Special Education Teachers, Middle School · Illinois

Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary in Illinois

Special Education Teachers, Middle School in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $74,730 —11.9% above the national median of $66,810. That ranks IL #16 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$74,730
Median hourly
—
Entry level (P10)
$49,660
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$102,200
90th percentile
Employment
4,460
0.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+11.9%
U.S. $66,810

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$49,660
$60,600
$74,730
$86,700
$49,660$74,730$102,200
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $74,730.

Employment is 1.19× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for special education teachers, middle school

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$101,530—4,8600.44
2Washington$99,520—1,5500.71
3Rhode Island$93,970—3801.24
4New York$93,820—7,8701.33
5Connecticut$92,900—1,2601.21
6Massachusetts$84,550—3,1101.40
7Alaska$81,000—2000.99
8District of Columbia$79,170—5201.21
9New Jersey$79,110—5,6602.16
10Utah$78,920—6900.65

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do special education teachers, middle school make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for special education teachers, middle school in Illinois is $74,730, or — per hour. That is 11.9% above the national median of $66,810.

What is the entry-level special education teachers, middle school salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $49,660 per year (—/hour). The 25th percentile is $60,600.

How many people work as special education teachers, middle school in Illinois?

About 4,460 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for special education teachers, middle school?

Illinois ranks #16 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.19x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays special education teachers, middle school the most?

California has the highest median wage at $101,530 per year, followed by Washington ($99,520) and Rhode Island ($93,970).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes