How much does a special education teacher make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $31.31 an hour or $5,427 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.31
- Average (mean)
- $72,650
- Jobs
- 260,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,350 | $23.73 | |
| 25th | $59,710 | $28.71 | |
| Median | $65,120 | $31.31 | |
| 75th | $80,280 | $38.60 | |
| 90th | $103,000 | $49.52 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $97,910 |
| California | $97,170 |
| Washington | $95,040 |
| Massachusetts | $91,350 |
| Rhode Island | $84,300 |
| Connecticut | $82,950 |
| New York | $81,260 |
| Alaska | $80,230 |
| Maryland | $78,850 |
| Illinois | $77,960 |
| Oregon | $77,700 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 |
| New Mexico | $76,420 |
| Michigan | $74,600 |
| Colorado | $74,290 |
| Vermont | $74,200 |
| Ohio | $73,970 |
| Georgia | $72,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,680 |
| Virginia | $67,740 |
| Minnesota | $67,620 |
| Delaware | $65,990 |
| New Hampshire | $65,160 |
| Nevada | $65,110 |
| Alabama | $64,520 |
| Idaho | $63,610 |
| Tennessee | $62,560 |
| Nebraska | $62,420 |
| South Carolina | $62,360 |
| Texas | $62,330 |
| Maine | $61,880 |
| Wisconsin | $61,520 |
| Utah | $61,290 |
| Hawaii | $60,940 |
| Wyoming | $60,930 |
| Iowa | $60,440 |
| Kentucky | $60,060 |
| Kansas | $59,970 |
| Florida | $58,850 |
| Louisiana | $58,800 |
| Indiana | $58,760 |
| North Carolina | $58,260 |
| North Dakota | $57,950 |
| Montana | $57,630 |
| Missouri | $57,260 |
| Arizona | $56,030 |
| Arkansas | $54,290 |
| South Dakota | $51,090 |
| Oklahoma | $50,630 |
| Mississippi | $50,570 |
| West Virginia | $50,380 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $105,300 |
| Oxnard, CA | $104,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $100,200 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $99,840 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,020 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $98,940 |
| San Jose, CA | $98,640 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,330 |
| Vallejo, CA | $98,260 |
| San Diego, CA | $97,860 |
| Boston, MA | $97,410 |
| Merced, CA | $97,340 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $97,260 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $96,290 |
In other countries
Special Education Teacher belongs to the international group "Special needs teachers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Preschool Teacher$38,140
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Elementary School Teacher$63,970
- Middle School Teacher$64,370
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$65,030
- Secondary School Teacher$72,040
- Career/Technical Education Teacher$66,270
- Special Education Teacher$64,830
- Special Education Teacher$66,810
- Special Education Teacher$74,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $31.31 ($65,120 a year).
How much does a special education teacher make a month?
About $5,427 a month before tax, based on a median of $65,120 a year.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,350 or less a year ($23.73 an hour); the top 10% make $103,000 or more.
Which state pays special education teachers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $97,910 a year, followed by California ($97,170) and Washington ($95,040).
Which city pays special education teachers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $105,300 a year.
How many special education teachers are there in the United States?
About 260,870 people work as special education teachers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.