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Early childhood special education teacher: pay, outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,830median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $45,620lowest 10% earn less
  2. $52,21025th percentile
  3. $64,830median
  4. $91,66075th percentile
  5. $130,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Early childhood special education teachers, officially Special Education Teachers, Preschool, had a median pay of $64,830 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.4%, a bit below the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.4%[2]
Openings per year
2,000[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do early childhood special education teachers make?

The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool was $64,830 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $76,380[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,620, and the 25th percentile was $52,210[4]. The 75th percentile was $91,660 and the 90th percentile was $130,040[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10]. The figures cover wage and salary workers and leave out the self-employed, bonuses outside regular production pay and benefits[11]. About 29,510 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Among 45 states with published data, Massachusetts had the highest median at $99,070, followed by New Jersey at $92,060, Connecticut at $87,960 and Washington at $86,580[13]. Arkansas had the lowest median listed, at $35,580[13].

New York had the most jobs at 6,220, ahead of California with 2,510 and Texas with 2,010[14]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kansas City, MO-KS had the highest median at $119,560, followed by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $117,200[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs at 6,110, with a median of $81,210[16].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[13]$99,070710
New Jersey$92,0601,720
Connecticut$87,960380
Washington$86,580820
Maryland$85,01070
Pennsylvania$83,510490
Alaska$80,390110
Vermont$79,00070
Colorado$78,040810
Virginia$77,570650
Oregon$77,490400
Minnesota$75,8801,250
Michigan$75,860430
Hawaii$75,120230
Georgia$72,310380
New York$68,1806,220
New Mexico$66,010270
Texas$65,6802,010
Iowa$63,540n/a
Nebraska$62,76080
Illinois$62,5801,080
Missouri$62,250940
New Hampshire$61,72080
Wisconsin$60,870240
Ohio$60,7001,150
Maine$60,68040
North Carolina$60,180640
Arizona$60,130330
North Dakota$60,06050
South Carolina$59,800170
California$59,5502,510
Tennessee$59,550330
Rhode Island$59,310120
Delaware$59,250100
Kansas$59,220350
Florida$58,2401,370
Utah$58,230110
Louisiana$56,890960
Kentucky$54,220n/a
Mississippi$52,420110
Wyoming$52,10080
Oklahoma$49,72060
Idaho$49,610180
Indiana$48,680380
Arkansas$35,580510

How to become an early childhood special education teacher

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[7]. The details below come from a BLS profile that covers special education teachers as a wider group, not only preschool[17].

Requirements vary by state. They generally include a minimum grade point average, student teaching, a background check, and passing both a general teaching test and a subject test[21][22][23][24]. Private school teachers typically do not need a license[20]. All states also offer an alternative route for people who already hold a bachelor's degree[25]. Some states may require a master's degree in special education after a teacher is hired[19].

What preschool special education teachers do

O*NET says these teachers teach academic, social and life skills to preschool-aged children with learning, emotional or physical disabilities[26]. Tasks include:

Workers report titles such as Early Intervention Teacher and Special Education Resource Teacher[28].

Where they work

For the wider special education group, BLS says a small number of teachers work in residential facilities, hospitals or the students' homes, and some work with infants and toddlers at home, teaching parents ways to help[29]. Teachers typically work during school hours and also grade papers, update records and prepare lessons[30]. Many follow a traditional school year with a summer break, and some work in summer programs[31]. BLS says the work may be rewarding, and also stressful, emotionally demanding and physically draining[32]. Only 1.3% of preschool special education teachers were self-employed in 2025[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Special Education Teachers, Preschool to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 30,500 to 31,300 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers and differ from the wage survey count[2].

About 2,000 openings a year are projected on average[6]. They include jobs that open when workers retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 3.3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is above the all-occupations median, and the typical entry education is a bachelor's degree[1][5][7]. Public school jobs need a state license, so it helps to check your state's rules[20][35]. Growth is a little below the all-occupations rate[2][3]. Pay also varies a lot by state[13]. BLS describes the work as both rewarding and demanding[32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a preschool special education teacher make?
The median for Special Education Teachers, Preschool was $64,830 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job[10].
What degree do you need to be an early childhood special education teacher?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Public schools also require a state license or certification[20].
Is early childhood special education in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 2,000 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for preschool special education teachers?
Massachusetts had the highest median at $99,070, followed by New Jersey at $92,060[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in the US was $64,830 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Special Education Teachers, Preschool is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 30,500 to 31,300 jobs (a change of +700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Special Education Teachers, Preschool: 10th percentile $45,620, 25th percentile $52,210, 75th percentile $91,660, 90th percentile $130,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,000 openings for Special Education Teachers, Preschool are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Special Education Teachers, Preschool: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool was $76,380 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS publishes only annual wages for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 29,510 people were employed as Special Education Teachers, Preschool in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Special Education Teachers, Preschool jobs: New York 6,220; California 2,510; Texas 2,010; New Jersey 1,720; Florida 1,370. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kansas City, MO-KS $119,560; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $117,200; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $99,440; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $94,240; Fresno, CA $93,800; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $89,180; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $82,760; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $81,210. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Special Education Teachers, Preschool jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,110 (median $81,210); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 900 (median $61,950); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 760 (median $80,700); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 750 (median $74,110); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 610 (median $99,440); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 510 (median $79,560). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Special Education Teachers" covers Special Education Teachers, Preschool together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Special Education Teachers, Preschool. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Special Education Teachers, Preschool. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 25-2051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE Teacher), Early Intervention Teacher, Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Preschool SPED Teacher (Preschool Special Education Teacher), Profound Mental Handicaps SPED Teacher (Profound Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher), Severe Mental Handicaps SPED Teacher (Severe Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher), Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 1.3% of Special Education Teachers, Preschool were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Special Education Teachers, Preschool: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.