Compensation
Median Pay
$64,830
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Special education teachers, preschool
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$64,830
Projected Growth
1.4%
Annual Openings
2,100
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
29,300
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
1.4%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
2,100
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Adaptability
93 / 100
93%
Interpersonal
93 / 100
93%
Leadership
77 / 100
77%
Creativity & innovation
74 / 100
74%
Writing & reading
73 / 100
73%
Speaking & listening
70 / 100
70%
Computers & information technology
67 / 100
67%
Critical & analytical thinking
66 / 100
66%
Problem solving & decision making
58 / 100
58%
Physical strength & stamina
52 / 100
52%
AI Career Matching
Careers You'll Also Love
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
5
Similar Careers
Similar Career
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Highly Compatible Career
Details available with a free account
Salary · Growth · Match Score
Similar Career
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
Highly Compatible Career
Details available with a free account
Salary · Growth · Match Score
Similar Career
Counselors, all other
Highly Compatible Career
Details available with a free account
Salary · Growth · Match Score
Similar Career
Community and social service specialists, all other
Highly Compatible Career
Details available with a free account
Salary · Growth · Match Score
Similar Career
Elementary school teachers, except special education
Highly Compatible Career
Details available with a free account
Salary · Growth · Match Score
Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Special education teachers, preschool a Good Career?
Special education teachers, preschool (25-2051) work in a specialized teaching role focused on young children, with a national employment level of 29,000. This occupation offers a national median annual salary of $62,190 and a projected employment growth rate of 1.4%. With 2,000 annual openings, the field provides a steady flow of opportunities for new entrants and experienced educators. The role typically requires a bachelor’s degree and draws on a broad mix of skills, including adaptability, strong interpersonal abilities, creativity and innovation, and effective speaking and listening. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and comfort with computers and information technology also support success. Physical strength and stamina add to the demands of working with preschool-aged children. For those who enjoy working closely with young learners and want to develop specialized teaching expertise, this career offers a structured path with clear educational expectations and consistent demand across the country.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
Special education teachers, preschool earn a national median annual salary of $62,190. Earnings vary across regions, and the CareerGPS opportunity scores highlight some key differences. Among top states, median salaries range from $59,550 in California to $99,070 in Massachusetts, with New York at $68,180, Colorado at $78,040, and Washington at $86,580. Top metro areas show even more variation. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro reports a median salary of $81,210, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area is at $82,760. Boston-Cambridge-Newton stands out at $99,440, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $94,240, and Boulder at $80,230. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earnings, with some states and metros offering substantially higher median pay than the national median. Job seekers can use these differences to target locations that align with their financial goals and personal preferences.
Job Outlook for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Special education teachers, preschool have a national employment base of 29,000, with projected employment growth of 1.4%. This same 1.4% projected growth rate appears consistently in the top states and metro areas listed, indicating a uniform growth expectation across those highlighted regions. The occupation is expected to generate 2,000 annual openings, which reflects both new positions and turnover in existing roles. For people considering entering the field or changing careers, the combination of an established employment base and steady projected growth provides a degree of predictability. The presence of annual openings suggests ongoing opportunities for graduates with the typical bachelor’s degree requirement, as well as for experienced educators seeking to move between regions or employers. Overall, the employment outlook points to a stable environment where workers can plan long-term careers while monitoring regional differences in demand and compensation.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?
Location plays a substantial role in opportunity for preschool special education teachers, based on CareerGPS opportunity scores and pay levels. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York rank highest by opportunity score, all at or above 65, with California at 67.38 and Massachusetts and New York close behind. Massachusetts combines a high opportunity score with a median salary of $99,070, while New York pairs a strong score with the largest employment level among the listed states at 6,220. Washington and Colorado also offer notable median salaries of $86,580 and $78,040 and mid-50s opportunity scores. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 6,110. Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue offer some of the highest metro median salaries at $99,440 and $94,240. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Boulder also show solid opportunity scores and salaries, giving candidates multiple strong regional options to consider.
Education for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
The typical education requirement for preschool special education teachers is a bachelor’s degree. This provides a clear entry pathway for students planning their education and for career changers assessing what is needed to qualify for roles in the field. Success in this occupation is supported by a blend of interpersonal, cognitive, and practical skills. Adaptability and strong interpersonal skills help in working with diverse learners and educational environments. Speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, are central to communication in educational settings. Critical and analytical thinking, plus problem solving and decision making, support planning and responding to day-to-day challenges. Creativity and innovation contribute to developing effective approaches, while computers and information technology skills reflect the importance of modern tools in the profession. Physical strength and stamina round out the profile, aligning with the demands of working with preschool-aged children throughout the day.
Your next move
Turn career data into a location strategy.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.