### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Special Education Teachers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                    
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			special education teachers imageSpecial education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning disabilities.							
						Quick Facts:     Special Education Teachers2023     Median Pay
            						$65,910     per yearTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    498,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    0% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    2,200What Special Education Teachers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most special education teachers work in public schools, teaching students from preschool to high school. Many work the traditional 10-month school year, but some work year round.
            
                                                How to Become a Special Education Teacher
                                                
                        
Special education teachers in public schools are required to have a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued certification or license. Teachers in private schools typically need a bachelor’s degree but may not be required to have a state license or certification.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for special education teachers was $65,910 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of special education teachers is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 33,500 openings for special education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for special education teachers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of special education teachers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about special education teachers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Special Education Teachers Do 
            

			Special education teachersSpecial education teachers may teach students in small groups or on a one-on-one basis.			
Special education teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities.
Duties
Special education teachers typically do the following:
Assess students’ skills and determine their educational needs
Adapt general lessons to meet students’ needs
Develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student
Plan activities that are specific to each student’s abilities
Teach and mentor students as a class, in small groups, and one-on-one
Implement IEPs, assess students’ performance, and track their progress
Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students’ progress and goals
Discuss students’ progress with parents, other teachers, counselors, and administrators
Supervise and mentor teacher assistants who work with students with disabilities
Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and from school to life outside of schoolSpecial education teachers work with students from preschool to high school. They instruct students who have mental, emotional, physical, or learning disabilities. For example, some help students develop study skills, such as highlighting text and using flashcards. Others work with students who have physical disabilities and may use a wheelchair or other adaptive devices. Still others work with students who have sensory disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments. They also may work with those who have autism spectrum disorders or emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Special education teachers work with general education teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents to develop IEPs. Students’ IEPs outline their goals, including academic or behavioral milestones, and services they are to receive, such as speech therapy. Educators and parents also meet to discuss updates and changes to IEPs.
Special education teachers must be comfortable using and learning new technology. Most use computers to keep records of their students’ performance, prepare lesson plans, and update IEPs. Some teachers also use assistive technology aids, such as Braille writers and computer software, that help them communicate with their students.
Special education teachers’ duties vary by their work setting, students’ disabilities, and specialties.
Some special education teachers work in classrooms or resource centers that include only students with disabilities. In these settings, teachers plan, adapt, and present lessons to meet each student’s needs. They teach students individually or in small groups.
In inclusive classrooms, special education teachers instruct students with disabilities who are in general education classrooms. They work with general education teachers to adapt lessons so that students with disabilities can more easily understand them.
Some special education teachers work with students who have moderate to severe disabilities. These teachers help students, who may be eligible for services until age 21, develop basic life skills. Some teach the skills necessary for students with moderate disabilities to live independently, find a job, and manage money and their time. For more information about other workers who help individuals with disabilities develop skills necessary to live independently, see the profiles on occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and aides.
 Work Environment
			Special education teachersSpecial education teachers work with students from preschool to high school.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Special education teachers held about 498,400 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up special education teachers was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
                194,700Special education teachers, secondary school
                153,200Special education teachers, middle school
                82,800Special education teachers, all other
                43,900Special education teachers, preschool
                23,800The largest employers of special education teachers were as follows:
        Elementary and secondary schools; local
                85%Elementary and secondary schools; private
                8A small number of special education teachers work with students in residential facilities, hospitals, and the students’ homes. They may travel to these locations. Some teachers work with infants and toddlers at the child’s home. They teach the child’s parents ways to help the child develop skills.
Helping students with disabilities may be rewarding. It also can be stressful, emotionally demanding, and physically draining.
Work Schedules
Special education teachers typically work during school hours. In addition to providing instruction during this time, they grade papers, update students’ records, and prepare lessons. They may meet with parents, students, and other teachers or specialists before and after classes.
Many work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work in summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row and then are on break for 3 weeks.
 How to Become a Special Education Teacher

			Special education teachersSpecial education teachers need to be able to explain  concepts in terms students with learning disabilities can understand.			
Special education teachers in public schools are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued certification or license. Private schools typically require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, but the teachers are not required to be licensed or certified.
Education
All states require special education teachers in public schools to have at least a bachelor's degree. Some require teachers to earn a degree specifically in special education. Others allow them to major in education or a content area, such as mathematics or science, and pursue a minor in special education.
In a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in special education, prospective teachers learn about the different types of disabilities and how to present information so that students will understand. Programs typically include a student-teaching program, in which prospective teachers work with a mentor and get experience instructing students in a classroom setting. To become fully certified, states may require special education teachers to complete a master’s degree in special education after obtaining a job.
Private schools typically require teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree in special education.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed in the specific grade level that they teach. A license frequently is referred to as a certification. Those who teach in private schools typically do not need to be licensed.
Requirements for certification or licensure can vary by state but generally involve the following:
A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average
Completion of a student-teaching program
Passing a background check
Passing a general teaching certification test, as well as a test that demonstrates knowledge of the subject the candidate will teachFor information about teacher preparation programs and certification requirements, visit Teach.org or contact your state’s board of education.
All states offer an alternative route to certification or licensure for people who already have a bachelor’s degree. These alternative programs cover teaching methods and child development. Candidates are awarded full certification after they complete the program. Other alternative programs require prospective teachers to take classes in education before they can start to teach. Teachers may be awarded a master’s degree after completing either type of program.
Advancement
Experienced teachers may advance to become mentors who help less experienced teachers improve their instructional skills. They also may become lead teachers.
Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, and elementary, middle, and high school principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification. An advanced degree in education administration or leadership may be helpful.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Special education teachers need to explain concepts in terms that students with learning disabilities can understand. They also must write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and share students’ progress with general education teachers, counselors and other specialists, administrators, and parents.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Special education teachers must be able to assess students’ progress and use the information to adapt lessons.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Special education teachers work regularly with a team of educators and the student’s parents to develop IEPs. As a result, they need to be able to build positive working relationships.
***Patience.*** Special education teachers must be able to stay calm instructing students with disabilities, who may lack basic skills, present behavioral or other challenges, or require repeated efforts to understand material.
***Resourcefulness.*** Special education teachers must develop different ways to present information that meet their students’ needs. They also help general education teachers adapt their lessons to the needs of students with disabilities.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Special Education TeachersMedian annual wages, May 2023Special education teachers$65,910  Preschool, elementary, middle, secondary, and special education teachers$63,280  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for special education teachers was $65,910 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,520, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $106,290.

			
                    	Median annual wages for special education teachers in May 2023 were as follows:
        Special education teachers, all other
		$67,190Special education teachers, secondary school
		66,620Special education teachers, middle school
		66,600Special education teachers, preschool
		65,270Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
		64,910In May 2023, the median annual wages for special education teachers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Elementary and secondary schools; local
                $66,450Elementary and secondary schools; private
                59,190Special education teachers typically work during school hours. In addition to providing instruction during this time, they grade papers, update students’ records, and prepare lessons. They may meet with parents, students, and other teachers or specialists before and after classes.
Many work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work in summer programs.
Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row and then are on break for 3 weeks.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Special Education TeachersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Preschool, elementary, middle, secondary, and special education teachers1%  Special education teachers0%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of special education teachers is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 33,500 openings for special education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for special education teachers will be driven by school enrollments and the need for special education services.
These teachers and services will continue to be needed as children with disabilities are identified earlier and are enrolled into special education programs.
Federal law requires that every state maintain the same level of financial support for special education every year. However, employment growth of special education teachers may depend on funding availability.
			

                        Employment projections data for     special education teachers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Special education teachers**
			25-2050
			498,400
			500,700
			0
			2,200
			Get data**Special education teachers, preschool**
			25-2051
			23,800
			24,300
			2
			500
			Get data**Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school**
			25-2052
			194,700
			194,600
			0
			-100
			Get data**Special education teachers, middle school**
			25-2057
			82,800
			82,600
			0
			-100
			Get data**Special education teachers, secondary school**
			25-2058
			153,200
			154,000
			0
			700
			Get data**Special education teachers, all other**
			25-2059
			43,900
			45,200
			3
			1,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Special education teachers, all other
					Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
					Special education teachers, middle school
					Special education teachers, preschool
					Special education teachers, secondary school **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of special education teachers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Career and Technical Education Teachers**
            Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts.
            Bachelor's degree
            $63,580**Childcare Workers**
            Childcare workers attend to children's needs while helping to foster early development.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $30,370**Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals**
            Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities.
            Master's degree
            $103,460**High School Teachers**
            High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,220**Instructional Coordinators**
            Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness.
            Master's degree
            $74,620**Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers**
            Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.
            Bachelor's degree
            $63,670**Middle School Teachers**
            Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.
            Bachelor's degree
            $64,290**Occupational Therapists**
            Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.
            Master's degree
            $96,370**Preschool Teachers**
            Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
            Associate's degree
            $37,130**Recreational Therapists**
            Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
            Bachelor's degree
            $57,120**Social Workers**
            Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
            See How to Become One
            $58,380**Teacher Assistants**
            Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.
            Some college, no degree
            $35,550
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about special education teachers, visit
Council for Exceptional Children
Personnel Improvement Center
National Association of Special Education Teachers
For more information about teaching and becoming a teacher, visit
Teach.org
American Federation of Teachers
National Education Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Adapted Physical Education SpecialistsSpecial Education Teachers, All OtherSpecial Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolSpecial Education Teachers, KindergartenSpecial Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSpecial Education Teachers, PreschoolSpecial Education Teachers, Secondary School
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Special Education Teachers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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