SOC 252058

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities. Excludes "Substitute Teachers, Short-Term" (25-3031).

National Median

$69,590

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$69,590

Entry Level (10th pct)

$47,930

Experienced (90th pct)

$106,050

Total Employed

162,780

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$47,930 - $58,180
Mid Career2-8 years experience$58,180 - $87,140
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$87,140 - $106,050

Highest Paying Locations for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$108,7901,470
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$103,8001,680
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$103,1504,070
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$102,2501,320
Modesto, CA$102,240170
California$101,25012,190
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$100,640780
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$99,41016,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$98,8901,240
Kingston, NY$98,690180
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$98,630160
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area$98,550120
Merced, CA$97,97090
Washington$97,8202,470
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$97,58080
Fresno, CA$97,300410
Vallejo, CA$97,12090
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$97,11060
District of Columbia$96,880470
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$96,510430
Salinas, CA$96,450110
New York$91,83017,030
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$90,04090
Bellingham, WA$89,99070
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area$89,98040
Rhode Island$89,460750
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$88,720990
Hanford-Corcoran, CA$87,88070
Longview-Kelso, WA$87,84030
Worcester, MA$87,470580
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$86,800210
Barnstable Town, MA$85,860170
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$85,570690
Kennewick-Richland, WA$85,520120
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$84,890350
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$84,18040
Lexington Park, MD$83,88050
Bend, OR$83,78060
Chico, CA$83,70040
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$83,450160
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$82,760620
Massachusetts$82,5804,050
Pittsfield, MA$82,17080
Yakima, WA$82,13090
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$82,080110
Naples-Marco Island, FL$82,070150
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$81,9002,980
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$81,5703,940
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$81,270200
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$80,8406,940

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Special Education Teachers, Secondary School?
The national median annual salary for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School is $69,590, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, with a median salary of $108,790.
How much can an experienced Special Education Teachers, Secondary School make?
Top-earning Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools (90th percentile) make $106,050 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.