How much do Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School make?
The median pay for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the United States is $65,120 per year — about $31.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $49,350, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $103,010.
That is $3,730 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary range by percentile
Half of all Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School earn between $59,710 and $80,280 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,350 | $23.73 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $59,710 | $28.71 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $65,120 | $31.31 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,280 | $38.60 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,010 | $49.52 |
Highest-paying states for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay at $97,910 a year, followed by California ($97,170) and Washington ($95,040). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $50,380 — a gap of $47,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $97,910 | $47.07 | +50% |
| 2 | California | $97,170 | $46.72 | +49% |
| 3 | Washington | $95,040 | $45.69 | +46% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $91,350 | $43.92 | +40% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $84,300 | $40.53 | +29% |
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary 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 261,000 people work as Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $72,650 — 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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