How to hire a special ed teacher

How to hire a special ed teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step special ed teacher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a special ed teacher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new special ed teacher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a special ed teacher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The special ed teacher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A special ed teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, special ed teachers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of special ed teachers.

   Type of Special ED Teacher	Description	Hourly rate
   Special ED Teacher	Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities... Show more	$16-34
   Teacher Internship	Teaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show more	$16-32
   Long Term Substitute Teacher	A long term substitute teacher is responsible for covering the duties of a teacher who is away for a long time. Long term substitute teachers proceed with the lesson plan outlines and the regular teacher's curriculum depending on their expertise... Show more	$14-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Classroom Management
   • Instructional Materials
   • Behavior Management
   • Classroom Environment
   • Math
   • Professional Development
   • Autism
   • Adaptive
   • Mathematics
   • Public Schools
   • Language Arts
   • K-12
   • Social Studies
   • Learning Environment

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Conduct assessments for children with developmental disabilities, and develop IEPs.
   • Collaborate with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other professionals to develop and implement IFSP goals.

   More special ed teacher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your special ed teacher job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A special ed teacher salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, special ed teachers' average salary in oklahoma is 56% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level special ed teachers earn 52% less than senior-level special ed teachers.
   • Certifications. A special ed teacher with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a special ed teacher's salary.

   Average special ed teacher salary

   $49,456yearly

   $23.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level special ed teacher salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average special ed teacher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$71,964	$35
   2	New York	$63,149	$30
   3	California	$62,716	$30
   4	Michigan	$62,487	$30
   5	Pennsylvania	$61,101	$29
   6	Massachusetts	$59,464	$29
   7	Maryland	$58,957	$28
   8	Minnesota	$53,363	$26
   9	Illinois	$52,598	$25
   10	Ohio	$51,362	$25
   11	North Dakota	$50,771	$24
   12	Virginia	$44,524	$21
   13	Colorado	$44,282	$21
   14	New Hampshire	$44,193	$21
   15	Wisconsin	$42,612	$20
   16	South Dakota	$42,219	$20
   17	Nebraska	$41,320	$20
   18	South Carolina	$40,021	$19
   19	Georgia	$39,610	$19
   20	Texas	$38,521	$19

   Average special ed teacher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Whitby School	$68,324	$32.85
   2	Oxnard Union High School District	$63,335	$30.45	10
   3	Piedmont Unified School District	$62,862	$30.22	6
   4	West Contra Costa Unified School District	$62,235	$29.92	70
   5	Santa Rosa City Schools	$61,360	$29.50
   6	Rowland Unified School District	$60,730	$29.20	12
   7	DC International School	$60,699	$29.18
   8	Paramount High School	$60,658	$29.16	4
   9	Pasadena Unified School District	$60,492	$29.08	7
   10	Sacramento City Unified School District	$57,544	$27.67	40
   11	DC Prep	$57,260	$27.53	7
   12	Forsyth Country Day School	$56,653	$27.24	4
   13	Fullerton Joint Union High School District	$55,717	$26.79	1
   14	Phillips Academy	$54,923	$26.41
   15	Sweetwater Union High School District	$54,901	$26.39	8
   16	Santa Monica High School	$54,576	$26.24	4
   17	Chicago Public Schools	$52,500	$25.24	43
   18	Broward County Public Schools	$51,958	$24.98	1
   19	Baltimore City Public Schools	$51,773	$24.89	17
   20	East Whittier City School District	$50,542	$24.30

4. Writing a special ed teacher job description

   A special ed teacher job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a special ed teacher job description:

   Special ed teacher job description example

   SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
   
   At the direction of the principal, assists teachers by performing a variety of tasks that promote student learning and well-being. Works individually and in small groups to reinforce instruction, monitor performance, and support learning. This position also performs a variety of instructional and classroom management supports, as well as related clerical tasks to support teachers and other professional staff in all classrooms or learning environments.
   
   CERTIFICATE LICENSE:
   
   None.
   
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
   
   Knowledge of child development, instructional strategies and practices applicable to assignment, and instructional goals and policies of Montgomery County Public Schools. Ability to assist with implementation of the instructional program and to participate in monitoring and ensuring appropriate student behavior. Ability to exhibit patient behavior and to work effectively with children, young adults, and staff members. Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and to perform all required tasks. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to read/write/speak English. Ability to interact with and support students with special needs. Knowledge of standard desktop computer hardware and software such as MS Office products and database software. Knowledge of and the ability to meet the seven core competencies of the Supporting Services Professional Growth System (SSPGS).
   
   EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
   
   These requirements are in order of preference. 1. AA degree, required. Bachelors degree preferred. College course work should include a minimum of nine credit-hours related to education field such as behavior management, instructional strategies, and one year experience working with students in structured educational (or academic) situations preferred. Or: If no related education course work, then two to four years experience working with children and adolescents required. I.e. working in a structured setting such as a daycare, pre-school, etc. required. 2. Or at least 48 college credits and two years of experience in an education related field including preschool, adult day program, after school program, extended day, or school/non-school based departments, etc. 3. Or two years of experience in an education related field including nursery school, adult day program, after school program, extended day, or school/non-school based departments, etc., and successful completion of the ParaPro Assessment with a qualifying score of 455 or higher is required. I.e. Opportunity for current supporting services employees 4. Any combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right special ed teacher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with special ed teachers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit special ed teachers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your special ed teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit special ed teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as k12jobspot, learn4good, serious teachers, teachingjobs.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit special ed teachers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new special ed teacher

   Once you've selected the best special ed teacher candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new special ed teacher. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a special ed teacher?