Best cities for a special needs teacher
The best cities for special needs teachers are Philadelphia, PA, Long Beach, CA, and San Jose, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for special needs teachers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for special needs teachers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a special needs teacher or considering a move, this list of the best cities for special needs teachers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for special needs teachers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a special needs teacher. While the absolute best city for special needs teachers is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for special needs teachers in 2024.
If you're looking for a special needs teacher job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for special needs teachers in 2026
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $55,823 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 5.06 2. Long Beach, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $63,884 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location quotient: 40.06 3. San Jose, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $68,896 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 3.45 4. Boston, MA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $62,066 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 2.28 5. San Francisco, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,216 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Baltimore, MD
Total special needs teacher jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $65,942 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 5.30 7. Oakland, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,140 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Los Angeles, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $64,301 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 5.71 9. Fremont, CA
Total special needs teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $68,996 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Anchorage, AK
Total special needs teacher jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,590 Lowest 10 percent warn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for special needs teachers
- Philadelphia, PA
- Long Beach, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- (3 special needs teacher jobs)
- (3 special needs teacher jobs)
- (3 special needs teacher jobs)
- (2 special needs teacher jobs)
- (0 special needs teacher jobs)
- (2 special needs teacher jobs)
- (0 special needs teacher jobs)
- (6 special needs teacher jobs)
- (0 special needs teacher jobs)
- (0 special needs teacher jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a special needs teacher
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,823 | $39,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 2 | Long Beach, CA | $63,884 | $45,000 | 470,130 | 3 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $68,896 | $47,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,066 | $45,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $69,216 | $47,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $65,942 | $46,000 | 614,664 | 2 |
| 7 | Oakland, CA | $69,140 | $47,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,301 | $45,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 9 | Fremont, CA | $68,996 | $47,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $67,590 | $56,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,418 | $38,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $68,892 | $47,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $68,829 | $47,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | New York, NY | $62,856 | $44,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 15 | Hempstead, NY | $62,896 | $44,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $62,529 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 5 |
| 17 | Islip, NY | $62,888 | $44,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $67,829 | $46,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 19 | Oyster Bay, NY | $62,834 | $44,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 20 | Brookhaven, NY | $62,821 | $44,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $46,533 | $32,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 22 | Buffalo, NY | $61,471 | $44,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $63,810 | $45,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 24 | Bakersfield, CA | $66,349 | $46,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 25 | Santa Ana, CA | $63,689 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $63,639 | $45,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 27 | Irvine, CA | $63,570 | $45,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 28 | Dallas, TX | $48,878 | $35,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 29 | Chula Vista, CA | $62,383 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 30 | Lubbock, TX | $49,418 | $35,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $49,132 | $35,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | $48,132 | $34,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $47,378 | $33,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $48,978 | $35,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $46,263 | $32,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 36 | Portland, OR | $53,518 | $38,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 37 | Fort Worth, TX | $48,973 | $35,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 38 | Washington, DC | $63,903 | $44,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 39 | Houston, TX | $48,914 | $35,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $49,747 | $36,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $48,947 | $35,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 42 | Irving, TX | $48,881 | $35,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 43 | Garland, TX | $48,797 | $35,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 44 | Plano, TX | $48,768 | $35,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 45 | Seattle, WA | $54,289 | $39,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 46 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,307 | $35,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 47 | Jersey City, NJ | $56,096 | $39,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 48 | Laredo, TX | $48,299 | $35,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 49 | Newark, NJ | $56,079 | $39,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,058 | $32,000 | 298,800 | - |
Highest paying cities for special needs teachers
| Rank | City | Avg. special needs teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $69,172 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $65,942 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,856 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,066 |
| 5 | Harrisburg, PA | $55,479 |
| 6 | Redmond, WA | $54,277 |
| 7 | Loveland, CO | $49,728 |
| 8 | Evanston, IL | $49,607 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $48,878 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $46,533 |
| 11 | Fredericksburg, VA | $44,746 |
| 12 | Evans, GA | $44,147 |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | $43,797 |
| 14 | Appleton, WI | $42,287 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,591 |
Special needs teacher best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025