Special Education Teacher Salary and Job Outlook

Your special education salary will depend on the location and type of school in which you choose to make your living. A public school position will offer a package complete with paid summer vacations and a pension.

However, the details will depend upon the city and the type of school in which you teach. In general, suburban schools pay more than urban or inner-city schools, but it can be harder to find jobs in the higher paying districts.

Teachers holding special ed endorsements don't generally make higher salaries than those in traditional classrooms, but some districts do pay a bit more.

Like other teachers, if you are seeking a position at the high end of the salary spectrum, you'll need to build up experience and earn an advanced degree, most likely in a specialized area of special ed.

Administrators and curriculum coordinators tend to earn more than classroom teachers and aides, so if you want to eventually bring in a six-figure salary, you'll need to work toward an administration position.

The highest-paying states for special education salaries in secondary school are the following:

• Connecticut – $71,670
• New York – $70,010
• Rhode Island – $68,930
• California – $67,390
• New Jersey – $66,790
• Virginia – $66,250
• Alaska – $65,940
• Maryland – $62,370
• Illinois – $60,320
• Massachusetts – $59,000

_{*Average annual salary, BLS 2009}

If you want to make special education salaries like these, get the best teacher training you can find in our extensive directory of great teacher education schools.

Elementary School Special Ed

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2009 the average annual special education salary in elementary schools and preschools was $53,770. Although entry-level positions can start in the low 30s, the top 10 percent of special ed teachers earned more than $79,850.

Middle School Special Ed

During that same year, middle school special education teachers averaged a similar salary of about $54,750, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $79,820.

High School Special Ed

High school special education teachers earn a similar salary to middle school teachers. The average full-time special education teacher salary in 2009 was $56,420. However, the top 10 percent earned more than $83,500, which is almost twice as much as the average full-time worker.

Special Education Administration

Because administrative positions require advanced degrees, such as a master's or a doctorate, and a substantial amount of field experience, these positions pay more than classroom teaching.

According to the BLS, elementary and secondary public school administrators earned an average salary of $87,390 in 2009, with the top 10 percent earning $124,820. For more information on school administration positions, see our school leadership resource center.

As you can see, special education salaries can be very respectable, and provide for a good living.

Something else to keep in mind is that most classroom teaching positions come with the added benefit of lengthy summer vacations, during which you can travel or supplement your income with a summer job (either teaching or something completely different).

And don't forget, you will enjoy winter and spring breaks, a pension plan, comprehensive health care and life insurance benefits, and supplemental pay for working with students in extracurricular activities.

The BLS projects that more and more students will require special education, as learning disabilities continue to be identified at earlier ages. As the number of students who need special education services increase, so does the demand for special education teachers.

In fact, the BLS calculates that the number of special education teaching positions will increase by 8 percent from 2008 to 2018. This increase in demand is aided by the retirement of current special education teachers. Many school districts are already experiencing special ed teacher shortages, so job prospects in the area are already proving strong.

Like other teacher salaries, a special education teacher salary depends on your teaching degree, experience and job location.

By researching your options and finding the career that's right for you, you can secure a well-paying and emotionally rewarding position.