Who Earns What

How much does a special ed teacher make?

US Special Education Teachers, All Other
$76,580

a year · about $37 an hour

A typical special ed teacher in the United States makes $76,580 a year, about $37 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

Teachers check each student’s learning plan, adapt a lesson, and teach a small group or one child at a time. They record progress and work with families and other teachers to adjust support.

Did you know? Some special-ed teachers travel to teach students in hospitals, residential facilities, or their own homes.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$76,580
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $48,440 and $120,080
52 of 100
more than half

How do you become one?

After high school, earn a bachelor’s degree in special education or a related field and complete student teaching. In the U.S., public-school teachers need a state license and usually pass general and subject tests; some states require a master’s later.

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, advanced education or licenses, and where a teacher works. Public and private schools or other employers may pay differently, and school-year or year-round schedules affect total earnings.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in California ($103,050), lowest in West Virginia ($39,920).

See every state
Whole US$76,580
California$103,050
Oregon$82,240
Michigan$78,540
Virginia$77,280
Georgia$76,130
Louisiana$61,170
Ohio$51,230
West Virginia$39,920

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Special ed teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$48,440$76,580$120,080about 34,000
States where special ed teachers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
California$103,050about 9,000
Oregon$82,240about 820
Michigan$78,540about 3,000
Virginia$77,280about 540
Georgia$76,130about 980

Official definition: All special education teachers not listed separately.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY