What is the average Special Education Teacher salary in the US?

The national median Special Education Teacher salary is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $48,000, while senior professionals earn $108,000 or more.

Which city pays Special Education Teachers the most?

San Francisco offers the highest median Special Education Teacher salary at $85K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Special Education Teacher salaries growing?

Special Education Teacher salaries are growing at 3.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Education8% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Special Education Teacher Salary
by City (2026)

Educate students with physical, emotional, cognitive, and learning disabilities. National median: $65K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$65K

Top 10% earn

$108K

Entry level

$48K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Special Education Teacher salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$62K	$85K	$109K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$61K	$83K	$108K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$60K	$81K	$105K	152	8.5%
Oakland, CA	$59K	$79K	$102K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$58K	$78K	$101K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$57K	$77K	$99K	162	10.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$55K	$75K	$97K	163	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$55K	$75K	$97K	120	5%
Arlington, VA	$55K	$75K	$97K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$55K	$75K	$97K	155	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$54K	$73K	$94K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$54K	$73K	$94K	150	None ✓
Philadelphia, PA	$53K	$72K	$92K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$53K	$72K	$92K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$53K	$72K	$92K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$53K	$72K	$92K	192	11%
Sacramento, CA	$52K	$70K	$91K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$52K	$70K	$91K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$52K	$70K	$91K	130	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$52K	$70K	$91K	128	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$50K	$68K	$88K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$50K	$68K	$88K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$50K	$68K	$88K	118	4.55%
Durham, NC	$50K	$68K	$88K	100	4.75%
Madison, WI	$50K	$68K	$88K	102	5.3%
Minneapolis, MN	$50K	$68K	$88K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$50K	$68K	$88K	104	6.8%
Austin, TX	$49K	$66K	$86K	110	None ✓
Raleigh, NC	$49K	$66K	$86K	102	4.75%
Plano, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$48K	$65K	$84K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$48K	$65K	$84K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	6.85%
Miami, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	123	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$48K	$65K	$84K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$48K	$65K	$84K	162	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$48K	$65K	$84K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$48K	$65K	$84K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$48K	$65K	$84K	99	5.75%
Columbus, GA	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$48K	$65K	$84K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$48K	$65K	$84K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	5%
Greensboro, NC	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$48K	$65K	$84K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$48K	$65K	$84K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$48K	$65K	$84K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$48K	$65K	$84K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	4.85%
West Valley City, UT	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	5%
North Charleston, SC	$48K	$65K	$84K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$48K	$65K	$84K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$48K	$65K	$84K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$48K	$65K	$84K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$48K	$65K	$84K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$65K	$84K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$48K	$65K	$84K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$48K	$65K	$84K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$48K	$65K	$84K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$48K	$65K	$84K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$48K	$65K	$84K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$48K	$65K	$84K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$48K	$65K	$84K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$48K	$65K	$84K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$48K	$65K	$84K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$48K	$65K	$84K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$48K	$65K	$84K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$48K	$65K	$84K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$48K	$65K	$84K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$48K	$65K	$84K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$48K	$65K	$84K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$48K	$65K	$84K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$48K	$65K	$84K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$48K	$65K	$84K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$48K	$65K	$84K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$48K	$65K	$84K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$48K	$65K	$84K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$65K	$84K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$48K	$65K	$84K	165	5.75%
Houston, TX	$47K	$64K	$82K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$48K	$64K	$83K	96	None ✓
Irving, TX	$47K	$64K	$82K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$47K	$64K	$82K	108	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$47K	$64K	$82K	90	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$47K	$64K	$82K	102	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$47K	$64K	$82K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$47K	$64K	$82K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$47K	$64K	$82K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$47K	$64K	$82K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$47K	$64K	$82K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$47K	$64K	$82K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$47K	$64K	$82K	90	3.99%
Fort Worth, TX	$47K	$63K	$81K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$47K	$63K	$81K	94	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$46K	$62K	$81K	87	None ✓
Garland, TX	$46K	$62K	$81K	91	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$46K	$62K	$80K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$46K	$62K	$80K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$46K	$62K	$81K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$46K	$62K	$81K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$46K	$62K	$80K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$46K	$62K	$80K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$46K	$62K	$81K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$46K	$62K	$80K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$46K	$62K	$80K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$46K	$62K	$81K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$46K	$62K	$80K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$46K	$62K	$81K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$46K	$62K	$80K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$46K	$62K	$81K	108	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$62K	$80K	88	5%
Charleston, SC	$46K	$62K	$81K	105	6.5%
Fresno, CA	$44K	$60K	$77K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$44K	$60K	$77K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$44K	$60K	$77K	90	2.5%
Cleveland, OH	$44K	$60K	$77K	82	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$44K	$60K	$77K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$44K	$60K	$77K	90	4.25%
Louisville, KY	$44K	$60K	$77K	85	5%
Columbia, SC	$44K	$60K	$77K	88	6.5%
Des Moines, IA	$44K	$60K	$77K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$44K	$60K	$77K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$43K	$59K	$76K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$43K	$59K	$76K	84	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$43K	$59K	$76K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$43K	$59K	$76K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$43K	$59K	$76K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$43K	$59K	$76K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$43K	$59K	$76K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$42K	$57K	$74K	78	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$42K	$57K	$74K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$42K	$57K	$74K	82	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$42K	$57K	$74K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$42K	$57K	$74K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$42K	$57K	$74K	82	4.9%
Tulsa, OK	$41K	$56K	$72K	80	4.75%
Laredo, TX	$41K	$55K	$71K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $65K Special Education Teacher salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Special Education Teacher Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Special Education Teacher is $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $48,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $84,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Special Education Teachers nationally earn $108,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Special Education; state certification. This role is 8% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Special Education Teacher compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Special Education Teacher Salaryby City (2026)