Compensation
Median Pay
$76,580
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Special education teachers, all other
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$76,580
Projected Growth
1.1%
Annual Openings
2,900
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
41,000
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
1.1%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
2,900
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
95 / 100
95%
Adaptability
93 / 100
93%
Leadership
90 / 100
90%
Speaking & listening
90 / 100
90%
Creativity & innovation
88 / 100
88%
Writing & reading
83 / 100
83%
Computers & information technology
79 / 100
79%
Mathematics
75 / 100
75%
Project management
74 / 100
74%
Customer service
72 / 100
72%
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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, All Other
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Special education teachers, all other a Good Career?
Special education teachers, all other work in a field that combines education expertise with strong people-focused skills. Nationally, this occupation employs 41,000 people, with a median annual salary of $67,430. Projected employment growth of 1.1% and about 3,000 annual openings indicate a steady flow of opportunities for new and experienced educators. A bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement, making the field accessible to those completing a four-year college program. This role benefits from a mix of interpersonal, adaptability, leadership, and communication strengths, backed by capabilities in writing, reading, technology, and project management. For people who value both structure and creativity in their work, this career offers multiple paths across states and metro areas, with some locations providing notably higher median pay. Overall, it can be an appealing choice for students and career changers who want to build long-term careers in specialized teaching roles.
Special Education Teachers, All Other Salary
The national median annual salary for special education teachers, all other is $67,430, but pay varies significantly by location. Among the top states, California stands out with a median salary of $103,050, while Massachusetts and Colorado also offer relatively high medians at $78,440 and $79,290, respectively. New York’s median salary is $65,970 and Washington’s is $76,790. At the metro level, salaries range from $66,170 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City area to $109,600 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara offers a median of $87,430 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $79,880. These figures show that educators in certain California metros, in particular Los Angeles and San Jose, have access to some of the highest reported median earnings, giving geographically flexible professionals the option to target areas with stronger pay potential.
Job Outlook for Special Education Teachers, All Other
Special education teachers, all other have national employment of 41,000 and projected employment growth of 1.1%. This growth, combined with approximately 3,000 annual openings, suggests an ongoing need for professionals entering or advancing in this field. The consistent 1.1% growth rate is reflected across the listed top states and metro areas, indicating similar projected expansion in those regions. For job seekers, the combination of current employment levels and recurring openings can translate into recurring opportunities over time rather than one-time spikes in hiring. Because this occupation requires a bachelor’s degree, students planning ahead can align their education with this trajectory. Career changers with relevant skills may also find that the forecast supports long-term planning, especially when combined with strategic choices about location based on salaries and opportunity scores.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Special Education Teachers, All Other?
Location plays a major role in shaping career options for special education teachers, all other. Among states, California offers a high median salary of $103,050 and sizable employment of 8,920, with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, although Massachusetts has relatively low employment (300) compared with New York (2,170). Colorado and Washington present moderate employment levels and solid opportunity scores above 56, paired with median salaries around or above $76,000. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and New York-Newark-Jersey City have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, though their median salaries differ ($87,430 versus $66,170). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim combines very high employment (4,230) with the highest listed median salary of $109,600. These variations allow professionals to weigh salary, job concentration, and opportunity scores when choosing where to live and work.
Education for Special Education Teachers, All Other
For special education teachers, all other, a bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement. This makes the career accessible to individuals who complete a four-year college program and are ready to develop the core skills highlighted for this role. Success in this field draws heavily on interpersonal skills, adaptability, and leadership, reflecting the importance of working effectively with others and guiding learning experiences. Strong speaking and listening, writing and reading skills support clear communication and documentation. Creativity and innovation, along with project management, help educators plan, organize, and adjust their work. Competence with computers and information technology, as well as comfort with mathematics, rounds out the skill profile. Students and career changers can use this mix of education level and skill focus to assess their readiness, identify gaps, and target relevant coursework or training that strengthens both people-oriented and analytical capabilities.
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