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Best states for a special education assistant
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 assistants in the United States. Special education assistant 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 assistants.Our research shows that Ohio is the best state in the country for special education assistants.
We figured that the best places for special education assistant jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for special education assistants, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for special education assistant jobs, where as Ohio is the best state in the country.
10 best states for special education assistants in 2026
1. Ohio
Total special education assistant jobs: 1,158 Average annual salary: $36,362 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
2. New York
Total special education assistant jobs: 1,198 Average annual salary: $37,922 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
3. Delaware
Total special education assistant jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $37,786 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
4. Rhode Island
Total special education assistant jobs: 69 Average annual salary: $39,358 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
5. Vermont
Total special education assistant jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $34,449 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
6. Connecticut
Total special education assistant jobs: 378 Average annual salary: $34,878 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.68
7. District of Columbia
Total special education assistant jobs: 134 Average annual salary: $37,497 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
8. New Hampshire
Total special education assistant jobs: 190 Average annual salary: $32,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
9. Alaska
Total special education assistant jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $33,148 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
10. Maine
Total special education assistant jobs: 94 Average annual salary: $33,271 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
Special education assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special education assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special education assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $36,362 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,158 |
| 2 | New York | $37,922 | $29,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,198 |
| 3 | Delaware | $37,786 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 96 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,358 | $30,000 | 1,059,639 | 69 |
| 5 | Vermont | $34,449 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 70 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $34,878 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 378 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $37,497 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 134 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $32,739 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 190 |
| 9 | Alaska | $33,148 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 88 |
| 10 | Maine | $33,271 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 94 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $33,795 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 469 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $31,213 | $23,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,205 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $31,532 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 255 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $32,641 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 60 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $35,704 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 442 |
| 16 | Oregon | $32,518 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 375 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $31,325 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 402 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $32,659 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 256 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $32,393 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 70 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $36,356 | $28,000 | 1,427,538 | 40 |
| 21 | California | $34,672 | $26,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,546 |
| 22 | Washington | $32,297 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 488 |
| 23 | Indiana | $30,383 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 403 |
| 24 | Montana | $28,939 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 109 |
| 25 | Arizona | $28,952 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 661 |
| 26 | Michigan | $28,480 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 716 |
| 27 | Nevada | $29,570 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 157 |
| 28 | Virginia | $32,877 | $24,000 | 8,470,020 | 338 |
| 29 | Iowa | $30,359 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 187 |
| 30 | Colorado | $30,106 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 518 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $28,075 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 269 |
| 32 | Missouri | $28,333 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 592 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $27,121 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 568 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $30,373 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 85 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $29,846 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 590 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $28,959 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 50 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $29,596 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 339 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $25,760 | $20,000 | 579,315 | 70 |
| 39 | Utah | $27,752 | $21,000 | 3,101,833 | 235 |
| 40 | Illinois | $27,431 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,062 |
| 41 | Maryland | $28,562 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 391 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $26,825 | $20,000 | 5,024,369 | 255 |
| 43 | Idaho | $26,965 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 87 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $25,575 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 149 |
| 45 | Texas | $26,376 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 946 |
| 46 | Alabama | $26,294 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 135 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,277 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 184 |
| 48 | Kansas | $24,756 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 156 |
| 49 | Florida | $26,502 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 535 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $25,416 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 122 |
| 51 | Georgia | $24,798 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 400 |
Highest paying states for special education assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Education Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $36,362 |
| 2 | New York | $37,922 |
| 3 | Delaware | $37,786 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $39,358 |
| 5 | Vermont | $34,449 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $34,878 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $37,497 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $32,739 |
| 9 | Alaska | $33,148 |
| 10 | Maine | $33,271 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $33,795 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $31,213 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $31,532 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $32,641 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $35,704 |
| 16 | Oregon | $32,518 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $31,325 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $32,659 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $32,393 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $36,356 |
| 21 | California | $34,672 |
| 22 | Washington | $32,297 |
| 23 | Indiana | $30,383 |
| 24 | Montana | $28,939 |
| 25 | Arizona | $28,952 |
| 26 | Michigan | $28,480 |
| 27 | Nevada | $29,570 |
| 28 | Virginia | $32,877 |
| 29 | Iowa | $30,359 |
| 30 | Colorado | $30,106 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $28,075 |
| 32 | Missouri | $28,333 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $27,121 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $30,373 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $29,846 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $28,959 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $29,596 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $25,760 |
| 39 | Utah | $27,752 |
| 40 | Illinois | $27,431 |
| 41 | Maryland | $28,562 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $26,825 |
| 43 | Idaho | $26,965 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $25,575 |
| 45 | Texas | $26,376 |
| 46 | Alabama | $26,294 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,277 |
| 48 | Kansas | $24,756 |
| 49 | Florida | $26,502 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $25,416 |
| 51 | Georgia | $24,798 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special education assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special education assistants 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