Special Education Teacher Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Special Education Teachers, All Other
The median special education teacher salary in the United States is $76,580 per year. Salaries range from $48,440 at the entry level to $120,080+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 33,930 special education teacher jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$76,580
per year
Employment
33,930
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$48,440
25th percentile
$60,930
Median
$76,580
75th percentile
$99,690
90th percentile
$120,080
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+1.1%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Special Education Teacher Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$40K$103K■ No data
Top Paying States
California
$103K
+35%
New Mexico
$87K
+13%
Delaware
$85K
+11%
Oregon
$82K
+7%
Rhode Island
$80K
+5%
Colorado
$79K
+4%
Michigan
$79K
+3%
Massachusetts
$78K
+2%
Virginia
$77K
+1%
Washington
$77K
+0%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $103,050 | +34.6% |
| New Mexico | $86,520 | +13.0% |
| Delaware | $85,040 | +11.0% |
| Oregon | $82,240 | +7.4% |
| Rhode Island | $80,080 | +4.6% |
| Colorado | $79,290 | +3.5% |
| Michigan | $78,540 | +2.6% |
| Massachusetts | $78,440 | +2.4% |
| Virginia | $77,280 | +0.9% |
| Washington | $76,790 | +0.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 42
Special Education Teacher Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | $112,900 | +47.4% |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,000 | +43.6% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,600 | +43.1% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $107,390 | +40.2% |
| Visalia, CA | $107,190 | +40.0% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $106,650 | +39.3% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $106,510 | +39.1% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $102,870 | +34.3% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,850 | +33.0% |
| Modesto, CA | $101,030 | +31.9% |
Showing 1–10 of 108
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A special education teacher earning $76,580/year would need 778 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 836 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how special education teacher salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Special Education Teacher salary trend (2011–2024) →