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Best states for a special education aide
Quoted expert
Dr. Michelle Powers
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for special education aides in the United States. Special education aide positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for special education aides.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for special education aide jobs.
Pennsylvania is the best state for jobs for special education aides, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Pennsylvania is $32,321, while the median pay in Florida is $22,798.We found that the South is best for special education aides, and the Northeast is the worst. Riverhead, NY is the best city in the country for special education aide jobs, where as Pennsylvania is the best state in the country.
10 best states for special education aides in 2026
1. Pennsylvania
Total special education aide jobs: 2,072 Average annual salary: $32,321 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
2. Delaware
Total special education aide jobs: 181 Average annual salary: $35,681 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
3. Rhode Island
Total special education aide jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $37,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
4. Connecticut
Total special education aide jobs: 633 Average annual salary: $33,760 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
5. New York
Total special education aide jobs: 2,104 Average annual salary: $35,404 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
6. Vermont
Total special education aide jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $33,369 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
7. Massachusetts
Total special education aide jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $37,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. New Hampshire
Total special education aide jobs: 298 Average annual salary: $31,434 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
9. Wisconsin
Total special education aide jobs: 821 Average annual salary: $31,695 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
10. Arizona
Total special education aide jobs: 1,141 Average annual salary: $30,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
Special education aide jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special education aide
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special education aide
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $32,321 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,072 |
| 2 | Delaware | $35,681 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 181 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $37,492 | $29,000 | 1,059,639 | 130 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,760 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 633 |
| 5 | New York | $35,404 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,104 |
| 6 | Vermont | $33,369 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 121 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $37,570 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $31,434 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 298 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $31,695 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 821 |
| 10 | Arizona | $30,780 | $24,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,141 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,268 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,401 |
| 12 | Indiana | $29,415 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,287 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $31,443 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 166 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $35,706 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 193 |
| 15 | Alaska | $31,682 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 126 |
| 16 | Maine | $32,258 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 17 | Oregon | $31,292 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 591 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $30,512 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 107 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $29,956 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,180 |
| 20 | Ohio | $28,670 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,679 |
| 21 | Illinois | $31,916 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 0 |
| 22 | Montana | $28,590 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 257 |
| 23 | Washington | $31,279 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 839 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $34,565 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 81 |
| 25 | Nevada | $28,852 | $23,000 | 2,998,039 | 323 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $28,028 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 484 |
| 27 | California | $33,571 | $27,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,650 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $30,445 | $24,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 29 | Missouri | $28,010 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,004 |
| 30 | Iowa | $27,708 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 527 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $29,753 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $26,893 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 665 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $27,942 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 453 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $27,175 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 95 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $25,992 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 523 |
| 36 | Idaho | $26,945 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 179 |
| 37 | Texas | $26,575 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,255 |
| 38 | Colorado | $27,267 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 825 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $26,674 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 40 | Michigan | $26,793 | $21,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 41 | Virginia | $27,679 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 862 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $25,108 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 321 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $24,591 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 103 |
| 44 | Georgia | $26,637 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,115 |
| 45 | Alabama | $26,471 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 342 |
| 46 | Maryland | $27,147 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 0 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,253 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 304 |
| 48 | Utah | $25,684 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 309 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,166 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 233 |
| 50 | Kansas | $24,148 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 51 | Florida | $22,798 | $17,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,412 |
Highest paying states for special education aides
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Education Aide Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $32,321 |
| 2 | Delaware | $35,681 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $37,492 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,760 |
| 5 | New York | $35,404 |
| 6 | Vermont | $33,369 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $37,570 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $31,434 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $31,695 |
| 10 | Arizona | $30,780 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,268 |
| 12 | Indiana | $29,415 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $31,443 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $35,706 |
| 15 | Alaska | $31,682 |
| 16 | Maine | $32,258 |
| 17 | Oregon | $31,292 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $30,512 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $29,956 |
| 20 | Ohio | $28,670 |
| 21 | Illinois | $31,916 |
| 22 | Montana | $28,590 |
| 23 | Washington | $31,279 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $34,565 |
| 25 | Nevada | $28,852 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $28,028 |
| 27 | California | $33,571 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $30,445 |
| 29 | Missouri | $28,010 |
| 30 | Iowa | $27,708 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $29,753 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $26,893 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $27,942 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $27,175 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $25,992 |
| 36 | Idaho | $26,945 |
| 37 | Texas | $26,575 |
| 38 | Colorado | $27,267 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $26,674 |
| 40 | Michigan | $26,793 |
| 41 | Virginia | $27,679 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $25,108 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $24,591 |
| 44 | Georgia | $26,637 |
| 45 | Alabama | $26,471 |
| 46 | Maryland | $27,147 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,253 |
| 48 | Utah | $25,684 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,166 |
| 50 | Kansas | $24,148 |
| 51 | Florida | $22,798 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special education aides
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special education aides to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michelle Powers
Assistant Professor of Special Education, Augustana University
The field of education, including special education, is full of incredible and rewarding work opportunities, across the US, for new graduates. As our current teaching workforce begins to reach the age of retirement, more and more options are going to emerge. Whether you want to stay in your community or reach out for a new adventure, school districts need skilled professionals to lead their classrooms. Sometimes, places that recent graduates might not consider beginning their careers can turn out to be a great fit. Smaller, more rural communities embrace young professionals and can give them mentoring and support to grow their skills and expertise. I am unsure if new professionals consider the Midwest and the opportunities we present for them, but I would encourage any recent graduate to look at these areas. The school systems here are excellent, more diverse than you might expect, and are doing some fantastic things in their classrooms that would be exciting and rewarding for anyone who loves teaching.
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Updated January 8, 2025