How to Become a Special Education Teacher
Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $65,120 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$65,120/yr
Middle half
$59,770 to $83,980
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
15,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- IEP Development
- Differentiated Instruction
- Learning Strategies
- Patience
- Collaboration
Helpful certifications
- State special education licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
5/100
Work-life balance
59/100
Stress level
54/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Special Education Teacher make?
The median pay for a Special Education Teacher is $65,120 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $59,770 and $83,980 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Special Education Teacher?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Special Education, Education, and Psychology.
Is Special Education Teacher a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 15,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Special Education Teacher use most?
Common skills for this role are IEP Development, Differentiated Instruction, Learning Strategies, Patience, and Collaboration.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).