Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in the U.S.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the U.S. earn a median of $74,260 a year, based on BLS data for 163,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,100 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $77,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for special education teachers, secondary school in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,800 |
| 25th percentile | $60,180 |
| Median | $74,260 |
| 75th percentile | $93,730 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,100 |
| Average (mean) | $77,260 |
Half of special education teachers, secondary 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 | $6,188.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,094.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,856.15 |
| Weekly | $1,428.08 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because special education teachers, secondary 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 $74,260 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, Secondary School salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $101,120 | 2,510 |
| California | $101,060 | 12,100 |
| District of Columbia | $99,670 | 440 |
| Maryland | $93,530 | 1,560 |
| Rhode Island | $92,990 | 830 |
| New York | $89,310 | 15,250 |
| Massachusetts | $83,890 | 5,470 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $81,710 | 1,920 |
| Alaska | $80,580 | 590 |
| Illinois | $79,890 | 9,490 |
| Vermont | $79,360 | 660 |
| Delaware | $78,490 | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $78,050 | 2,570 |
| Oregon | $77,400 | 1,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,000 | 11,040 |
| New Mexico | $76,940 | 2,150 |
| Minnesota | $76,600 | 4,130 |
| Ohio | $76,180 | 10,580 |
| Georgia | $74,150 | 4,090 |
| New Hampshire | $69,560 | 910 |
| Virginia | $68,400 | 6,380 |
| Colorado | $67,240 | 2,970 |
| Hawaii | $65,980 | 800 |
| Texas | $64,830 | 10,200 |
| Arizona | $64,300 | 1,960 |
| Utah | $64,210 | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $63,520 | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | 1,240 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 350 |
| Montana | $62,310 | 480 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | 740 |
| South Carolina | $62,150 | 1,780 |
| Maine | $61,710 | 860 |
| Florida | $61,510 | 7,940 |
| Tennessee | $61,360 | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 520 |
| Indiana | $61,130 | 2,580 |
| Nevada | $60,810 | 350 |
| Iowa | $60,780 | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $60,730 | 2,680 |
| Idaho | $60,700 | 470 |
| Kansas | $60,700 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $59,660 | 2,020 |
| Louisiana | $59,100 | 3,160 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,080 | 1,840 |
| Arkansas | $57,000 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $56,770 | 3,400 |
| Missouri | $55,920 | 2,760 |
| West Virginia | $55,390 | 840 |
| South Dakota | $54,810 | 500 |
| Mississippi | $51,970 | 1,670 |
Best-paying metro areas for special education teachers, secondary school
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,640 | 400 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $115,160 | 1,220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,160 | 1,260 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $104,090 | 290 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $103,730 | 1,630 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $103,420 | 60 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $102,890 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,290 | 1,270 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $101,700 | 760 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $101,060 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $101,060 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,900 | 3,920 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $100,880 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,450 | 150 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,430 | 14,700 |
Metro areas with the most special education teachers, secondary school
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 14,700 | $100,430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,360 | $82,350 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5,790 | $79,760 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,930 | $85,000 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,920 | $87,630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,920 | $100,900 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,670 | $66,440 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,590 | $79,190 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,550 | $77,180 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,170 | $72,860 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,150 | $69,210 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,850 | $75,160 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,720 | $64,680 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,690 | $79,900 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,680 | $78,450 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2058. 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, secondary school make in the U.S.?
The median salary for special education teachers, secondary school in the U.S. is $74,260 a year. Pay ranges from $49,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid special education teachers, secondary school make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of special education teachers, secondary school in the U.S. earn at least $109,100 a year. The top 25% earn $93,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for special education teachers, secondary school in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,800 a year, and a quarter of special education teachers, secondary school earn $60,180 or less.
How many special education teachers, secondary school work in the U.S.?
About 163,930 special education teachers, secondary school are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.