Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School earn a median $65,120 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$65,120
$31.31 per hour
Range
$49,350 – $103,010
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
260,870
across the U.S.
▲3.4%
Pay trend: The median for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the U.S. rose from $63,000 (May 2024) to $65,120 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.0%.
What special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school do
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 16,400
Employment of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school is projected to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 16,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$54,504
per year · effective tax rate 16.3%
$4,542Monthly
$2,271Twice a month
$2,096Every 2 weeks
$26.20Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,634
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,037
- Medicare (1.45%)$944
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$54,504
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,350 | $23.73 | $41,833 |
| 25th percentile | $59,710 | $28.71 | $50,157 |
| Median (50th) | $65,120 | $31.31 | $54,504 |
| 75th percentile | $80,280 | $38.60 | $65,307 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,010 | $49.52 | $81,298 |
Best cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $97,410 | $72,707 | $67,156 | 4,980 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,290 | $75,970 | $65,711 | 3,440 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $91,840 | $67,934 | $63,823 | 3,140 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 | $70,999 | $62,518 | 6,410 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $91,610 | $68,913 | $61,222 | 22,270 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,960 | $60,252 | $60,217 | 5,860 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $64,000 | $53,604 | $59,618 | 2,380 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $79,690 | $61,092 | $58,972 | 11,210 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,290 | $58,812 | $57,348 | 5,660 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $79,880 | $61,204 | $56,211 | 5,110 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $65,080 | $54,472 | $55,229 | 12,680 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $62,230 | $52,182 | $55,093 | 3,670 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $64,830 | $54,271 | $52,644 | 15,810 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $60,750 | $50,993 | $51,998 | 6,190 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $53,250 | $44,966 | $39,391 | 4,240 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $105,290
- Boston, MA — $97,410
- Los Angeles, CA — $96,970
- Riverside, CA — $91,840
- New York, NY — $91,610
- Washington, DC — $79,880
- Chicago, IL — $79,690
- Atlanta, GA — $77,960
- Philadelphia, PA — $74,290
- Houston, TX — $65,080
- Dallas, TX — $64,830
- El Paso, TX — $64,000
- San Antonio, TX — $62,230
- Austin, TX — $60,750
- Miami, FL — $53,250
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $97,910 | +18.8% | $72,356 | $65,450 – $128,370 | 1,070 |
| California | $97,170 | +7.3% | $71,119 | $63,180 – $123,590 | 23,280 |
| Washington | $95,040 | +11.4% | $75,691 | $65,950 – $126,570 | 3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $91,350 | +15.9% | $68,747 | $61,200 – $127,210 | 7,220 |
| Rhode Island | $84,300 | +8.2% | $65,591 | $60,420 – $98,170 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $82,950 | +2.1% | $64,198 | $58,560 – $107,040 | 2,810 |
| New York | $81,260 | +0.6% | $62,205 | $59,460 – $133,280 | 21,130 |
| Alaska | $80,230 | +3.9% | $65,272 | $58,690 – $97,820 | 320 |
| Maryland | $78,850 | +4.4% | $60,919 | $60,720 – $121,310 | 2,760 |
| Illinois | $77,960 | +2.4% | $59,961 | $49,790 – $104,490 | 14,040 |
| Oregon | $77,700 | −0.8% | $57,523 | $58,620 – $105,820 | 1,520 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 | +1.3% | $60,067 | $61,710 – $103,680 | 11,610 |
| New Mexico | $76,420 | +14.9% | $60,165 | $58,110 – $100,460 | 880 |
| Michigan | $74,600 | −1.2% | $58,391 | $48,720 – $100,370 | 4,010 |
| Colorado | $74,290 | +17.0% | $58,533 | $50,700 – $98,480 | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $74,200 | +17.4% | $58,593 | $49,730 – $97,620 | 770 |
| Ohio | $73,970 | +15.5% | $59,616 | $46,870 – $99,490 | 9,550 |
| Georgia | $72,880 | +7.6% | $56,941 | $49,510 – $98,750 | 9,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,680 | +12.6% | $57,729 | $51,730 – $98,170 | 7,640 |
| Virginia | $67,740 | +4.2% | $53,404 | $50,830 – $101,120 | 7,440 |
| Minnesota | $67,620 | +6.8% | $53,326 | $49,050 – $96,240 | 3,960 |
| Delaware | $65,990 | +11.9% | $52,189 | $51,350 – $95,500 | 1,070 |
| New Hampshire | $65,160 | +4.4% | $54,536 | $44,620 – $89,080 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $65,110 | +2.8% | $54,496 | $47,810 – $93,550 | 430 |
| Alabama | $64,520 | +5.6% | $51,061 | $50,510 – $77,150 | 870 |
| Idaho | $63,610 | +2.3% | $51,028 | $48,670 – $86,370 | 620 |
| Tennessee | $62,560 | +2.4% | $52,447 | $49,860 – $79,360 | 3,910 |
| Nebraska | $62,420 | +2.1% | $50,374 | $47,430 – $79,470 | 1,900 |
| South Carolina | $62,360 | +3.0% | $49,702 | $49,540 – $79,150 | 2,950 |
| Texas | $62,330 | +3.4% | $52,262 | $50,030 – $74,240 | 56,760 |
| Maine | $61,880 | +3.4% | $48,905 | $45,620 – $79,390 | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $61,520 | +2.8% | $49,685 | $47,940 – $79,210 | 4,280 |
| Utah | $61,290 | +4.0% | $49,634 | $37,970 – $100,280 | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $60,940 | +9.3% | $48,044 | $58,730 – $78,760 | 1,270 |
| Wyoming | $60,930 | −4.1% | $51,137 | $52,200 – $77,070 | 650 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | +9.2% | $49,099 | $47,490 – $77,260 | 2,560 |
| Kentucky | $60,060 | +5.2% | $48,454 | $46,070 – $75,560 | 3,710 |
| Kansas | $59,970 | +1.5% | $47,819 | $48,830 – $75,940 | 1,610 |
| Florida | $58,850 | +11.7% | $49,466 | $51,730 – $74,160 | 8,740 |
| Louisiana | $58,800 | +8.1% | $48,048 | $46,690 – $71,620 | 4,000 |
| Indiana | $58,760 | +1.5% | $47,690 | $46,730 – $78,490 | 3,640 |
| North Carolina | $58,260 | +3.4% | $47,176 | $44,720 – $73,990 | 4,430 |
| North Dakota | $57,950 | +0.2% | $48,743 | $47,060 – $77,150 | 590 |
| Montana | $57,630 | −4.3% | $46,534 | $42,890 – $78,930 | 560 |
| Missouri | $57,260 | +9.8% | $46,435 | $43,880 – $83,330 | 2,860 |
| Arizona | $56,030 | +12.6% | $46,008 | $46,400 – $75,420 | 2,450 |
| Arkansas | $54,290 | +5.2% | $43,897 | $49,890 – $63,630 | 1,430 |
| South Dakota | $51,090 | +1.4% | $43,231 | $47,300 – $61,740 | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $50,630 | +3.3% | $41,128 | $43,870 – $73,990 | 2,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,570 | +3.5% | $41,522 | $46,600 – $60,900 | 2,530 |
| West Virginia | $50,380 | +1.2% | $41,123 | $42,890 – $63,460 | 1,690 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $66,810 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $74,260 | Bachelor's degree | -0.2% |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $76,580 | Bachelor's degree | +1.9% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $65,030 | Bachelor's degree | -0.5% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $66,270 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,680 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | Bachelor's degree | -0.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make?
The national median salary for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school is $65,120 a year ($31.31 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,350 and the top 10% earn over $103,010. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $97,910. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are there in the U.S.?
About 260,870 people work as special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school nationwide.