25 Series · SOC 25-2057
Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $66,810
- Median / year
- $102,510
- Top 10% earn
- -1.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 95,200
- US workers
Special Education Teachers, Middle School earn a median of $66,810 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $66,810, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $49,420 (10th percentile) to $102,510 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 95,200 US workers. California pays the most ($101,530), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Special Education Teachers, Middle School earn a median of $66,810, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 59% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #42 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 1.9% by 2033.
- $66,810
- Median annual wage
- Top 41%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #42 of 64
- in Educational Instruction and Library
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $101,530. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School (SOC 25-2057) pays a national median of $66,810 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $49,420 at the 10th percentile to $102,510 at the 90th, with a mean of $73,780 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 95,200 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 350 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -1.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 6,300 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 $101,530, which is +52% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $121,070 - 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 95,200 jobs Median $66,810/yr
Median Salary
$66,810
per year
Median Hourly
N/A
per hour
Mean Salary
$73,780
average
Employment
95,200
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$66,810 Top 41% higher than 59% of 825 US occupations
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, Middle School; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 25-series occupations with growth data, Special Education Teachers, Middle School sits on the slower-growing side at -1.9% growth and $66,810 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-1.9%
Declining
Annual Openings
6,300
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, Middle School roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Active Learning 4.0
Learning Strategies 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Instructing 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.9
Monitoring 3.9
Coordination 3.9
Knowledge Areas
English Language 4.5
Education and Training 4.4
Mathematics 4.0
Administrative 3.8
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Psychology 3.5
Sociology and Anthropology 3.3
Public Safety and Security 3.3
Law and Government 3.0
Administration and Management 3.0
Key Tasks
- ▸ Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
- ▸ Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- ▸ Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- ▸ Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- ▸ Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
- ▸ Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- ▸ Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
- ▸ Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
- ▸ Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
- ▸ Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$49,420
25th Percentile
$60,000
Median
$66,810
75th Percentile
$82,800
90th Percentile
$102,510
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $101,530 | +52% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $99,520 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $93,970 | +41% above national |
| 4 | New York | $93,820 | +40% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $92,900 | +39% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $84,550 | +27% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $81,000 | +21% above national |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $79,170 | +19% above national |
| 9 | New Jersey | $79,110 | +18% above national |
| 10 | Utah | $78,920 | +18% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $78,360 | +17% above national |
| 12 | Delaware | $77,420 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $77,040 | +15% above national |
| 14 | Maryland | $76,410 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Michigan | $76,040 | +14% above national |
| 16 | Illinois | $74,730 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Ohio | $74,590 | +12% above national |
| 18 | New Mexico | $74,440 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Vermont | $73,110 | +9% above national |
| 20 | Georgia | $70,550 | +6% above national |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $66,760 | same as national |
| 22 | Colorado | $66,130 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $65,840 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Montana | $63,960 | 4% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $63,820 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Minnesota | $63,630 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Iowa | $63,590 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Nebraska | $63,460 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Maine | $63,440 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Texas | $63,360 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Nevada | $63,280 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Alabama | $62,850 | 6% below national |
| 33 | Wyoming | $62,770 | 6% below national |
| 34 | South Carolina | $62,310 | 7% below national |
| 35 | Arizona | $62,130 | 7% below national |
| 36 | Hawaii | $61,750 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Florida | $60,440 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Kentucky | $60,200 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Idaho | $60,170 | 10% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $60,000 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Kansas | $59,780 | 11% below national |
| 42 | Louisiana | $59,420 | 11% below national |
| 43 | North Carolina | $59,360 | 11% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $58,900 | 12% below national |
| 45 | Puerto Rico | $58,270 | 13% below national |
| 46 | North Dakota | $57,680 | 14% below national |
| 47 | Arkansas | $56,830 | 15% below national |
| 48 | West Virginia | $56,440 | 16% below national |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,360 | 23% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $50,750 | 24% below national |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $50,450 | 24% below national |
| 52 | Missouri | $50,370 | 25% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 350 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,070 | +81% above national |
| 2 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $110,850 | +66% above national |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $104,540 | +56% above national |
| 4 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $104,450 | +56% above national |
| 5 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $103,880 | +55% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,580 | +55% above national |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,560 | +52% above national |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA | $101,120 | +51% above national |
| 9 | Salinas, CA | $100,840 | +51% above national |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,350 | +50% above national |
| 11 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,190 | +48% above national |
| 12 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $97,980 | +47% above national |
| 13 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $97,360 | +46% above national |
| 14 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $97,000 | +45% above national |
| 15 | Modesto, CA | $96,500 | +44% above national |
| 16 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $96,210 | +44% above national |
| 17 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,740 | +42% above national |
| 18 | Kingston, NY | $94,290 | +41% above national |
| 19 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $92,900 | +39% above national |
| 20 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $92,130 | +38% above national |
| 21 | Barnstable Town, MA | $91,630 | +37% above national |
| 22 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $89,610 | +34% above national |
| 23 | Pittsfield, MA | $88,190 | +32% above national |
| 24 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,160 | +30% above national |
| 25 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $85,190 | +28% above national |
| 26 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $84,260 | +26% above national |
| 27 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $83,940 | +26% above national |
| 28 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $83,940 | +26% above national |
| 29 | Salisbury, MD | $83,850 | +26% above national |
| 30 | Worcester, MA | $83,810 | +25% above national |
| 31 | Yakima, WA | $83,610 | +25% above national |
| 32 | Bend, OR | $83,110 | +24% above national |
| 33 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $82,320 | +23% above national |
| 34 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,290 | +23% above national |
| 35 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $81,800 | +22% above national |
| 36 | Ann Arbor, MI | $81,710 | +22% above national |
| 37 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $81,620 | +22% above national |
| 38 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $81,570 | +22% above national |
| 39 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $81,350 | +22% above national |
| 40 | Springfield, MA | $81,270 | +22% above national |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $81,140 | +21% above national |
| 42 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $81,040 | +21% above national |
| 43 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $80,970 | +21% above national |
| 44 | Boulder, CO | $80,960 | +21% above national |
| 45 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $80,730 | +21% above national |
| 46 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $80,510 | +21% above national |
| 47 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $80,210 | +20% above national |
| 48 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $79,920 | +20% above national |
| 49 | Cleveland, OH | $79,890 | +20% above national |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $79,710 | +19% above national |
| 51 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,310 | +19% above national |
| 52 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,860 | +18% above national |
| 53 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $78,750 | +18% above national |
| 54 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $78,730 | +18% above national |
| 55 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $78,720 | +18% above national |
| 56 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $78,560 | +18% above national |
| 57 | Lancaster, PA | $78,560 | +18% above national |
| 58 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $78,430 | +17% above national |
| 59 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $78,290 | +17% above national |
| 60 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $78,200 | +17% above national |
| 61 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $78,160 | +17% above national |
| 62 | New Haven, CT | $78,040 | +17% above national |
| 63 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,840 | +17% above national |
| 64 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $77,750 | +16% above national |
| 65 | Flint, MI | $77,620 | +16% above national |
| 66 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $77,550 | +16% above national |
| 67 | Battle Creek, MI | $77,460 | +16% above national |
| 68 | Salem, OR | $77,390 | +16% above national |
| 69 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $77,140 | +15% above national |
| 70 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $77,050 | +15% above national |
| 71 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $76,660 | +15% above national |
| 72 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,620 | +15% above national |
| 73 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $76,600 | +15% above national |
| 74 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $76,400 | +14% above national |
| 75 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $76,200 | +14% above national |
| 76 | Syracuse, NY | $75,920 | +14% above national |
| 77 | Ithaca, NY | $75,860 | +14% above national |
| 78 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,800 | +13% above national |
| 79 | Utica-Rome, NY | $75,780 | +13% above national |
| 80 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $75,730 | +13% above national |
| 81 | Rockford, IL | $75,540 | +13% above national |
| 82 | Chambersburg, PA | $75,390 | +13% above national |
| 83 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $75,230 | +13% above national |
| 84 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,910 | +12% above national |
| 85 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $74,790 | +12% above national |
| 86 | Springfield, IL | $74,590 | +12% above national |
| 87 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $74,420 | +11% above national |
| 88 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $74,160 | +11% above national |
| 89 | Albany, OR | $74,070 | +11% above national |
| 90 | Omaha, NE-IA | $73,870 | +11% above national |
| 91 | Duluth, MN-WI | $73,630 | +10% above national |
| 92 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73,630 | +10% above national |
| 93 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $73,410 | +10% above national |
| 94 | Vineland, NJ | $73,120 | +9% above national |
| 95 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $73,110 | +9% above national |
| 96 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $73,050 | +9% above national |
| 97 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $73,050 | +9% above national |
| 98 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $72,900 | +9% above national |
| 99 | Mansfield, OH | $72,830 | +9% above national |
| 100 | Las Cruces, NM | $72,810 | +9% above national |
| 101 | Springfield, OH | $72,750 | +9% above national |
| 102 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $72,530 | +9% above national |
| 103 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $72,400 | +8% above national |
| 104 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $71,830 | +8% above national |
| 105 | Green Bay, WI | $71,400 | +7% above national |
| 106 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $71,030 | +6% above national |
| 107 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $70,780 | +6% above national |
| 108 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $70,690 | +6% above national |
| 109 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $70,640 | +6% above national |
| 110 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $69,310 | +4% above national |
| 111 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $69,300 | +4% above national |
| 112 | Binghamton, NY | $68,910 | +3% above national |
| 113 | Odessa, TX | $67,910 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Saginaw, MI | $67,740 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $67,140 | same as national |
| 116 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $66,860 | same as national |
| 117 | Monroe, MI | $66,650 | same as national |
| 118 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $66,630 | same as national |
| 119 | Eau Claire, WI | $66,430 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $66,130 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $65,970 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,870 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Pueblo, CO | $65,830 | 1% below national |
| 124 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $65,810 | 1% below national |
| 125 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $65,540 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Midland, TX | $65,130 | 3% below national |
| 127 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $64,640 | 3% below national |
| 128 | St. Cloud, MN | $64,540 | 3% below national |
| 129 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $64,540 | 3% below national |
| 130 | Glens Falls, NY | $64,480 | 3% below national |
| 131 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $64,410 | 4% below national |
| 132 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $64,210 | 4% below national |
| 133 | Ogden, UT | $64,210 | 4% below national |
| 134 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $64,210 | 4% below national |
| 135 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $64,170 | 4% below national |
| 136 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $64,100 | 4% below national |
| 137 | El Paso, TX | $64,100 | 4% below national |
| 138 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,090 | 4% below national |
| 139 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $64,080 | 4% below national |
| 140 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $64,080 | 4% below national |
| 141 | Bloomington, IL | $64,060 | 4% below national |
| 142 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $63,970 | 4% below national |
| 143 | Billings, MT | $63,960 | 4% below national |
| 144 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $63,890 | 4% below national |
| 145 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $63,880 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $63,790 | 5% below national |
| 147 | Savannah, GA | $63,730 | 5% below national |
| 148 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $63,680 | 5% below national |
| 149 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,660 | 5% below national |
| 150 | Decatur, IL | $63,520 | 5% below national |
| 151 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $63,500 | 5% below national |
| 152 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $63,500 | 5% below national |
| 153 | Grand Junction, CO | $63,480 | 5% below national |
| 154 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $63,480 | 5% below national |
| 155 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $63,460 | 5% below national |
| 156 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $63,380 | 5% below national |
| 157 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,370 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $63,340 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Reno, NV | $63,280 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Greeley, CO | $63,160 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $63,110 | 6% below national |
| 162 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $63,110 | 6% below national |
| 163 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $63,050 | 6% below national |
| 164 | Rochester, NY | $63,040 | 6% below national |
| 165 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $62,960 | 6% below national |
| 166 | Lincoln, NE | $62,920 | 6% below national |
| 167 | Iowa City, IA | $62,860 | 6% below national |
| 168 | Knoxville, TN | $62,860 | 6% below national |
| 169 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,820 | 6% below national |
| 170 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,810 | 6% below national |
| 171 | Gainesville, GA | $62,730 | 6% below national |
| 172 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $62,720 | 6% below national |
| 173 | Toledo, OH | $62,670 | 6% below national |
| 174 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $62,540 | 6% below national |
| 175 | York-Hanover, PA | $62,530 | 6% below national |
| 176 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $62,480 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $62,430 | 7% below national |
| 178 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $62,360 | 7% below national |
| 179 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $62,350 | 7% below national |
| 180 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,250 | 7% below national |
| 181 | Fond du Lac, WI | $62,200 | 7% below national |
| 182 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,140 | 7% below national |
| 183 | Owensboro, KY | $62,030 | 7% below national |
| 184 | Amarillo, TX | $61,980 | 7% below national |
| 185 | Sheboygan, WI | $61,860 | 7% below national |
| 186 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $61,860 | 7% below national |
| 187 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $61,830 | 7% below national |
| 188 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,780 | 8% below national |
| 189 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $61,660 | 8% below national |
| 190 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $61,530 | 8% below national |
| 191 | Elizabethtown, KY | $61,460 | 8% below national |
| 192 | Cheyenne, WY | $61,420 | 8% below national |
| 193 | Columbus, OH | $61,420 | 8% below national |
| 194 | Spartanburg, SC | $61,400 | 8% below national |
| 195 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,380 | 8% below national |
| 196 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,340 | 8% below national |
| 197 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $61,320 | 8% below national |
| 198 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $61,300 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,280 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Peoria, IL | $61,260 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Wichita Falls, TX | $61,250 | 8% below national |
| 202 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $61,200 | 8% below national |
| 203 | Charlottesville, VA | $61,130 | 9% below national |
| 204 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $61,120 | 9% below national |
| 205 | Tyler, TX | $61,070 | 9% below national |
| 206 | Kenosha, WI | $61,010 | 9% below national |
| 207 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $60,930 | 9% below national |
| 208 | Lynchburg, VA | $60,880 | 9% below national |
| 209 | Aguadilla, PR | $60,860 | 9% below national |
| 210 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $60,860 | 9% below national |
| 211 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $60,780 | 9% below national |
| 212 | Lawton, OK | $60,770 | 9% below national |
| 213 | Boise City, ID | $60,730 | 9% below national |
| 214 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $60,720 | 9% below national |
| 215 | Ponce, PR | $60,710 | 9% below national |
| 216 | Topeka, KS | $60,700 | 9% below national |
| 217 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,670 | 9% below national |
| 218 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,590 | 9% below national |
| 219 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,570 | 9% below national |
| 220 | Richmond, VA | $60,560 | 9% below national |
| 221 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $60,550 | 9% below national |
| 222 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $60,550 | 9% below national |
| 223 | Birmingham, AL | $60,510 | 9% below national |
| 224 | Waco, TX | $60,460 | 10% below national |
| 225 | Corpus Christi, TX | $60,430 | 10% below national |
| 226 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $60,430 | 10% below national |
| 227 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $60,430 | 10% below national |
| 228 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,430 | 10% below national |
| 229 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,380 | 10% below national |
| 230 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,370 | 10% below national |
| 231 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $60,370 | 10% below national |
| 232 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $60,360 | 10% below national |
| 233 | Bowling Green, KY | $60,350 | 10% below national |
| 234 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,230 | 10% below national |
| 235 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $60,230 | 10% below national |
| 236 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $60,190 | 10% below national |
| 237 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $60,090 | 10% below national |
| 238 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,020 | 10% below national |
| 239 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $59,980 | 10% below national |
| 240 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,920 | 10% below national |
| 241 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,760 | 11% below national |
| 242 | Akron, OH | $59,690 | 11% below national |
| 243 | Springfield, MO | $59,670 | 11% below national |
| 244 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $59,590 | 11% below national |
| 245 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,570 | 11% below national |
| 246 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,550 | 11% below national |
| 247 | Evansville, IN | $59,310 | 11% below national |
| 248 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $59,280 | 11% below national |
| 249 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $59,240 | 11% below national |
| 250 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,180 | 11% below national |
| 251 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,170 | 11% below national |
| 252 | Wichita, KS | $59,160 | 11% below national |
| 253 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $59,100 | 12% below national |
| 254 | Asheville, NC | $59,090 | 12% below national |
| 255 | Erie, PA | $59,070 | 12% below national |
| 256 | Paducah, KY-IL | $59,040 | 12% below national |
| 257 | Burlington, NC | $58,970 | 12% below national |
| 258 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,950 | 12% below national |
| 259 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $58,920 | 12% below national |
| 260 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $58,910 | 12% below national |
| 261 | Columbia, SC | $58,900 | 12% below national |
| 262 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $58,850 | 12% below national |
| 263 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $58,760 | 12% below national |
| 264 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $58,600 | 12% below national |
| 265 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,580 | 12% below national |
| 266 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $58,570 | 12% below national |
| 267 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $58,190 | 13% below national |
| 268 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,190 | 13% below national |
| 269 | Mayaguez, PR | $58,170 | 13% below national |
| 270 | Tucson, AZ | $58,170 | 13% below national |
| 271 | Mobile, AL | $58,150 | 13% below national |
| 272 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $58,150 | 13% below national |
| 273 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $58,150 | 13% below national |
| 274 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,120 | 13% below national |
| 275 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $58,110 | 13% below national |
| 276 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,090 | 13% below national |
| 277 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $58,040 | 13% below national |
| 278 | Roanoke, VA | $57,990 | 13% below national |
| 279 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,980 | 13% below national |
| 280 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $57,900 | 13% below national |
| 281 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $57,880 | 13% below national |
| 282 | Abilene, TX | $57,720 | 14% below national |
| 283 | Fargo, ND-MN | $57,680 | 14% below national |
| 284 | Kankakee, IL | $57,620 | 14% below national |
| 285 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $57,620 | 14% below national |
| 286 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,540 | 14% below national |
| 287 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $57,520 | 14% below national |
| 288 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,510 | 14% below national |
| 289 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,360 | 14% below national |
| 290 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $57,270 | 14% below national |
| 291 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $57,240 | 14% below national |
| 292 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,110 | 15% below national |
| 293 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $57,040 | 15% below national |
| 294 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,940 | 15% below national |
| 295 | Manhattan, KS | $56,890 | 15% below national |
| 296 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $56,790 | 15% below national |
| 297 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $56,690 | 15% below national |
| 298 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $56,590 | 15% below national |
| 299 | Jackson, TN | $56,450 | 16% below national |
| 300 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $56,430 | 16% below national |
| 301 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $56,120 | 16% below national |
| 302 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $55,940 | 16% below national |
| 303 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $55,780 | 17% below national |
| 304 | Longview, TX | $55,100 | 18% below national |
| 305 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $54,710 | 18% below national |
| 306 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $54,120 | 19% below national |
| 307 | Montgomery, AL | $53,700 | 20% below national |
| 308 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $53,010 | 21% below national |
| 309 | Rapid City, SD | $52,990 | 21% below national |
| 310 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $52,520 | 21% below national |
| 311 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $52,310 | 22% below national |
| 312 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $52,310 | 22% below national |
| 313 | Lake Charles, LA | $52,100 | 22% below national |
| 314 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $52,060 | 22% below national |
| 315 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $51,800 | 22% below national |
| 316 | Jonesboro, AR | $51,800 | 22% below national |
| 317 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $51,540 | 23% below national |
| 318 | Jackson, MS | $51,470 | 23% below national |
| 319 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $51,470 | 23% below national |
| 320 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $51,440 | 23% below national |
| 321 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $51,360 | 23% below national |
| 322 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $51,060 | 24% below national |
| 323 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $51,000 | 24% below national |
| 324 | Lubbock, TX | $50,890 | 24% below national |
| 325 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $50,870 | 24% below national |
| 326 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $50,780 | 24% below national |
| 327 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $50,770 | 24% below national |
| 328 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $50,750 | 24% below national |
| 329 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,600 | 24% below national |
| 330 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $50,520 | 24% below national |
| 331 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $50,320 | 25% below national |
| 332 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,070 | 25% below national |
| 333 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,000 | 25% below national |
| 334 | Hattiesburg, MS | $49,770 | 26% below national |
| 335 | Tulsa, OK | $49,590 | 26% below national |
| 336 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,500 | 26% below national |
| 337 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $49,460 | 26% below national |
| 338 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $49,220 | 26% below national |
| 339 | Wilmington, NC | $49,110 | 26% below national |
| 340 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,020 | 27% below national |
| 341 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,850 | 27% below national |
| 342 | Joplin, MO-KS | $48,720 | 27% below national |
| 343 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,660 | 27% below national |
| 344 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,660 | 27% below national |
| 345 | Columbia, MO | $48,480 | 27% below national |
| 346 | Lafayette, LA | $48,480 | 27% below national |
| 347 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $47,190 | 29% below national |
| 348 | Jefferson City, MO | $46,480 | 30% below national |
| 349 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,610 | 32% below national |
| 350 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,990 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 25 (education) with comparable pay and career paths.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
SOC 25-3011
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1041
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1061
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1031
Archivists
SOC 25-4011
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Special Education Teachers, Middle School make? ▼
The median annual salary for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is $66,810 ($N/A/hour). The salary range spans from $49,420 at the 10th percentile to $102,510 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Special Education Teachers, Middle School the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Special Education Teachers, Middle School at $101,530/year, which is +52% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Special Education Teachers, Middle School? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Special Education Teachers, Middle School? ▼
Special Education Teachers, Middle School 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, Middle School a good career? ▼
Employment for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is projected to decline 1.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 6,300 openings are projected each year.
How does Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay vary by state? ▼
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $101,530/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $56,440/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Special Education Teachers, Middle School? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $121,070/year. BLS reports wage data for 350 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, Middle School pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $82,800/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 $101,530/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.
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.