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What is a special needs teacher and how to become one
A special needs teacher educates students with disabilities, learning difficulties, and behavioral disorders. They assess student needs and create personalized lesson plans to help reach academic and social goals. Special needs teachers adapt curriculum and teaching methods to accommodate each student's abilities. They work closely with parents, other teachers, and healthcare professionals to ensure each student receives the unique support they need.
What general advice would you give to a special needs teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $47,334
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%
Asian 3.59%
Black or African American 9.17%
Hispanic or Latino 11.39%
Unknown 3.95%
White 71.53%
Genderfemale 79.17%
male 20.83%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a special needs teacher?
Pros
Making a difference in society by advocating for special needs education
Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
Job security and high demand for special education teachers
Opportunities to work in various settings such as schools, hospitals, and community centers
Satisfaction of helping students achieve their goals and reach their potential
Cons
Physically and emotionally demanding
Limited resources and funding for special needs education
Exposure to potential physical harm from aggressive students and workplace hazards
Burnout due to job intensity and/or lack of support from administration
Low pay compared to other teaching professions
Special needs teacher career paths
Key steps to become a special needs teacher
Explore special needs teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific special needs teacher skills
Skills Percentages Autism 25.12% Behavioral Issues 17.78% Mathematics 6.15% Language 5.51% Learning Environment 4.33% Research special needs teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
- Work with preschool children with various special needs such as autism, down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, etc.
- Tutor elementary school children with learning disabilities, mood disturbances, and ADHD in all school subjects.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects including English, mathematics, and social studies.
Prepare your special needs teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special needs teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a special needs teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable special needs teacher resume templates
Build a professional special needs teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your special needs teacher resume.
Apply for special needs teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a special needs teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first special needs teacher job
Are you a special needs teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average special needs teacher salary
The average special needs teacher salary in the United States is $47,334 per year or $23 per hour. Special needs teacher salaries range between $34,000 and $65,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do special needs teachers rate their job?
Special needs teacher reviews
As a paraprofessional, you often get left out of Professional Development activities, vertical team meetings, etc. and have a limited capacity to influence educational decisions within the organization.
The kids light up my days.
The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.
You got to work with learners who will love you unconditionally. It gives a great satisfaction to be able to help them. I love learners with Special Needs and I am a Mom of one.
I can't say, maybe because there is none.
Updated January 8, 2025
