Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for special education teachers, secondary school is $74,260, or — per hour. About 163,930 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $101,120 in Washington to $51,970 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $101,120 | — | 2,510 | 0.67 |
| 2 | California | $101,060 | — | 12,100 | 0.63 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $99,670 | — | 440 | 0.60 |
| 4 | Maryland | $93,530 | — | 1,560 | 0.53 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $92,990 | — | 830 | 1.58 |
| 6 | New York | $89,310 | — | 15,250 | 1.49 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $83,890 | — | 5,470 | 1.43 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $83,770 | — | 7,520 | 1.66 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $81,710 | — | 1,920 | 1.07 |
| 10 | Alaska | $80,580 | — | 590 | 1.71 |
| 11 | Illinois | $79,890 | — | 9,490 | 1.48 |
| 12 | Vermont | $79,360 | — | 660 | 2.06 |
| 13 | Delaware | $78,490 | — | 1,160 | 2.27 |
| 14 | Michigan | $78,050 | — | 2,570 | 0.55 |
| 15 | Oregon | $77,400 | — | 1,240 | 0.60 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $77,000 | — | 11,040 | 1.73 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $76,940 | — | 2,150 | 2.35 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $76,600 | — | 4,130 | 1.33 |
| 19 | Ohio | $76,180 | — | 10,580 | 1.81 |
| 20 | Georgia | $74,150 | — | 4,090 | 0.79 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $69,560 | — | 910 | 1.26 |
| 22 | Virginia | $68,400 | — | 6,380 | 1.47 |
| 23 | Colorado | $67,240 | — | 2,970 | 0.98 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $65,980 | — | 800 | 1.22 |
| 25 | Texas | $64,830 | — | 10,200 | 0.69 |
| 26 | Arizona | $64,300 | — | 1,960 | 0.57 |
| 27 | Utah | $64,210 | — | 1,220 | 0.67 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $63,520 | — | 3,350 | 1.08 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $63,460 | — | 1,240 | 1.15 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $62,750 | — | 350 | 1.18 |
| 31 | Montana | $62,310 | — | 480 | 0.88 |
| 32 | Alabama | $62,210 | — | 740 | 0.33 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $62,150 | — | 1,780 | 0.73 |
| 34 | Maine | $61,710 | — | 860 | 1.27 |
| 35 | Florida | $61,510 | — | 7,940 | 0.76 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $61,360 | — | 2,010 | 0.58 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $61,210 | — | 520 | 1.16 |
| 38 | Indiana | $61,130 | — | 2,580 | 0.76 |
| 39 | Nevada | $60,810 | — | 350 | 0.21 |
| 40 | Iowa | $60,780 | — | 1,570 | 0.96 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $60,730 | — | 2,680 | 1.27 |
| 42 | Kansas | $60,700 | — | 1,650 | 1.09 |
| 43 | Idaho | $60,700 | — | 470 | 0.52 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $59,660 | — | 2,020 | 1.12 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $59,100 | — | 3,160 | 1.55 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $57,000 | — | 1,280 | 0.93 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $56,770 | — | 3,400 | 0.65 |
| 48 | Missouri | $55,920 | — | 2,760 | 0.89 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $55,390 | — | 840 | 1.14 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $54,810 | — | 500 | 1.03 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $51,970 | — | 1,670 | 1.36 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do special education teachers, secondary school make?
The median annual wage for special education teachers, secondary school in the United States is $74,260, or — per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $49,800, and the top 10% earn $109,100.
How many special education teachers, secondary school are employed in the U.S.?
About 163,930 people work as special education teachers, secondary school nationwide.
Which state pays special education teachers, secondary school the most?
Washington pays the most at a median of $101,120, followed by California ($101,060) and District of Columbia ($99,670).
Which state pays special education teachers, secondary school the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $51,970.
Where are special education teachers, secondary school jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is New Mexico at 2.35×.