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Job outlook for special education teacher/case managers in the United States
Are special education teacher/case manager jobs in demand?
Special education teacher/case manager job and salary trends over time
Special education teacher/case manager jobs over time
Special education teacher/case manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 55 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 56 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 54 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 54 | 0.00% |
Average special education teacher/case manager salary over time
Special education teacher/case manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,293 | $39.56 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $82,076 | $39.46 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $80,623 | $38.76 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $79,551 | $38.25 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $77,433 | $37.23 | +2.2% |
Special education teacher/case manager jobs by state
Most common states for special education teacher/case managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 276 | 40% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 288 | 21% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 381 | 20% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 185 | 19% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,207 | 18% |
| 6 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,009 | 17% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 941 | 17% |
| 8 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 359 | 17% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 97 | 17% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,078 | 16% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 908 | 16% |
| 12 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 720 | 16% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 167 | 16% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 122 | 16% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,906 | 15% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,313 | 15% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 919 | 15% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 95 | 15% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,584 | 14% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,002 | 14% |
Special Education Teacher/Case Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of special education teacher/case manager experts
Saint Xavier University
Adelphi University
Fort Hays State University
Mary Baldwin University
Appalachian State University
Shippensburg University
Nicholls State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
What will help Special Education Teacher/Case Managers increase their earning potential?
LaSheba Hilliard Ed.D.: Technological proficiency: As technology plays a significant role in education, proficiency in educational software, assistive technologies, and adaptive learning platforms will be increasingly valuable.
Cultural competence and diversity awareness: With an increasingly diverse student population, educators need to be culturally competent and able to address the unique needs and backgrounds of their students.
Data analysis and evidence-based practices: Utilizing data to inform instructional decisions and implementing evidence-based practices will be essential for optimizing student outcomes and meeting accountability standards.
Collaboration and teamwork: Effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including other educators, therapists, and specialists, will become more critical for creating comprehensive support systems for students with special needs.
Margaret Carroll
Coordinator for Special Education ProgramsSaint Xavier University
Special Education And Teaching
What general advice would you give to a Special Education Teacher/Case Manager?
Margaret Carroll: Special educators must be ready to collaborate. They collaborate with parents and other professionals when they develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each of the students they serve. They collaborate with general education teachers by co-teaching with them and supporting students with IEPs in the general education classroom.
What Special Education Teacher/Case Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Margaret Carroll: Take the time to invest in your students and develop an effective repertory of instructional strategies, assessment tools, and classroom management strategies. I tell new teachers not to do anything drastic during their first year of teaching: don't move, marry, have a child, divorce, or continue your education during your first year. The first year of teaching is very demanding.
What will help Special Education Teacher/Case Managers increase their earning potential?
Margaret Carroll: Most schools pay more for each year of experience and for additional professional education. While an increasing salary is desirable, I encourage new teachers to wait at least until they complete their first year of teaching before they begin to pursue an additional teaching credential or degree.
What Special Education Teacher/Case Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stephen Shore Ed.D.: With increasing recognition of the wide diversity of how people think, increasing numbers of students are being identified as having special needs. An additional bonus is that the instructor becomes a better teacher overall since adjustments made on their students' behalf are actually just extensions of good teaching practice.
Jerrie Brooks Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator for Special Education High Incidence ProgramFort Hays State University
Special Education And Teaching
What Special Education Teacher/Case Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jerrie Brooks Ed.D.: During the Covid-19 pandemic when schools closed, P-12 education was changed to include online instruction. I think virtual education in some form will continue. Teachers need the skills and instructional strategies to engage students, whether in the face-to-face classroom or a virtual environment.
Dr. Rachel Potter
Director of Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies, Associate Professor of EducationMary Baldwin University
Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
What soft skills should all Special Education Teacher/Case Managers possess?
Dr. Rachel Potter: In any teaching position, whether special education or otherwise, it is perhaps the soft skills that are the greatest indicators of professional aptitude and success. In my years as a principal, we used to call this "teacher mojo," and it was an aura that is easier to glean in an interview than on a resume but centers around those personal traits that the person brings with them to the table beyond their content and pedagogical knowledge and expertise. A hiring administrator wants to know that the candidate is collaborative; special education teachers are expected to partner with their general education colleagues and related service providers and serve as case managers of interdisciplinary teams. They need to have excellent listening and facilitation skills, demonstrated through approachability, patience, flexibility, cultural competence, and the ability to lead sometimes difficult conversations. Special educators need to have impeccable time management skills and be reliable when meeting deadlines, as timelines are set by federal legislation and state regulation, not simply the whim of a school administrator. Additionally, they need to model inclusivity and kindness; they are often the voices in their buildings for the excluded students. They should be confident enough to say, for example, "have we thought about accessibility concerns for the upcoming field trip?" and be willing to kindly remind their colleagues of equal access and inclusivity when someone suggests "leaving those kids behind just this one time."
Dr. Susan Hedges Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorAppalachian State University
Department of Reading Education and Special Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Special Education Teacher/Case Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Susan Hedges Ph.D.: Being a special educator today is about much more than just knowing which strategy to use to support a child with diverse abilities or how to use Zoom. Today's special educators need to be trained in trauma-informed pedagogy as more and more of our students in this country face trauma in a variety of ways. Thinking of the pandemic, students may have recently lost a close family member, or perhaps their family is suffering economically and they are facing food insecurity, or there's abuse at home. There are a number of ways the pandemic is creating trauma in children's and educators' lives. Since the majority of students today across the US are BIPOC and our educators are about 80% white (and female), having skills in culturally relevant pedagogy is also critical. What our children witness if not in their own communities, then on TV and social media, can make it difficult to learn. Educators need to be prepared for that. Ignoring it as though it is not happening is not an option.
Dr. David Bateman Ph.D.
Professor of Special EducationShippensburg University
Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Special Education Teacher/Case Managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. David Bateman Ph.D.: 49 states say they have shortages in special education teachers. The other one is lying. School districts are desperate for qualified individuals. I can't think of one area that is better than others.
Tara Martin
Director- Bridge to IndependenceNicholls State University
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Special Education Teacher/Case Managers to find work opportunities?
Tara Martin: Special education teachers are a rare breed. Because our world will always have students who require specialized education, special education teachers should gain employment across the United States. Students who need these services typically don't learn with an array of modifications and accommodations. For this to happen, a real-life teacher will be essential.
LaRon Scott
Associate Professor of Special Education Executive Director of Minority Education Center Co-Editor, InclusionVirginia Commonwealth University
School of Education
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Special Education Teacher/Case Managers to find work opportunities?
LaRon Scott: I believe we all hope that future graduates will enter the teaching workforce. The special education teacher shortage concerns are far too great. Therefore, we cannot afford to not have a strong and effective pipeline of teachers moving into P-12 public schools. High-needs and urban school districts are likely going to be hit the hardest by this pandemic, and filling those vacancies with well-prepared special educators will continue to be critical.