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Special Education Teacher Salary in 2026

Special education teachers work with students who have learning disabilities, emotional disorders, or physical disabilities. They develop individualized education programs and adapt teaching methods.

Median Salary

$63,000

$5,250/mo

Entry Level

$44,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$79,000

experienced

Job Growth

+4%

10-yr outlook

Special Education Teacher Overview

Special education teachers work with students who have learning disabilities, emotional disorders, or physical disabilities. They develop individualized education programs and adapt teaching methods.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience

0-2 years

Industry

Education

Total Jobs (US)

475K

5-Year Growth

+10%

Category

Education

Hourly Rate

$30.29/hr

Monthly Pay

$5,250

Special Education Teacher Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Special Education Teacher salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Special Education Teacher Salary

$67,000

$5,583/month · $2,577/biweekly · $32.21/hr

Special Education Teacher Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Special Education Teacher field.

25th Percentile$51,600
$52K
Median (50th)$63,000
$63K
75th Percentile$71,000
$71K
90th Percentile$89,000
$89K
Top Earners$99,000
$99K

Entry-level Special Education Teachers earn around $44,000, while the top 10% earn $89,000 or more.

Top Paying States for Special Education Teachers

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$74,000+$11,000
New York$72,000+$9,000
New Jersey$69,000+$6,000
Illinois$66,000+$3,000
Texas$62,000$-1,000

Top Paying Cities for Special Education Teachers

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
New York$74,000+$11,000
Los Angeles$71,000+$8,000
Newark$68,000+$5,000
Chicago$66,000+$3,000
Houston$62,000$-1,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

IEP DevelopmentBehavior ManagementAdaptive InstructionProgress MonitoringAssistive Technology

Certifications

Special Education LicenseBoard CertificationCPR

Special Education Teacher Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Special Education Teacher from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$44,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$62,000

3-7 years

Senior

$79,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$99,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Special Education Teacher Salary FAQ

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