Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for special education teachers, preschool in the U.S. is $64,830, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $64,830
- Mean annual wage
- $76,380
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 29,510
29,510 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,620 | — |
| 25th percentile | $52,210 | — |
| Median (50th) | $64,830 | — |
| 75th percentile | $91,660 | — |
| 90th percentile | $130,040 | — |
Highest-paying states for special education teachers, preschool
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $99,070 | 710 |
| New Jersey | $92,060 | 1,720 |
| Connecticut | $87,960 | 380 |
| Washington | $86,580 | 820 |
| Maryland | $85,010 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,510 | 490 |
| Alaska | $80,390 | 110 |
| Vermont | $79,000 | 70 |
| Colorado | $78,040 | 810 |
| Virginia | $77,570 | 650 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $35,580 median annual wage
- Indiana: $48,680 median annual wage
- Idaho: $49,610 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $49,720 median annual wage
- Wyoming: $52,100 median annual wage
About this occupation
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged 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.
Typical tasks
- Prepare assignments for teacher assistants or volunteers.
- Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, or potential.
- Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| Some college, no degree | 3.7% |
| Associate's degree | 2.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 33.6% |
| Master's degree | 51.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 4.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.