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Special Education Teacher Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Special Education Teacher make? The median Special Education Teacher salary in the US is about $71,377 per year (roughly $34.00 an hour), across 260,890 jobs (Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $50,380 in West Virginia to $97,910 in District of Columbia. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Special Education Teacher salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| District of Columbia | $97,910 | 1,070 |
| California | $97,170 | 23,280 |
| Washington | $95,040 | 3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $91,350 | 7,220 |
| Rhode Island | $84,300 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $82,950 | 2,810 |
| New York | $81,260 | 21,130 |
| Alaska | $80,230 | 320 |
| Maryland | $78,850 | 2,760 |
| Illinois | $77,960 | 14,040 |
| Oregon | $77,700 | 1,520 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 | 11,610 |
| New Mexico | $76,420 | 880 |
| Michigan | $74,600 | 4,010 |
| Colorado | $74,290 | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $74,200 | 770 |
| Ohio | $73,970 | 9,550 |
| Georgia | $72,880 | 9,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,680 | 7,640 |
| Virginia | $67,740 | 7,440 |
| Minnesota | $67,620 | 3,960 |
| Delaware | $65,990 | 1,070 |
| New Hampshire | $65,160 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $65,110 | 430 |
| Alabama | $64,520 | 870 |
| Idaho | $63,610 | 620 |
| Tennessee | $62,560 | 3,910 |
| Nebraska | $62,420 | 1,900 |
| South Carolina | $62,360 | 2,950 |
| Texas | $62,330 | 56,760 |
| Maine | $61,880 | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $61,520 | 4,280 |
| Utah | $61,290 | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $60,940 | 1,270 |
| Wyoming | $60,930 | 650 |
| Iowa | $60,440 | 2,560 |
| Kentucky | $60,060 | 3,710 |
| Kansas | $59,970 | 1,610 |
| Florida | $58,850 | 8,740 |
| Louisiana | $58,800 | 4,000 |
| Indiana | $58,760 | 3,640 |
| North Carolina | $58,260 | 4,430 |
| North Dakota | $57,950 | 590 |
| Montana | $57,630 | 560 |
| Missouri | $57,260 | 2,860 |
| Arizona | $56,030 | 2,450 |
| Arkansas | $54,290 | 1,430 |
| South Dakota | $51,090 | 790 |
| Oklahoma | $50,630 | 2,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,570 | 2,530 |
| West Virginia | $50,380 | 1,690 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Special Education Teacher make?
- A Special Education Teacher makes a median of about $71,377 per year in the US (roughly $34.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $50,380 in West Virginia to $97,910 in District of Columbia depending on the state.
- What is the average Special Education Teacher salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Special Education Teacher salary in the US is about $71,377 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 260,890 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Special Education Teachers the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median Special Education Teacher salary at $97,910 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Special Education Teachers the least?
- West Virginia has the lowest median at $50,380 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School, code 25-2052). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.