25 Series · SOC 25-2051
Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $64,830
- Median / year
- $130,040
- Top 10% earn
- +1.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 29,510
- US workers
Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn a median of $64,830 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $64,830, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $45,620 (10th percentile) to $130,040 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 29,510 US workers. Massachusetts pays the most ($99,070), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn a median of $64,830, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 56% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks #47 of 64 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.4% by 2033.
- $64,830
- Median annual wage
- Top 44%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #47 of 64
- in Educational Instruction and Library
- 2.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $99,070. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051) pays a national median of $64,830 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $45,620 at the 10th percentile to $130,040 at the 90th, with a mean of $76,380 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 29,510 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 127 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,100 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. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $99,070, which is +53% above the national figure. The top metro is Kansas City, MO-KS at $119,560 - 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.
Median Salary
$64,830
per year
Median Hourly
N/A
per hour
Mean Salary
$76,380
average
Employment
29,510
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$64,830 Top 44% higher than 56% 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, Preschool; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 25-series occupations with growth data, Special Education Teachers, Preschool sits on the slower-growing side at +1.4% growth and $64,830 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1.4%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →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, Preschool roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- ▸ Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- ▸ Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- ▸ Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- ▸ Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- ▸ Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
- ▸ Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
- ▸ Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- ▸ Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- ▸ Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
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
$45,620
25th Percentile
$52,210
Median
$64,830
75th Percentile
$91,660
90th Percentile
$130,040
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $99,070 | +53% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $92,060 | +42% above national |
| 3 | Connecticut | $87,960 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $86,580 | +34% above national |
| 5 | Maryland | $85,010 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $83,510 | +29% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $80,390 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,000 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $78,040 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Virginia | $77,570 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $77,490 | +20% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $75,880 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Michigan | $75,860 | +17% above national |
| 14 | Hawaii | $75,120 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Georgia | $72,310 | +12% above national |
| 16 | New York | $68,180 | +5% above national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $66,010 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Texas | $65,680 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Iowa | $63,540 | 2% below national |
| 20 | Nebraska | $62,760 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Illinois | $62,580 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Missouri | $62,250 | 4% below national |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $61,720 | 5% below national |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $60,870 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Ohio | $60,700 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $60,680 | 6% below national |
| 27 | North Carolina | $60,180 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Arizona | $60,130 | 7% below national |
| 29 | North Dakota | $60,060 | 7% below national |
| 30 | South Carolina | $59,800 | 8% below national |
| 31 | California | $59,550 | 8% below national |
| 32 | Tennessee | $59,550 | 8% below national |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $59,310 | 9% below national |
| 34 | Delaware | $59,250 | 9% below national |
| 35 | Kansas | $59,220 | 9% below national |
| 36 | Florida | $58,240 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Utah | $58,230 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Louisiana | $56,890 | 12% below national |
| 39 | Kentucky | $54,220 | 16% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $52,420 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Wyoming | $52,100 | 20% below national |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $49,720 | 23% below national |
| 43 | Idaho | $49,610 | 23% below national |
| 44 | Indiana | $48,680 | 25% below national |
| 45 | Arkansas | $35,580 | 45% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 127 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $119,560 | +84% above national |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $117,200 | +81% above national |
| 3 | Akron, OH | $100,650 | +55% above national |
| 4 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $99,440 | +53% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,240 | +45% above national |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $93,800 | +45% above national |
| 7 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $92,660 | +43% above national |
| 8 | New Haven, CT | $90,440 | +40% above national |
| 9 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $89,970 | +39% above national |
| 10 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $89,180 | +38% above national |
| 11 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $86,120 | +33% above national |
| 12 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $85,200 | +31% above national |
| 13 | Worcester, MA | $84,040 | +30% above national |
| 14 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,760 | +28% above national |
| 15 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $82,600 | +27% above national |
| 16 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $82,390 | +27% above national |
| 17 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,280 | +27% above national |
| 18 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,210 | +25% above national |
| 19 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $80,950 | +25% above national |
| 20 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,700 | +24% above national |
| 21 | Anchorage, AK | $80,390 | +24% above national |
| 22 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $80,250 | +24% above national |
| 23 | Boulder, CO | $80,230 | +24% above national |
| 24 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $79,940 | +23% above national |
| 25 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $79,840 | +23% above national |
| 26 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $79,650 | +23% above national |
| 27 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $79,560 | +23% above national |
| 28 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $79,370 | +22% above national |
| 29 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $79,000 | +22% above national |
| 30 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $78,860 | +22% above national |
| 31 | Rockford, IL | $78,600 | +21% above national |
| 32 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,090 | +20% above national |
| 33 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $77,540 | +20% above national |
| 34 | Mankato, MN | $77,310 | +19% above national |
| 35 | Rochester, MN | $76,710 | +18% above national |
| 36 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $75,420 | +16% above national |
| 37 | Duluth, MN-WI | $75,330 | +16% above national |
| 38 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $75,160 | +16% above national |
| 39 | Vallejo, CA | $75,140 | +16% above national |
| 40 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $74,810 | +15% above national |
| 41 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $74,110 | +14% above national |
| 42 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $73,450 | +13% above national |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $73,220 | +13% above national |
| 44 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,390 | +12% above national |
| 45 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $71,970 | +11% above national |
| 46 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $69,580 | +7% above national |
| 47 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $69,450 | +7% above national |
| 48 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $68,990 | +6% above national |
| 49 | Ogden, UT | $68,760 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $66,740 | +3% above national |
| 51 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $66,400 | +2% above national |
| 52 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $66,240 | +2% above national |
| 53 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $66,010 | +2% above national |
| 54 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $65,930 | +2% above national |
| 55 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $64,690 | same as national |
| 56 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $64,260 | 1% below national |
| 57 | Savannah, GA | $64,240 | 1% below national |
| 58 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $63,830 | 2% below national |
| 59 | Albuquerque, NM | $63,790 | 2% below national |
| 60 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,790 | 2% below national |
| 61 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $63,780 | 2% below national |
| 62 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,670 | 2% below national |
| 63 | Rochester, NY | $63,580 | 2% below national |
| 64 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,540 | 2% below national |
| 65 | Knoxville, TN | $63,150 | 3% below national |
| 66 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $63,140 | 3% below national |
| 67 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $62,840 | 3% below national |
| 68 | Omaha, NE-IA | $62,760 | 3% below national |
| 69 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $62,300 | 4% below national |
| 70 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $62,080 | 4% below national |
| 71 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $61,980 | 4% below national |
| 72 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,950 | 4% below national |
| 73 | Richmond, VA | $61,860 | 5% below national |
| 74 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $61,710 | 5% below national |
| 75 | Madison, WI | $61,460 | 5% below national |
| 76 | Colorado Springs, CO | $61,450 | 5% below national |
| 77 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $61,380 | 5% below national |
| 78 | Columbus, OH | $61,290 | 5% below national |
| 79 | Binghamton, NY | $61,260 | 6% below national |
| 80 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $61,180 | 6% below national |
| 81 | Wichita, KS | $60,910 | 6% below national |
| 82 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $60,890 | 6% below national |
| 83 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $60,660 | 6% below national |
| 84 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $60,450 | 7% below national |
| 85 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $60,400 | 7% below national |
| 86 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $60,330 | 7% below national |
| 87 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $60,130 | 7% below national |
| 88 | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,070 | 7% below national |
| 89 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $59,920 | 8% below national |
| 90 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $59,590 | 8% below national |
| 91 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $59,520 | 8% below national |
| 92 | St. Cloud, MN | $59,480 | 8% below national |
| 93 | Dover, DE | $59,400 | 8% below national |
| 94 | Columbia, SC | $59,360 | 8% below national |
| 95 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $59,340 | 8% below national |
| 96 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $59,140 | 9% below national |
| 97 | Cleveland, OH | $58,900 | 9% below national |
| 98 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,680 | 9% below national |
| 99 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $58,320 | 10% below national |
| 100 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,900 | 11% below national |
| 101 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,840 | 11% below national |
| 102 | Winston-Salem, NC | $57,760 | 11% below national |
| 103 | Tucson, AZ | $57,380 | 11% below national |
| 104 | Monroe, LA | $56,890 | 12% below national |
| 105 | Baton Rouge, LA | $56,620 | 13% below national |
| 106 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $56,570 | 13% below national |
| 107 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $55,200 | 15% below national |
| 108 | Topeka, KS | $55,140 | 15% below national |
| 109 | Syracuse, NY | $54,640 | 16% below national |
| 110 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $53,930 | 17% below national |
| 111 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $51,040 | 21% below national |
| 112 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,920 | 21% below national |
| 113 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $50,710 | 22% below national |
| 114 | Jackson, MS | $50,640 | 22% below national |
| 115 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $48,770 | 25% below national |
| 116 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,960 | 26% below national |
| 117 | Joplin, MO-KS | $47,540 | 27% below national |
| 118 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $46,840 | 28% below national |
| 119 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,740 | 28% below national |
| 120 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $46,630 | 28% below national |
| 121 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,840 | 31% below national |
| 122 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $36,560 | 44% below national |
| 123 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,840 | 45% below national |
| 124 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,840 | 45% below national |
| 125 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $35,400 | 45% below national |
| 126 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $31,410 | 52% below national |
| 127 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,850 | 57% 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, Preschool make? ▼
What state pays Special Education Teachers, Preschool the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Special Education Teachers, Preschool? ▼
How dangerous is being a Special Education Teachers, Preschool? ▼
Is Special Education Teachers, Preschool a good career? ▼
How does Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Special Education Teachers, Preschool? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $91,660/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: Massachusetts leads at $99,070/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.