Special education teachers, preschool salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,620 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $64,830 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $76,380 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $130,040 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Special education teachers, preschool pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80,390 | $51,760 | $98,240 | 110 | 1.8 |
| Arizona | $60,130 | $45,920 | $80,680 | 330 | 0.53 |
| Arkansas | $35,580 | $27,800 | $53,990 | 510 | 2.08 |
| California | $59,550 | $38,050 | $117,700 | 2,510 | 0.73 |
| Colorado | $78,040 | $54,200 | $102,630 | 810 | 1.49 |
| Connecticut | $87,960 | $58,140 | $116,380 | 380 | 1.19 |
| Delaware | $59,250 | $46,600 | $63,430 | 100 | 1.13 |
| Florida | $58,240 | $50,100 | $78,340 | 1,370 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $72,310 | $49,650 | $98,450 | 380 | 0.41 |
| Hawaii | $75,120 | $58,170 | $95,300 | 230 | 1.93 |
| Idaho | $49,610 | $31,720 | $89,540 | 180 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $62,580 | $42,320 | $100,460 | 1,080 | 0.93 |
| Indiana | $48,680 | $35,620 | $76,530 | 380 | 0.62 |
| Iowa | $63,540 | $36,250 | $72,980 | ||
| Kansas | $59,220 | $47,510 | $75,380 | 350 | 1.29 |
| Kentucky | $54,220 | $35,690 | $64,000 | ||
| Louisiana | $56,890 | $37,750 | $61,200 | 960 | 2.61 |
| Maine | $60,680 | $48,050 | $74,870 | 40 | 0.31 |
| Maryland | $85,010 | $70,730 | $106,080 | 70 | 0.14 |
| Massachusetts | $99,070 | $62,400 | $126,340 | 710 | 1.03 |
| Michigan | $75,860 | $47,050 | $103,290 | 430 | 0.52 |
| Minnesota | $75,880 | $43,020 | $101,100 | 1,250 | 2.24 |
| Mississippi | $52,420 | $48,660 | $62,710 | 110 | 0.5 |
| Missouri | $62,250 | $35,960 | $119,570 | 940 | 1.68 |
| Nebraska | $62,760 | $36,690 | $82,010 | 80 | 0.39 |
| New Hampshire | $61,720 | $49,430 | $84,270 | 80 | 0.63 |
| New Jersey | $92,060 | $61,880 | $138,050 | 1,720 | 2.12 |
| New Mexico | $66,010 | $35,560 | $82,520 | 270 | 1.61 |
| New York | $68,180 | $45,760 | $170,200 | 6,220 | 3.38 |
| North Carolina | $60,180 | $42,300 | $73,780 | 640 | 0.68 |
| North Dakota | $60,060 | $50,160 | $81,240 | 50 | 0.67 |
| Ohio | $60,700 | $45,630 | $101,580 | 1,150 | 1.1 |
| Oklahoma | $49,720 | $40,000 | $58,020 | 60 | 0.17 |
| Oregon | $77,490 | $61,830 | $95,460 | 400 | 1.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,510 | $49,510 | $121,750 | 490 | 0.43 |
| Rhode Island | $59,310 | $34,750 | $97,740 | 120 | 1.24 |
| South Carolina | $59,800 | $30,580 | $79,190 | 170 | 0.39 |
| Tennessee | $59,550 | $44,210 | $77,900 | 330 | 0.52 |
| Texas | $65,680 | $39,090 | $94,410 | 2,010 | 0.75 |
| Utah | $58,230 | $50,630 | $93,410 | 110 | 0.33 |
| Vermont | $79,000 | $66,350 | $89,860 | 70 | 1.21 |
| Virginia | $77,570 | $50,350 | $122,530 | 650 | 0.84 |
| Washington | $86,580 | $65,240 | $125,040 | 820 | 1.22 |
| Wisconsin | $60,870 | $46,580 | $82,200 | 240 | 0.44 |
| Wyoming | $52,100 | $45,300 | $61,980 | 80 | 1.43 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for special education teachers, preschool
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for special education teachers, preschool
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Special Education and Teaching, General CIP 13.1001
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness CIP 13.1003
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances CIP 13.1005
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities CIP 13.1006
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities CIP 13.1007
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments CIP 13.1008
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness CIP 13.1009
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities CIP 13.1011
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments CIP 13.1012
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism CIP 13.1013
- Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed CIP 13.1014
- Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs CIP 13.1015
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries CIP 13.1016
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- American Sign Language Browser
- Children's educational software
- Drawing software
- Email software
- Screen magnification software
- Screen reader software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: 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, Special Needs Teacher, SPED Preschool Teacher (Special Education Preschool Teacher).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do special education teachers, preschool make?
The national median annual wage for special education teachers, preschool was $64,830 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $45,620 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $130,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do special education teachers, preschool need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is special education teachers, preschool a growing career?
BLS projects employment of special education teachers, preschool to change +2.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay special education teachers, preschool the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($99,070), New Jersey ($92,060), Connecticut ($87,960). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.