All careers › Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Sped teacher (secondary school): pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $49,800lowest 10% earn less
- $60,18025th percentile
- $74,260median
- $93,73075th percentile
- $109,100top 10% earn more
Special education teachers in secondary school had a median pay of $74,260 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to dip 0.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].
How much do secondary special education teachers make?
The median pay was $74,260 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of these teachers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $77,260[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,800, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $109,100[3]. The 25th percentile was $60,180 and the 75th was $93,730[3]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, since many teachers work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly[8].
| Point | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $49,800 |
| 25th percentile[3] | $60,180 |
| Median[1] | $74,260 |
| 75th percentile[3] | $93,730 |
| 90th percentile[3] | $109,100 |
A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes no starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and the cost of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions[10]. Only 0.4% of these teachers were self-employed in 2025[11].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest median at $101,120 a year[12]. California followed at $101,060 and the District of Columbia at $99,670[12]. Maryland came next at $93,530, then Rhode Island at $92,990[12]. Mississippi was last among the published areas at $51,970[12].
New York had the most jobs at 15,250[13]. California had 12,100, Pennsylvania 11,040, Ohio 10,580 and Texas 10,200[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $117,640[14]. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad followed at $115,160 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $105,160[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs, 14,700, with a median of $100,430[15]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had 7,360 jobs and a median of $82,350[15].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[12] | $101,120 | 2,510 |
| California | $101,060 | 12,100 |
| District of Columbia | $99,670 | 440 |
| Maryland | $93,530 | 1,560 |
| Rhode Island | $92,990 | 830 |
| New York | $89,310 | 15,250 |
| Massachusetts | $83,890 | 5,470 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $81,710 | 1,920 |
| Alaska | $80,580 | 590 |
| Illinois | $79,890 | 9,490 |
| Vermont | $79,360 | 660 |
| Delaware | $78,490 | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $78,050 | 2,570 |
| Oregon | $77,400 | 1,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,000 | 11,040 |
| New Mexico | $76,940 | 2,150 |
| Minnesota | $76,600 | 4,130 |
| Ohio | $76,180 | 10,580 |
| Georgia | $74,150 | 4,090 |
| New Hampshire | $69,560 | 910 |
| Virginia | $68,400 | 6,380 |
| Colorado | $67,240 | 2,970 |
| Hawaii | $65,980 | 800 |
| Texas | $64,830 | 10,200 |
| Arizona | $64,300 | 1,960 |
| Utah | $64,210 | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $63,520 | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | 1,240 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 350 |
| Montana | $62,310 | 480 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | 740 |
| South Carolina | $62,150 | 1,780 |
| Maine | $61,710 | 860 |
| Florida | $61,510 | 7,940 |
| Tennessee | $61,360 | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 520 |
| Indiana | $61,130 | 2,580 |
| Nevada | $60,810 | 350 |
| Iowa | $60,780 | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $60,730 | 2,680 |
| Idaho | $60,700 | 470 |
| Kansas | $60,700 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $59,660 | 2,020 |
| Louisiana | $59,100 | 3,160 |
| Arkansas | $57,000 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $56,770 | 3,400 |
| Missouri | $55,920 | 2,760 |
| West Virginia | $55,390 | 840 |
| South Dakota | $54,810 | 500 |
| Mississippi | $51,970 | 1,670 |
How to become a secondary special education teacher
The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of special education teachers[16].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree, the typical entry education. No related work experience or on-the-job training is typical[6].
- Next: complete a student-teaching program, in which you work with a mentor and teach in a classroom[17]. Some states ask for a degree in special education. Others accept a major in education or a subject such as math or science with a special education minor[18].
- Then: get licensed. All states require public school teachers to be licensed in the grade level they teach, and a license is often called a certification[19].
Public schools require at least a bachelor's degree and a state license or certification. Private schools typically ask for a bachelor's degree but not a license[20].
License rules vary by state. They generally involve a bachelor's degree plus a minimum grade point average, student teaching, a background check, and passing a general teaching test plus a test in the subject you will teach[21][22][23][24][25]. Every state also offers an alternative route for people who already hold a bachelor's degree[26]. Some states may ask teachers to finish a master's degree in special education after they are hired, to become fully certified[17].
In an O*NET survey of 38 workers, 42% said a bachelor's degree is required, 42% said a master's degree and 15% a post-baccalaureate certificate[27].
What secondary special education teachers do
O*NET describes the job as teaching academic, social and life skills to secondary students with learning, emotional or physical disabilities[28]. Typical tasks include:
- Setting and enforcing rules for behavior so the classroom stays orderly[29].
- Keeping student records and writing required reports[29].
- Working with parents, administrators and other professionals on individual educational plans[29].
- Using special teaching strategies to build language, thinking, memory and motor skills[29].
- Setting clear lesson goals and sharing them with students[29].
- Teaching behavior skills with methods such as positive reinforcement[29].
- Teaching personal skills such as goal setting, independence and self-advocacy[29].
Workers report job titles such as learning support teacher, special day class teacher and education specialist[30].
Where they work
For the wider group of special education teachers, the largest employer was local elementary and secondary schools, at 86%[31]. A small number work in residential facilities, hospitals or students' homes[32].
Teachers typically work during school hours. They also grade papers, update records and plan lessons, and may meet with parents and colleagues before or after class[33]. Many follow the traditional 10-month school year[34] with a summer break and a short winter break. Some teach in summer programs[34]. In year-round districts, teachers typically work 9 weeks, then have 3 weeks off[35]. BLS notes that helping students with disabilities can be stressful, emotionally demanding and physically draining[36].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 164,800 to 164,500 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[37]. These counts include the self-employed[2]. The OEWS count of about 163,930 covers wage and salary jobs only[38].
About 10,400 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 3.3% move to another occupation[39].
Is it a good fit?
Pay is above the all-occupations median, and the main entry step is a bachelor's degree[1][4][6]. Public school jobs also need a state license, and the rules differ by state[20][21]. Employment is projected to be nearly flat, but turnover creates openings each year[2][5]. The work follows a school-year calendar for many teachers and can be demanding[34][36].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a sped teacher make?
- The median for secondary school special education teachers was $74,260 a year in May 2025, and the average was $77,260[1][7]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job[8].
- What degree do you need to be a special education teacher?
- The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree[6]. Public schools also require a state license or certification[20].
- Is special education teaching in demand?
- Employment is projected to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035[2]. About 10,400 openings a year are still projected[5].
- What is the highest paying state for secondary special education teachers?
- Washington had the highest median at $101,120 a year, followed by California at $101,060[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the US was $74,260 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Special Education Teachers, Secondary School is projected to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 164,800 to 164,500 jobs (a change of -400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School: 10th percentile $49,800, 25th percentile $60,180, 75th percentile $93,730, 90th percentile $109,100. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 10,400 openings for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 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
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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 OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School was $77,260 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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 Employment Projections: 0.4% of Special Education Teachers, Secondary School were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Special Education Teachers, Secondary School jobs: New York 15,250; California 12,100; Pennsylvania 11,040; Ohio 10,580; Texas 10,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $117,640; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $115,160; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $105,160; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $104,090; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $103,730; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,290; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $101,700; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $100,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Special Education Teachers, Secondary School jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 14,700 (median $100,430); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 7,360 (median $82,350); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5,790 (median $79,760); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,930 (median $85,000); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 3,920 (median $87,630); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,920 (median $100,900). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Special Education Teachers" covers Special Education Teachers, Secondary School together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-2058.00 survey of workers (38 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 42%, Master's Degree 42%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Special Education Teachers, Secondary School. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-2058.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Education Specialist, Emotional Disability Special Education Teacher (ED SPED Teacher), Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Handicapped Teacher, HS SPED Teacher (High School Special Education Teacher), Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Special Day Class Teacher (SDC Teacher). O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of special education teachers in 2025: Elementary and secondary schools; local 86%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 163,930 people were employed as Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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.