How much does a Special Education Teacher, Middle School make?
The median pay for a Special Education Teacher, Middle School in the United States is $66,810 per year — about $32.12 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $49,420, while the most experienced Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the top 10% earn $102,510.
That is $5,420 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Special Education Teacher, Middle School salary range by percentile
Half of all Special Education Teachers, Middle School earn between $60,000 and $82,800 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,420 | $23.76 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $60,000 | $28.85 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $66,810 | $32.12 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $82,800 | $39.81 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,510 | $49.28 |
Highest-paying states for Special Education Teacher, Middle School
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Special Education Teacher, Middle School pay at $101,530 a year, followed by Washington ($99,520) and Rhode Island ($93,970). At the other end, Missouri posts the lowest median at $50,370 — a gap of $51,160 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $101,530 | $48.81 | +52% |
| 2 | Washington | $99,520 | $47.85 | +49% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $93,970 | $45.18 | +41% |
| 4 | New York | $93,820 | $45.11 | +40% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $92,900 | $44.66 | +39% |
Special Education Teacher, Middle School salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 95,000 people work as Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $73,780 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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