Best cities for a special education teacher
The best cities for special education teachers are Baltimore, MD, Oakland, CA, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for special education teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for special education teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a special education teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for special education teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for special education teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a special education teacher. While the absolute best city for special education teachers is Baltimore, MD, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for special education teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a special education teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for special education teachers in 2026
1. Baltimore, MD
Special education teacher jobs in BaltimoreTotal special education teacher jobs: 136 Average annual salary: $76,511 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 24.30 2. Oakland, CA
Special education teacher jobs in OaklandTotal special education teacher jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $66,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 4.25 3. Toledo, OH
Special education teacher jobs in ToledoTotal special education teacher jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $51,593 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 1.45 4. Anchorage, AK
Special education teacher jobs in AnchorageTotal special education teacher jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $76,139 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 1.40 5. Washington, DC
Special education teacher jobs in WashingtonTotal special education teacher jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $70,892 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 1.88 6. Stockton, CA
Special education teacher jobs in StocktonTotal special education teacher jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $65,723 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 3.45 7. Buffalo, NY
Special education teacher jobs in BuffaloTotal special education teacher jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $61,287 Lowest 10 percent warn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 2.08 8. Fresno, CA
Special education teacher jobs in FresnoTotal special education teacher jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $64,207 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 3.68 9. San Jose, CA
Special education teacher jobs in San JoseTotal special education teacher jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $65,926 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 1.67 10. Norfolk, VA
Special education teacher jobs in NorfolkTotal special education teacher jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $58,065 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 4.37
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Best cities for special education teachers
- Baltimore, MD
- Oakland, CA
- Toledo, OH
- Anchorage, AK
- Washington, DC
- Stockton, CA
- Buffalo, NY
- Fresno, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Norfolk, VA
- (136 special education teacher jobs)
- (63 special education teacher jobs)
- (10 special education teacher jobs)
- (11 special education teacher jobs)
- (168 special education teacher jobs)
- (19 special education teacher jobs)
- (33 special education teacher jobs)
- (32 special education teacher jobs)
- (184 special education teacher jobs)
- (49 special education teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a special education teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $76,511 | $54,000 | 614,664 | 136 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $66,263 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 63 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $51,593 | $36,000 | 278,508 | 10 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $76,139 | $62,000 | 298,192 | 11 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $70,892 | $50,000 | 681,170 | 168 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $65,723 | $46,000 | 307,072 | 19 |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | $61,287 | $43,000 | 256,902 | 33 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $64,207 | $45,000 | 522,053 | 32 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $65,926 | $46,000 | 1,025,350 | 184 |
| 10 | Norfolk, VA | $58,065 | $41,000 | 245,115 | 49 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $50,193 | $35,000 | 672,795 | 46 |
| 12 | Newark, NJ | $59,613 | $42,000 | 281,764 | 36 |
| 13 | Portland, OR | $60,096 | $43,000 | 639,863 | 42 |
| 14 | New York, NY | $64,308 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 157 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,645 | $38,000 | 1,567,872 | 49 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $65,831 | $46,000 | 495,234 | 35 |
| 17 | Wichita, KS | $47,846 | $36,000 | 389,902 | 20 |
| 18 | El Paso, TX | $46,796 | $35,000 | 683,080 | 20 |
| 19 | Bakersfield, CA | $62,231 | $44,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $48,899 | $35,000 | 238,702 | 2 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,868 | $43,000 | 3,976,322 | 168 |
| 22 | Laredo, TX | $46,416 | $35,000 | 257,156 | 4 |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $58,872 | $43,000 | 324,722 | 13 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $53,361 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | 140 |
| 25 | Garland, TX | $44,704 | $34,000 | 234,943 | 17 |
| 26 | Nashville, TN | $44,763 | $33,000 | 660,388 | 47 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,134 | $37,000 | 303,625 | 15 |
| 28 | Saint Louis, MO | $48,243 | $35,000 | 311,404 | 46 |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $52,655 | $37,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 30 | Virginia Beach, VA | $58,203 | $41,000 | 452,602 | 5 |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $58,537 | $42,000 | 673,184 | 44 |
| 32 | Lincoln, NE | $47,072 | $35,000 | 280,364 | 10 |
| 33 | Henderson, NV | $48,680 | $35,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 34 | Kansas City, MO | $47,524 | $35,000 | 481,420 | 25 |
| 35 | New Orleans, LA | $40,609 | $31,000 | 391,495 | 83 |
| 36 | Columbus, OH | $50,664 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 37 | Fremont, CA | $66,052 | $47,000 | 233,136 | 9 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $64,686 | $46,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 39 | Jersey City, NJ | $59,636 | $42,000 | 264,152 | 18 |
| 40 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,012 | $35,000 | 632,912 | 15 |
| 41 | Glendale, AZ | $40,944 | $30,000 | 245,895 | 21 |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $59,187 | $43,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 43 | Houston, TX | $45,667 | $34,000 | 2,303,482 | 167 |
| 44 | Lexington, KY | $47,094 | $34,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 45 | Hempstead, NY | $64,321 | $45,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 46 | San Francisco, CA | $66,385 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 20 |
| 47 | Islip, NY | $64,135 | $45,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | $47,991 | $34,000 | 298,800 | 7 |
| 49 | Oyster Bay, NY | $64,065 | $45,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 50 | Reno, NV | $52,779 | $37,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for special education teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. special education teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $76,511 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $70,892 |
| 3 | Richmond, CA | $66,364 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $64,308 |
| 5 | Ashburn, VA | $59,143 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,645 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $53,361 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $50,193 |
| 9 | Savannah, GA | $49,338 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $48,784 |
| 11 | Covington, KY | $48,406 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $48,243 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,983 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $45,781 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,438 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,224 |
| 17 | Columbia, SC | $41,816 |
| 18 | Provo, UT | $41,524 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,921 |
| 20 | Lake Charles, LA | $40,863 |
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Updated January 8, 2025