Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in the U.S.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the U.S. earn a median of $65,120 a year, based on BLS data for 260,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,010 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $72,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,350 |
| 25th percentile | $59,710 |
| Median | $65,120 |
| 75th percentile | $80,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,010 |
| Average (mean) | $72,650 |
Half of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,426.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,713.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,504.62 |
| Weekly | $1,252.31 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,120 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,910 | 1,070 |
| California | $97,170 | 23,280 |
| Washington | $95,040 | 3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $91,350 | 7,220 |
| Rhode Island | $84,300 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $82,950 | 2,810 |
| New York | $81,260 | 21,130 |
| Alaska | $80,230 | 320 |
| Maryland | $78,850 | 2,760 |
| Illinois | $77,960 | 14,040 |
| Oregon | $77,700 | 1,520 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 | 11,610 |
| New Mexico | $76,420 | 880 |
| Michigan | $74,600 | 4,010 |
| Colorado | $74,290 | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $74,200 | 770 |
| Ohio | $73,970 | 9,550 |
| Georgia | $72,880 | 9,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,680 | 7,640 |
| Virginia | $67,740 | 7,440 |
| Minnesota | $67,620 | 3,960 |
| Delaware | $65,990 | 1,070 |
| New Hampshire | $65,160 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $65,110 | 430 |
| Alabama | $64,520 | 870 |
| Idaho | $63,610 | 620 |
| Tennessee | $62,560 | 3,910 |
| Nebraska | $62,420 | 1,900 |
| South Carolina | $62,360 | 2,950 |
| Texas | $62,330 | 56,760 |
| Maine | $61,880 | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $61,520 | 4,280 |
| Utah | $61,290 | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $60,940 | 1,270 |
| Wyoming | $60,930 | 650 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | 2,560 |
| Kentucky | $60,060 | 3,710 |
| Kansas | $59,970 | 1,610 |
| Florida | $58,850 | 8,740 |
| Louisiana | $58,800 | 4,000 |
| Indiana | $58,760 | 3,640 |
| North Carolina | $58,260 | 4,430 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,220 | 1,850 |
| North Dakota | $57,950 | 590 |
| Montana | $57,630 | 560 |
| Missouri | $57,260 | 2,860 |
| Arizona | $56,030 | 2,450 |
| Arkansas | $54,290 | 1,430 |
| South Dakota | $51,090 | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $50,630 | 2,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,570 | 2,530 |
| West Virginia | $50,380 | 1,690 |
Best-paying metro areas for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,290 | 3,440 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $104,810 | 490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,150 | 1,740 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $99,840 | 60 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,020 | 180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $98,940 | 300 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,640 | 790 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98,330 | 1,700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $98,260 | 210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $97,860 | 1,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $97,410 | 4,980 |
| Merced, CA | $97,340 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $97,260 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $96,970 | 6,410 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $96,290 | 770 |
Metro areas with the most special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 22,270 | $91,610 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 15,810 | $64,830 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 12,680 | $65,080 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 11,210 | $79,690 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,410 | $96,970 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 6,190 | $60,750 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,860 | $77,960 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,660 | $74,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,110 | $79,880 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,980 | $97,410 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,240 | $53,250 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 3,670 | $62,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,440 | $105,290 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,140 | $91,840 |
| El Paso, TX | 2,380 | $64,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in the U.S.?
The median salary for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the U.S. is $65,120 a year. Pay ranges from $49,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the U.S. earn at least $103,010 a year. The top 25% earn $80,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,350 a year, and a quarter of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn $59,710 or less.
How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work in the U.S.?
About 260,870 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.