25 Series · SOC 25-2059

Special Education Teachers, All Other Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$76,580
Median / year
$120,080
Top 10% earn
+1.1%
Growth '23–'33
33,930
US workers

Special Education Teachers, All Other earn a median of $76,580 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $76,580, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $48,440 (10th percentile) to $120,080 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 33,930 US workers. California pays the most ($103,050), since pay varies by state and metro area.

25 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Special Education Teachers, All Other earn a median of $76,580, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 68% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #35 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% by 2033.

$76,580
Median annual wage
Top 32%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#35 of 64
in Educational Instruction and Library
2.5×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $103,050. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Special Education Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-2059) pays a national median of $76,580 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $48,440 at the 10th percentile to $120,080 at the 90th, with a mean of $79,750 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 33,930 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 132 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.8 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $103,050, which is +35% above the national figure. The top metro is Salinas, CA at $112,900 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 33,930 jobs Median $76,580/yr

Median Salary

$76,580

per year

Median Hourly

N/A

per hour

Mean Salary

$79,750

average

Employment

33,930

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Special Education Teachers, All Other pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$76,580 Top 32% higher than 68% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 25-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Special Education Teachers, All Other; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 25-series occupations with growth data, Special Education Teachers, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +1.1% growth and $76,580 median pay.

Among 25 25-series occupations with growth data, Special Education Teachers, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +1.1% growth and $76,580 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -5%0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 25-series occupations with growth data, Special Education Teachers, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +1.1% growth and $76,580 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.1%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

2,900

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.3/100K

Injury Rate

0.8/100

Danger Index

3.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Special Education Teachers, All Other roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Instructing 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Active Learning 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.9
Learning Strategies 3.9
Monitoring 3.9

Knowledge Areas

Education and Training 4.5
Psychology 3.9
English Language 3.5
Therapy and Counseling 3.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Administrative 2.8
Law and Government 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.7
Computers and Electronics 2.7
Communications and Media 2.6

Key Tasks

  • Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students.
  • Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
  • Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
  • Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
  • Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
  • Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
  • Assess students' physical progress or needs.
  • Assist in screening or placement of students in adapted physical education programs.
  • Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
  • Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$48,440$60,930$76,580$99,690$120,080
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th Percentile

$48,440

25th Percentile

$60,930

Median

$76,580

75th Percentile

$99,690

90th Percentile

$120,080

Salary by State

View all 43 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $103,050 +35% above national
2 New Mexico $86,520 +13% above national
3 Delaware $85,040 +11% above national
4 Oregon $82,240 +7% above national
5 Rhode Island $80,080 +5% above national
6 Colorado $79,290 +4% above national
7 Michigan $78,540 +3% above national
8 Massachusetts $78,440 +2% above national
9 Virginia $77,280 +1% above national
10 Washington $76,790 same as national
11 Pennsylvania $76,530 same as national
12 Georgia $76,130 1% below national
13 Maryland $76,100 1% below national
14 District of Columbia $71,130 7% below national
15 New Jersey $71,110 7% below national
16 Iowa $71,050 7% below national
17 Minnesota $69,470 9% below national
18 Florida $68,690 10% below national
19 Utah $67,860 11% below national
20 Wisconsin $66,910 13% below national
21 New Hampshire $66,670 13% below national
22 New York $65,970 14% below national
23 Texas $65,710 14% below national
24 North Carolina $65,170 15% below national
25 Illinois $64,850 15% below national
26 Nevada $64,410 16% below national
27 Tennessee $63,300 17% below national
28 Kentucky $63,140 18% below national
29 Arkansas $61,690 19% below national
30 North Dakota $61,500 20% below national
31 Connecticut $61,480 20% below national
32 Louisiana $61,170 20% below national
33 Indiana $60,920 20% below national
34 Nebraska $59,760 22% below national
35 Arizona $59,500 22% below national
36 Maine $56,780 26% below national
37 Puerto Rico $51,920 32% below national
38 Ohio $51,230 33% below national
39 Missouri $49,610 35% below national
40 Alabama $49,520 35% below national
41 Vermont $46,980 39% below national
42 Mississippi $46,700 39% below national
43 West Virginia $39,920 48% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 132 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Salinas, CA $112,900 +47% above national
2 Vallejo, CA $110,000 +44% above national
3 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $109,600 +43% above national
4 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $107,390 +40% above national
5 Visalia, CA $107,190 +40% above national
6 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $106,650 +39% above national
7 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $106,510 +39% above national
8 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $103,220 +35% above national
9 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $102,870 +34% above national
10 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $101,850 +33% above national
11 Modesto, CA $101,030 +32% above national
12 Yuba City, CA $100,020 +31% above national
13 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $97,070 +27% above national
14 Merced, CA $96,560 +26% above national
15 Fresno, CA $95,120 +24% above national
16 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $95,120 +24% above national
17 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $94,880 +24% above national
18 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $88,810 +16% above national
19 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $87,430 +14% above national
20 Worcester, MA $83,690 +9% above national
21 Bend, OR $83,190 +9% above national
22 Salem, OR $82,140 +7% above national
23 Eugene-Springfield, OR $82,050 +7% above national
24 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $81,750 +7% above national
25 Valdosta, GA $81,700 +7% above national
26 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $81,600 +7% above national
27 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $81,330 +6% above national
28 Flint, MI $80,960 +6% above national
29 Medford, OR $80,550 +5% above national
30 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $80,460 +5% above national
31 Jackson, MI $80,210 +5% above national
32 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $80,110 +5% above national
33 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $80,080 +5% above national
34 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,880 +4% above national
35 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $79,580 +4% above national
36 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $79,500 +4% above national
37 Midland, MI $79,470 +4% above national
38 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $79,410 +4% above national
39 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $79,320 +4% above national
40 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,290 +4% above national
41 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $79,140 +3% above national
42 Ann Arbor, MI $79,080 +3% above national
43 Jacksonville, FL $78,420 +2% above national
44 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $78,300 +2% above national
45 Saginaw, MI $77,760 +2% above national
46 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $77,700 +1% above national
47 Monroe, MI $77,520 +1% above national
48 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $77,150 +1% above national
49 Stockton-Lodi, CA $76,780 same as national
50 Lexington Park, MD $76,450 same as national
51 Battle Creek, MI $76,400 same as national
52 Richmond, VA $76,160 1% below national
53 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $76,090 1% below national
54 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $75,890 1% below national
55 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $75,710 1% below national
56 North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $75,570 1% below national
57 Salisbury, MD $75,450 1% below national
58 Syracuse, NY $74,930 2% below national
59 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $74,740 2% below national
60 Raleigh-Cary, NC $74,520 3% below national
61 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $74,370 3% below national
62 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $74,180 3% below national
63 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $74,120 3% below national
64 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $74,040 3% below national
65 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $73,390 4% below national
66 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $73,110 5% below national
67 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $72,260 6% below national
68 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $70,280 8% below national
69 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $69,810 9% below national
70 Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $69,540 9% below national
71 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $68,030 11% below national
72 Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $67,140 12% below national
73 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $66,980 13% below national
74 East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $66,310 13% below national
75 Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $66,190 14% below national
76 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $66,170 14% below national
77 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $66,120 14% below national
78 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $66,000 14% below national
79 Manchester-Nashua, NH $65,340 15% below national
80 Lexington-Fayette, KY $65,170 15% below national
81 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $65,090 15% below national
82 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $64,960 15% below national
83 Omaha, NE-IA $64,790 15% below national
84 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $64,550 16% below national
85 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $64,410 16% below national
86 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $64,070 16% below national
87 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $63,960 16% below national
88 Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $63,720 17% below national
89 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $63,510 17% below national
90 Savannah, GA $63,430 17% below national
91 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $63,300 17% below national
92 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $62,990 18% below national
93 Baton Rouge, LA $62,430 18% below national
94 Pittsburgh, PA $62,270 19% below national
95 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $62,160 19% below national
96 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $62,140 19% below national
97 South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $61,530 20% below national
98 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $61,350 20% below national
99 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $61,330 20% below national
100 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $61,280 20% below national
101 Rochester, NY $61,180 20% below national
102 Champaign-Urbana, IL $61,110 20% below national
103 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $61,020 20% below national
104 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $60,740 21% below national
105 Connecticut nonmetropolitan area $60,660 21% below national
106 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $59,500 22% below national
107 Springfield, IL $59,450 22% below national
108 New Haven, CT $59,270 23% below national
109 Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $58,870 23% below national
110 Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $58,870 23% below national
111 Toledo, OH $58,120 24% below national
112 Alexandria, LA $58,080 24% below national
113 Reno, NV $57,160 25% below national
114 St. Louis, MO-IL $56,320 26% below national
115 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $55,330 28% below national
116 Lake Charles, LA $52,790 31% below national
117 Ponce, PR $52,260 32% below national
118 Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area $51,900 32% below national
119 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $51,710 32% below national
120 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $51,480 33% below national
121 Peoria, IL $51,410 33% below national
122 Mayaguez, PR $51,040 33% below national
123 Columbus, OH $49,430 35% below national
124 Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $49,400 35% below national
125 Cleveland, OH $47,630 38% below national
126 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $46,980 39% below national
127 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $46,410 39% below national
128 Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area $44,200 42% below national
129 Akron, OH $39,280 49% below national
130 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $35,810 53% below national
131 Charleston, WV $34,560 55% below national
132 Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $30,160 61% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 25 (education) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Special Education Teachers, All Other make?
The median annual salary for Special Education Teachers, All Other is $76,580 ($N/A/hour). The salary range spans from $48,440 at the 10th percentile to $120,080 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Special Education Teachers, All Other the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Special Education Teachers, All Other at $103,050/year, which is +35% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Special Education Teachers, All Other?
The typical entry-level education for Special Education Teachers, All Other is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Special Education Teachers, All Other?
Special Education Teachers, All Other has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.8 per 100 workers.
Is Special Education Teachers, All Other a good career?
Employment for Special Education Teachers, All Other is projected to grow 1.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 2,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Special Education Teachers, All Other pay vary by state?
Special Education Teachers, All Other salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $103,050/year, while Missouri pays the least at $49,610/year. BLS data covers 43 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Special Education Teachers, All Other?
The highest-paying metro area for Special Education Teachers, All Other is Salinas, CA at $112,900/year. BLS reports wage data for 132 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Special Education Teachers, All Other pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $99,690/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $103,050/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.