189 |
| 27 | Colorado | $44,251 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 844 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $43,061 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 594 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,041 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 80 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,948 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 860 |
| 31 | Virginia | $44,699 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 805 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $42,284 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 802 |
| 33 | Montana | $37,925 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 187 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $39,877 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 424 |
| 35 | Indiana | $38,363 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 729 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $35,560 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 326 |
| 37 | Arizona | $34,884 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,085 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $40,129 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 76 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $37,919 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 504 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,464 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 886 |
| 41 | Utah | $38,149 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 292 |
| 42 | Texas | $38,020 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,853 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,182 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,550 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,330 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 313 |
| 45 | Maine | $38,226 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 67 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $32,727 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 309 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,452 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 440 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,955 | $24,000 | 4,874,747 | 235 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $38,204 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 34 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,000 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 268 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,317 | $21,000 | 2,984,100 | 177 |
Highest paying states for special ed teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. Special ED Teacher Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $62,293 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $71,937 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $61,438 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $55,947 |
| 5 | New York | $62,815 |
| 6 | Maryland | $58,734 |
| 7 | Alaska | $65,400 |
| 8 | Oregon | $57,616 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $56,205 |
| 10 | Washington | $58,508 |
| 11 | Illinois | $51,984 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $59,692 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $53,217 |
| 14 | Iowa | $52,494 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $47,749 |
| 16 | Ohio | $49,729 |
| 17 | Delaware | $50,819 |
| 18 | Nevada | $45,287 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $51,311 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $50,606 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $41,592 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $43,545 |
| 23 | Vermont | $44,960 |
| 24 | California | $53,204 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $40,710 |
| 26 | Idaho | $44,098 |
| 27 | Colorado | $44,251 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $43,061 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,041 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,948 |
| 31 | Virginia | $44,699 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $42,284 |
| 33 | Montana | $37,925 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $39,877 |
| 35 | Indiana | $38,363 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $35,560 |
| 37 | Arizona | $34,884 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $40,129 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $37,919 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,464 |
| 41 | Utah | $38,149 |
| 42 | Texas | $38,020 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,182 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,330 |
| 45 | Maine | $38,226 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $32,727 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,452 |
| 48 | Alabama | $36,955 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $38,204 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,000 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,317 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special ed teachers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special ed teachers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Williams Ph.D.
Professor, Calvin University
If you mean in the field(s) of classics, some private schools and academies are hiring (still) Latin and Greek teachers, especially in the South and Southwest. In the upper Midwest and Northeast, not so much.
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Updated January 8, 2025