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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,338 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,327 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,366 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,839 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,167 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,263 | $27.05 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $54,975 | $26.43 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $53,782 | $25.86 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $53,409 | $25.68 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $52,983 | $25.47 | +2.1% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 168 | 24% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 306 | 23% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 199 | 21% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 129 | 21% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 188 | 18% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,016 | 17% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 946 | 17% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 608 | 17% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 99 | 17% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 325 | 16% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,081 | 15% |
| 12 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 449 | 15% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,820 | 14% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 754 | 14% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,201 | 13% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 889 | 13% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 372 | 13% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 256 | 13% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 229 | 13% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,053 | 11% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple Terrace | 1 | 4% | $61,026 |
| 2 | Eagle Pass | 1 | 3% | $63,045 |
| 3 | Gainesville | 1 | 3% | $61,104 |
| 4 | Ashburn | 1 | 2% | $52,977 |
| 5 | Charleston | 1 | 1% | $53,391 |
| 6 | Mission | 1 | 1% | $62,379 |
| 7 | Portsmouth | 1 | 1% | $52,243 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $60,881 |
| 9 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $47,282 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $56,780 |
California State University - Fullerton
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Howard University

Lock Haven University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

East Tennessee State University

Elmhurst University

University of South Florida
Jennifer Lesh Ph.D.: Pursue Advanced Certifications: Beyond the required education, obtaining specialized certifications can make you more valuable to employers. Certifications in high-demand areas of special education can lead to higher pay, such as obtaining a reading dyslexia certification. Gain Experience in High-Need Areas: Some regions or schools may offer higher salaries or signing bonuses to attract teachers to high-need areas or in subjects with a shortage of qualified professionals. Develop a Niche Expertise: Specializing in a particular area of special education, such as autism spectrum disorders or assistive technology, can set you apart and potentially command a higher salary. Improve Your Educational Credentials: Consider pursuing a master's degree or doctorate. Higher educational attainment is often correlated with increased salary scales in educational institutions. Look for Leadership Opportunities: Positions with additional responsibilities, such as department head or program coordinator, often come with higher pay. Be proactive in seeking out these roles. Be Willing to Relocate: Sometimes the best opportunities for salary growth are in different cities or states. Being open to relocation can widen your options considerably. Continuously Enhance Your Skillset: Engage in professional development to stay current with best practices and emerging trends in special education. Schools may pay more for teachers who are at the cutting edge of their field. Document Your Successes: Keep a comprehensive record of your achievements and the progress of your students. Demonstrable success can be a powerful lever in salary discussions. Promote your accomplishments through social media and branding.
California State University - Fullerton
Special Education And Teaching
Tiffany Row Ph.D.: There has been an increasing focus on social emotional learning in schools, and these skills are just as important for teachers to grow within themselves so they can best support and guide students in learning to regulate their emotions and navigate social relationships. And of course it's always crucial for teachers to have strong skills in literacy instruction.
Dr. Kimberly Coy: In the next 3-5 years, the skills that will be most important are the ability to be reflective of your practice. Teaching is an ever-evolving skill set for each person. Make sure you can look at your teaching and learn from it by being reflective and keeping your sense of wonder. Another skill will be the ability to understand that you are going to prepare students for jobs and challenges that have not been invented yet. Teach them the important skills of cultivating curiosity and adapting to change.
Amy Kunkel Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, first ask to see the hiring district’s salary schedule. Most districts operate on a “step and lane” system in which you receive higher pay for each year of service (step) and receive substantial raises for additional degrees earned (lane). For example, some districts will raise your salary for every 15 graduate credits you have earned, maximizing at a terminal degree. Teachers with a master’s degree + additional credits will earn substantially more than those without a master’s degree.
Howard University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
James Thomas Jackson Ph.D.: The skills that will help you earn the most is an interesting question as most school budgets depend heavily on local property taxes. Because of this, salaries will vary depending on where one seeks employment. However, the skills that generally will lead to the most money are the following:
the possession of a graduate degree and maybe years of experience,

Lock Haven University
Department of Special Education
Dr. Erica Moore: In my opinion, all graduates in education should possess the soft skills of motivation, dedication, and enthusiasm. Educators should be constantly evolving and motivated to seek innovative instructional activities to best meet the needs of their students. Dedication to the students and to the profession is a must! Graduates should be entering the field of special education for the love of watching students grow and achieve. Some days can be extremely stressful; therefore, the love and commitment for supporting the success of individuals with exceptionalities makes everything worthwhile.
Finally, enthusiasm to continue learning and sharing the joy in the classroom can be contagious. One of my favorite quotes I have lived by as an educator is; "Nothing great is every achieved without enthusiasm" - Ralph Waldo Emerson. I truly believe that passion and enthusiasm should be at the core of your mission as a special education teacher. If students are able to see an excitement for teaching, their spark for learning will ignite.

Jennifer Anne Diliberto Ph.D.: Collaborative, problem solver, leader, passion for teaching, learning, and helping others - technology savvy, planner, lifelong learner
Jennifer Anne Diliberto Ph.D.: Teaching! Right now is the most exciting time to be an educator! We are at a point where systemic changes can potentially be made as our pandemic has highlighted many of the issues surrounding equitable education for all. What I find most exciting is all educators are having the discussions regarding systemic issues related to the barriers of providing an equitable quality education. In the past, special educators often discussed these issues among ourselves due to the over- and under-representations of different populations within special-education found in our child count data. As well as the school to prison pipeline--roughly 50% of incarcerated people have disabilities

Cathy Galyon: For Special Education the technical skills that stand out to employers are the ability to use assistive technology, which is Technology children with disabilities use to learn, communicate, participate in the classroom, etc. Some states use a case management tool, such as Easy IEP. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a document created for each student in special education to direct the skills they need to work on, the goals they need to meet and the things that need to be adapted for the student to be successful. Technology such as Easy IEP is used by special education teachers to create the IEPs for their students. School systems are really impressed if a job candidate is familiar with this tool and can successfully use it. Unfortunately, it is difficult to gain access to this technology unless a teacher is working for a school system.

Linda Dauksas: "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life". Any job that you LOVE is a good job out of college! No one can teach you to love your job or to love teaching. During the interview process, the candidate should be selective about the job opportunity, just as much as the district is making a decision about or selecting the candidate.

University of South Florida
College of Education
Dr. Elizabeth Doone Ph.D.: During the pandemic the workload for many teachers has compounded as they are expected to teach face-to-face and online simultaneously. Engaging students with special needs in an online environment while beneficial to a few students has proved challenging for others. Imagine engaging a class of three-, four-, and five-year-olds with language impairments and developmental delays in an online format. This becomes a challenge for both working families and teachers.
Dr. Elizabeth Doone Ph.D.: Teachers must be responsive, engaging, flexible and creative. While these skills are not so notable on resumes, having experience with online teaching and a range of educational apps to engage and target instruction is beneficial. For ESE teachers, identifying specific student needs and targeting interventions with appropriate strategies to meet those needs while monitoring progress and adjusting accordingly is a crucial skill set.