Special Education Teacher, Preschool Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Special Education Teachers, Preschool — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$64,830
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$31.17
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$130,040
entry level starts ~$45,620
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 30,000 employed

How much does a Special Education Teacher, Preschool make?

A Special Education Teacher, Preschool earns a median annual salary of $64,830 in the United States, which works out to roughly $31.17 per hour for full-time work. Most Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn between $45,620 at the entry level and $130,040 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $52,210 and $91,660 a year.

That is $3,440 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Special Education Teacher, Preschool salary range by percentile

Half of all Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn between $52,210 and $91,660 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$45,620$21.93
25th percentile (early career)$52,210$25.10
50th percentile (median)$64,830$31.17
75th percentile (experienced)$91,660$44.07
90th percentile (top earners)$130,040$62.52

Highest-paying states for Special Education Teacher, Preschool

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Massachusetts leads the country for Special Education Teacher, Preschool pay at $99,070 a year, followed by New Jersey ($92,060) and Connecticut ($87,960). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $35,580 — a gap of $63,490 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Massachusetts$99,070$47.63+53%
2New Jersey$92,060$44.26+42%
3Connecticut$87,960$42.29+36%
4Washington$86,580$41.63+34%
5Maryland$85,010$40.87+31%

Workforce and education

About 30,000 people work as Special Education Teachers, Preschool in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $76,380 — 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

How much does a Special Education Teacher, Preschool make in the United States?
The median Special Education Teacher, Preschool salary in the United States is $64,830 per year, or about $31.17 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $45,620, while the top 10% of earners make $130,040 or more.
How does Special Education Teacher, Preschool pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Special Education Teacher, Preschool median of $64,830 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Special Education Teachers, Preschool the most?
Massachusetts is the highest-paying state for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, with a median salary of $99,070 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Special Education Teacher, Preschool?
Becoming a Special Education Teacher, Preschool typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Special Education Teachers, Preschool work in the United States?
About 30,000 people were employed as Special Education Teachers, Preschool in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.