Compensation
Median Pay
$74,260
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Special education teachers, secondary school
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$74,260
Projected Growth
-1.6%
Annual Openings
11,100
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
164,200
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
-1.6%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
11,100
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.
Interpersonal
94 / 100
94%
Speaking & listening
91 / 100
91%
Adaptability
90 / 100
90%
Leadership
90 / 100
90%
Creativity & innovation
87 / 100
87%
Computers & information technology
83 / 100
83%
Project management
83 / 100
83%
Writing & reading
83 / 100
83%
Mathematics
81 / 100
81%
Science
73 / 100
73%
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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, Secondary School
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Special education teachers, secondary school a Good Career?
Special education teachers in secondary schools work in a field that combines education expertise with support for students who need specialized instruction. Nationally, there are 164,000 people employed in this occupation, indicating a sizable professional community across the country. The role typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree, reflecting the level of preparation expected for working in high school learning environments. Key skills include interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, adaptability, leadership, and creativity and innovation, along with capabilities in computers and information technology, project management, and strong writing, reading, mathematics, and science skills. With a national median annual salary of $69,590, this career can offer stable earnings. Although employment growth is projected at -1.6%, there are still an estimated 11,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing turnover and hiring needs. For those interested in related paths, similar occupations include other types of special education teachers as well as middle and secondary school teaching roles.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
The national median annual salary for special education teachers in secondary schools is $69,590, forming a baseline for earnings expectations. Salaries vary by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington and California stand out with median salaries of $101,120 and $101,060, respectively. New York and Massachusetts also offer higher median salaries of $89,310 and $83,890, while Colorado’s median salary is $67,240. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher in certain areas. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $117,640, while the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro shows $100,430. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA has a median of $105,160, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV reports $85,000. These differences highlight how geographic choice can significantly affect earning potential.
Job Outlook for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Special education teachers, secondary school, have national employment of 164,000, indicating a well-established occupation. The projected employment growth for this career is -1.6%, reflecting a modest decline over the projection period rather than expansion. Even with this negative growth rate, there are an estimated 11,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that while total employment may contract slightly, positions continue to open due to factors such as departures, retirements, and other forms of turnover that require new hires. The uniform -1.6% growth rate also appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, implying that this projection is broadly consistent across many regions. For career planning, this means that opportunities will likely come from replacement needs more than from net new job creation. Individuals considering this field may also want to keep related options in mind, such as other special education roles or general secondary and middle school teaching occupations.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School?
Location has a clear impact on both opportunity scores and salaries for secondary school special education teachers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, at 67.38, 65.87, and 65.78 respectively, with median salaries ranging from $83,890 in Massachusetts to over $100,000 in California and $89,310 in New York. These states also have relatively larger employment counts, such as 15,250 in New York and 12,100 in California. Colorado and Washington show somewhat lower opportunity scores, 56.97 and 56.29, and employment between 2,510 and 2,970, though Washington’s median salary of $101,120 is among the highest listed. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77 and median salaries of $117,640 and $100,430. Other metros like San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also combine solid employment levels with strong salaries and opportunity scores.
Education for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
The typical education requirement for secondary school special education teachers is a bachelor’s degree. This reflects the need for a solid academic foundation to support instruction at the high school level. Within that educational pathway, a broad mix of skills is relevant. Interpersonal and speaking and listening skills are important for working closely with students and collaborating with others. Adaptability, leadership, and creativity and innovation are also central, supporting work in varied classroom situations. Additional capabilities in computers and information technology and project management help with planning, organizing, and using digital tools in educational settings. Strong writing and reading skills support communication and documentation, while mathematics and science skills align with the academic content that may be part of a secondary curriculum. Together, this combination of a bachelor’s degree and a diverse skill set prepares individuals for the demands of teaching and supporting students in secondary special education environments.
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