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Special education teacher salary in New York
- $59,460lowest 10% earn less
- $66,30025th percentile
- $81,260median
- $117,54075th percentile
- $133,280top 10% earn more
The median pay for special education teachers in New York was $81,260 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $16,140 higher than the US median[6].
How much do special education teachers make in New York?
Half of the special education teachers in New York earned more than $81,260 a year, and half earned less[1]. The average was higher at $91,610[7]. Across the US as a whole, the median was $65,120[3], so New York was 24.8% above it[6]. New York had the 7th highest median among the 50 states and DC[5]. For all jobs in New York, the median was $59,670[8], which is $21,590 less than the median for this job[9].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,460[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $133,280[2]. The middle half of these workers earned between $66,300 and $117,540[2].
By metro area, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $91,610[10]. Buffalo-Cheektowaga had $71,570 and Rochester had $60,760[11]. About 21,130 people worked in this job in the state[4].
OEWS counts full-time and part-time workers who are paid a wage or salary. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. It also leaves out bonuses that are not tied to production and what employers pay for benefits[12].
New York vs US pay
Pay for special education teachers in New York next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in New York
Metro areas in New York with the most jobs for special education teachers, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[11] | $91,610 | 22,270 |
| Rochester, NY | $60,760 | 1,320 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $71,570 | 1,290 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $77,210 | 710 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $80,730 | 640 |
| Syracuse, NY | $75,690 | 560 |
| Binghamton, NY | $66,300 | 330 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $64,280 | 260 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for special education teachers in the states that border New York, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts[14] | $91,350 | 7,220 |
| Connecticut | $82,950 | 2,810 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 | 11,610 |
| Vermont | $74,200 | 770 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,680 | 7,640 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for special education teachers are projected to decline 0.4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a special education teacher make in New York?
- The median was $81,260 a year in May 2025, and the average was $91,610[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,460 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $133,280[2].
- How much does a special education teacher make an hour in New York?
- BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[17]. The yearly median in New York was $81,260[1].
- Which city in New York pays special education teachers the most?
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median, $91,610 a year[10]. Albany-Schenectady-Troy was at $77,210 and Syracuse at $75,690[11].
- Is New York a good state for special education teachers?
- New York had the 7th highest median pay for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median of $81,260 was 24.8% above the US median[1][6].
- What do you need to become a special education teacher in New York?
- Across the US, the typical path calls for a bachelor's degree, with no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a New York one.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York was $81,260 per year. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York: 10th percentile $59,460, 25th percentile $66,300, 75th percentile $117,540, 90th percentile $133,280. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the US as a whole was $65,120 per year, with about 260,870 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 21,130 people worked as Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: New York had the 7th highest median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York ($81,260) was $16,140 (24.8%) higher than the US median ($65,120). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York was $91,610 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New York was $59,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in New York was $21,590 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($59,670). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in New York with a published median for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median annual wage, $91,610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the US: 10th percentile $49,350, 25th percentile $59,710, 75th percentile $80,280, 90th percentile $103,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in states that border New York (highest first): Massachusetts $91,350; Connecticut $82,950; New Jersey $76,660; Vermont $74,200; Pennsylvania $72,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School is projected to decline 0.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025