How much does a special education teacher make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $32.12 an hour or $5,568 a month.
- Hourly
- $32.12
- Average (mean)
- $73,780
- Jobs
- 95,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,420 | $23.76 | |
| 25th | $60,000 | $28.85 | |
| Median | $66,810 | $32.12 | |
| 75th | $82,800 | $39.81 | |
| 90th | $102,500 | $49.28 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $101,500 |
| Washington | $99,520 |
| Rhode Island | $93,970 |
| New York | $93,820 |
| Connecticut | $92,900 |
| Massachusetts | $84,550 |
| Alaska | $81,000 |
| District of Columbia | $79,170 |
| New Jersey | $79,110 |
| Utah | $78,920 |
| Oregon | $78,360 |
| Delaware | $77,420 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,040 |
| Maryland | $76,410 |
| Michigan | $76,040 |
| Illinois | $74,730 |
| Ohio | $74,590 |
| New Mexico | $74,440 |
| Vermont | $73,110 |
| Georgia | $70,550 |
| New Hampshire | $66,760 |
| Colorado | $66,130 |
| Wisconsin | $65,840 |
| Montana | $63,960 |
| Virginia | $63,820 |
| Minnesota | $63,630 |
| Iowa | $63,590 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 |
| Maine | $63,440 |
| Texas | $63,360 |
| Nevada | $63,280 |
| Alabama | $62,850 |
| Wyoming | $62,770 |
| South Carolina | $62,310 |
| Arizona | $62,130 |
| Hawaii | $61,750 |
| Florida | $60,440 |
| Kentucky | $60,200 |
| Idaho | $60,170 |
| Tennessee | $60,000 |
| Kansas | $59,780 |
| Louisiana | $59,420 |
| North Carolina | $59,360 |
| Indiana | $58,900 |
| North Dakota | $57,680 |
| Arkansas | $56,830 |
| West Virginia | $56,440 |
| South Dakota | $51,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,750 |
| Oklahoma | $50,450 |
| Missouri | $50,370 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $121,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $110,900 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,500 |
| Bremerton, WA | $104,500 |
| Olympia, WA | $103,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,600 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,100 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $100,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $99,190 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $97,980 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $97,360 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $97,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $96,500 |
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$65,120
- Special Education Teacher$74,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $32.12 ($66,810 a year).
How much does a special education teacher make a month?
About $5,568 a month before tax, based on a median of $66,810 a year.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,420 or less a year ($23.76 an hour); the top 10% make $102,500 or more.
Which state pays special education teachers the most?
California, with a median of $101,500 a year, followed by Washington ($99,520) and Rhode Island ($93,970).
Which city pays special education teachers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $121,100 a year.
How many special education teachers are there in the United States?
About 95,200 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.