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
+4.2%
2024→2025
$130,040
Top 10% earn
+1.4%
Growth '24–'34
29,510
Estimated US jobs

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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Massachusetts ($99,070).

25 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

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 2034.

$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.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Special Education Teachers, Preschool moved from $60,000 in May 2019 to $64,830 in May 2025 (+8.1%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Special Education Teachers, Preschool sits -16.4 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051) has a national median of $64,830 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $45,620 to $130,040, and the published mean is $76,380. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 29,510 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 45 state or territory areas and 127 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $62,190 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $64,830 in May 2025, a rise of $2,640 (+4.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Educational Instruction and Library Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Kansas City, MO-KS at $119,560. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 29,510 jobs Median $64,830/yr

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

$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 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ 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.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 (this entry) 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$64,830 · 56th percentile of 825 US occupations

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. 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 Teaching Assistants,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.5% · Median annual wage: $36780Elementary School Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2% · Median annual wage: $63970Secondary School Tea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $72040Middle School Teache… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2% · Median annual wage: $64370Substitute Teachers,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.6% · Median annual wage: $41670Preschool Teachers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $38140Self-Enrichment Teac… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.7% · Median annual wage: $46800Special Education Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.8% · Median annual wage: $65120Instructional Coordi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.3% · Median annual wage: $77440Health Specialties T… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 17.3% · Median annual wage: $107310Tutors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $43350Teaching Assistants,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.1% · Median annual wage: $42910Special Education Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $74260Postsecondary Teache… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $77640Librarians and Media… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $68270Educational Instruct… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.5% · Median annual wage: $50890Career/Technical Edu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $63820Teachers and Instruc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $66140Career/Technical Edu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.8% · Median annual wage: $66270Kindergarten Teacher… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $62680Special Education Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.9% · Median annual wage: $66810Art, Drama, and Musi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $78620Business Teachers, P… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.7% · Median annual wage: $99080Nursing Instructors … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 16.8% · Median annual wage: $80250Special Education Teachers, Preschool - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.4% · Median annual wage: $64830
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.
Read the chart as text
  • Teaching Assistants,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.5%, Median annual wage $36780
  • Elementary School Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2%, Median annual wage $63970
  • Secondary School Tea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $72040
  • Middle School Teache…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2%, Median annual wage $64370
  • Substitute Teachers,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $41670
  • Preschool Teachers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38140
  • Self-Enrichment Teac…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $46800
  • Special Education Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.8%, Median annual wage $65120
  • Instructional Coordi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.3%, Median annual wage $77440
  • Health Specialties T…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 17.3%, Median annual wage $107310
  • Tutors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $43350
  • Teaching Assistants,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $42910
  • Special Education Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $74260
  • Postsecondary Teache…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $77640
  • Librarians and Media…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $68270
  • Educational Instruct…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.5%, Median annual wage $50890
  • Career/Technical Edu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $63820
  • Teachers and Instruc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $66140
  • Career/Technical Edu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.8%, Median annual wage $66270
  • Kindergarten Teacher…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $62680
  • Special Education Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.9%, Median annual wage $66810
  • Art, Drama, and Musi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $78620
  • Business Teachers, P…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $99080
  • Nursing Instructors …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 16.8%, Median annual wage $80250
  • Special Education Teachers, Preschool: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.4%, Median annual wage $64830

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

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+1.4%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

2,100

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+400

29,300 (2024) → 29,700 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

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

Speaking 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.9
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Writing 3.8
Learning Strategies 3.8
Monitoring 3.8
Active Learning 3.6
Instructing 3.6

Knowledge Areas

English Language 4.5
Education and Training 4.2
Psychology 3.8
Public Safety and Security 3.4
Therapy and Counseling 3.3
Computers and Electronics 3.3
Administrative 3.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.1
Sociology and Anthropology 3.0
Medicine and Dentistry 2.9

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

10th$45,620
25th$52,210
Median$64,830
75th$91,660
90th$130,040

Hourly Rate Distribution

Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $53,990National median - 2016: $52,460National median - 2017: $53,640National median - 2018: $55,840National median - 2019: $60,000National median - 2020: $61,400National median - 2021: $62,420National median - 2022: $62,240National median - 2023: $65,270National median - 2024: $62,190National median - 2025: $64,830$64,830
National median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $53,990
2016 $52,460
2017 $53,640
2018 $55,840
2019 $60,000
2020 $61,400
2021 $62,420
2022 $62,240
2023 $65,270
2024 $62,190
2025 $64,830

2015 median

$53,990

2025 median

$64,830

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$4,830 (+8.1%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+1.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Special Education Teachers, Preschool by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $53,990 First banked release 29,230
May 2016 $52,460 -2.8% 28,140
May 2017 $53,640 +2.2% 28,540
May 2018 $55,840 +4.1% 23,480
May 2019 $60,000 Classification break 22,340
May 2020 $61,400 +2.3% 20,300
May 2021 $62,420 +1.7% 21,130
May 2022 $62,240 -0.3% 22,970
May 2023 $65,270 +4.9% 24,850
May 2024 $62,190 -4.7% 28,200
May 2025 $64,830 +4.2% 29,510

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $53,990 in May 2015 to $64,830 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +1.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 22,340 in May 2019 to 29,510 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

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

View all 97 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 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $89,180 +38% above national
10 Naples-Marco Island, FL $86,120 +33% above national
11 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $85,200 +31% above national
12 Worcester, MA $84,040 +30% above national
13 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $82,760 +28% above national
14 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $82,600 +27% above national
15 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $82,390 +27% above national
16 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,280 +27% above national
17 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $81,210 +25% above national
18 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $80,950 +25% above national
19 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $80,700 +24% above national
20 Anchorage, AK $80,390 +24% above national
21 Boulder, CO $80,230 +24% above national
22 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $79,940 +23% above national
23 Kennewick-Richland, WA $79,840 +23% above national
24 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $79,650 +23% above national
25 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $79,560 +23% above national
26 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $79,370 +22% above national
27 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $78,860 +22% above national
28 Rockford, IL $78,600 +21% above national
29 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $78,090 +20% above national
30 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $77,540 +20% above national
31 Mankato, MN $77,310 +19% above national
32 Rochester, MN $76,710 +18% above national
33 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $75,420 +16% above national
34 Duluth, MN-WI $75,330 +16% above national
35 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $75,160 +16% above national
36 Vallejo, CA $75,140 +16% above national
37 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $74,810 +15% above national
38 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $74,110 +14% above national
39 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $73,220 +13% above national
40 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $72,390 +12% above national
41 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $68,990 +6% above national
42 Ogden, UT $68,760 +6% above national
43 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $66,740 +3% above national
44 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $66,240 +2% above national
45 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,690 same as national
46 Savannah, GA $64,240 1% below national
47 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $63,830 2% below national
48 Albuquerque, NM $63,790 2% below national
49 Manchester-Nashua, NH $63,780 2% below national
50 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $63,670 2% below national
51 Rochester, NY $63,580 2% below national
52 Knoxville, TN $63,150 3% below national
53 Omaha, NE-IA $62,760 3% below national
54 Raleigh-Cary, NC $62,300 4% below national
55 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $62,080 4% below national
56 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $61,980 4% below national
57 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $61,950 4% below national
58 Richmond, VA $61,860 5% below national
59 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $61,710 5% below national
60 Madison, WI $61,460 5% below national
61 Colorado Springs, CO $61,450 5% below national
62 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $61,380 5% below national
63 Columbus, OH $61,290 5% below national
64 Binghamton, NY $61,260 6% below national
65 Wichita, KS $60,910 6% below national
66 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $60,660 6% below national
67 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $60,400 7% below national
68 Canton-Massillon, OH $60,330 7% below national
69 Pittsburgh, PA $60,070 7% below national
70 Clarksville, TN-KY $59,590 8% below national
71 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $59,520 8% below national
72 St. Cloud, MN $59,480 8% below national
73 Dover, DE $59,400 8% below national
74 Columbia, SC $59,360 8% below national
75 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $59,340 8% below national
76 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $59,140 9% below national
77 Cleveland, OH $58,900 9% below national
78 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $58,320 10% below national
79 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $57,840 11% below national
80 Winston-Salem, NC $57,760 11% below national
81 Tucson, AZ $57,380 11% below national
82 Monroe, LA $56,890 12% below national
83 Baton Rouge, LA $56,620 13% below national
84 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $55,200 15% below national
85 Topeka, KS $55,140 15% below national
86 Syracuse, NY $54,640 16% below national
87 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $51,040 21% below national
88 St. Louis, MO-IL $50,920 21% below national
89 Jackson, MS $50,640 22% below national
90 Chattanooga, TN-GA $47,960 26% below national
91 Joplin, MO-KS $47,540 27% below national
92 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $46,840 28% below national
93 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $46,740 28% below national
94 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $46,630 28% below national
95 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $36,560 44% below national
96 Youngstown-Warren, OH $35,400 45% below national
97 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $31,410 52% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 25 (Educational Instruction and Library Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 63 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Educational Instruction and Library Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($64,830 here) and reported employment (29,510 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool make?
The median annual salary for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $64,830 ($N/A/hour). The salary range spans from $45,620 at the 10th percentile to $130,040 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $64,830, Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay is higher than 56% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Special Education Teachers, Preschool the most?
Massachusetts pays the highest median salary for Special Education Teachers, Preschool at $99,070/year, which is +53% above the national median.
What education do Special Education Teachers, Preschool need?
BLS assigns Special Education Teachers, Preschool to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in this release. WageDex shows the Educational Instruction and Library Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Special Education Teachers, Preschool a good career?
Employment for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is projected to grow 1.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 2,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay vary by state?
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $99,070/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $35,580/year. BLS data covers 45 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Kansas City, MO-KS at $119,560/year. BLS reports a median for 97 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

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

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $91,660/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.

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.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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.