How much does a special education teacher make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.82 an hour or $6,382 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.82
- Average (mean)
- $79,750
- Jobs
- 33,930
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,440 | $23.29 | |
| 25th | $60,930 | $29.29 | |
| Median | $76,580 | $36.82 | |
| 75th | $99,690 | $47.93 | |
| 90th | $120,100 | $57.73 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $103,100 |
| New Mexico | $86,520 |
| Delaware | $85,040 |
| Oregon | $82,240 |
| Rhode Island | $80,080 |
| Colorado | $79,290 |
| Michigan | $78,540 |
| Massachusetts | $78,440 |
| Virginia | $77,280 |
| Washington | $76,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,530 |
| Georgia | $76,130 |
| Maryland | $76,100 |
| District of Columbia | $71,130 |
| New Jersey | $71,110 |
| Iowa | $71,050 |
| Minnesota | $69,470 |
| Florida | $68,690 |
| Utah | $67,860 |
| Wisconsin | $66,910 |
| New Hampshire | $66,670 |
| New York | $65,970 |
| Texas | $65,710 |
| North Carolina | $65,170 |
| Illinois | $64,850 |
| Nevada | $64,410 |
| Tennessee | $63,300 |
| Kentucky | $63,140 |
| Arkansas | $61,690 |
| North Dakota | $61,500 |
| Connecticut | $61,480 |
| Louisiana | $61,170 |
| Indiana | $60,920 |
| Nebraska | $59,760 |
| Arizona | $59,500 |
| Maine | $56,780 |
| Ohio | $51,230 |
| Missouri | $49,610 |
| Alabama | $49,520 |
| Vermont | $46,980 |
| Mississippi | $46,700 |
| West Virginia | $39,920 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Salinas, CA | $112,900 |
| Vallejo, CA | $110,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $109,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $107,400 |
| Visalia, CA | $107,200 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $106,700 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $101,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $100,000 |
| Portland, OR | $97,070 |
| Merced, CA | $96,560 |
| Fresno, CA | $95,120 |
| San Francisco, CA | $95,120 |
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$66,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.82 ($76,580 a year).
How much does a special education teacher make a month?
About $6,382 a month before tax, based on a median of $76,580 a year.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,440 or less a year ($23.29 an hour); the top 10% make $120,100 or more.
Which state pays special education teachers the most?
California, with a median of $103,100 a year, followed by New Mexico ($86,520) and Delaware ($85,040).
Which city pays special education teachers the most?
Salinas, CA, with a median of $112,900 a year.
How many special education teachers are there in the United States?
About 33,930 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.