Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in the U.S.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the U.S. earn a median of $66,810 a year, based on BLS data for 95,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,510 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $73,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for special education teachers, middle school in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,420 |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 |
| Median | $66,810 |
| 75th percentile | $82,800 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,510 |
| Average (mean) | $73,780 |
Half of special education teachers, middle school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,567.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,783.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,569.62 |
| Weekly | $1,284.81 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because special education teachers, middle school are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $101,530 | 4,860 |
| Washington | $99,520 | 1,550 |
| Rhode Island | $93,970 | 380 |
| New York | $93,820 | 7,870 |
| Connecticut | $92,900 | 1,260 |
| Massachusetts | $84,550 | 3,110 |
| Alaska | $81,000 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $79,170 | 520 |
| New Jersey | $79,110 | 5,660 |
| Utah | $78,920 | 690 |
| Oregon | $78,360 | 590 |
| Delaware | $77,420 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $77,040 | 3,710 |
| Maryland | $76,410 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $76,040 | 1,410 |
| Illinois | $74,730 | 4,460 |
| Ohio | $74,590 | 7,540 |
| New Mexico | $74,440 | 1,090 |
| Vermont | $73,110 | 470 |
| Georgia | $70,550 | 3,740 |
| New Hampshire | $66,760 | 650 |
| Colorado | $66,130 | 2,020 |
| Wisconsin | $65,840 | 2,650 |
| Montana | $63,960 | 190 |
| Virginia | $63,820 | 3,000 |
| Minnesota | $63,630 | 1,930 |
| Iowa | $63,590 | 990 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | 680 |
| Maine | $63,440 | 310 |
| Texas | $63,360 | 12,580 |
| Nevada | $63,280 | 290 |
| Alabama | $62,850 | 460 |
| Wyoming | $62,770 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $62,310 | 980 |
| Arizona | $62,130 | 580 |
| Hawaii | $61,750 | 380 |
| Florida | $60,440 | 2,630 |
| Kentucky | $60,200 | 1,530 |
| Idaho | $60,170 | 300 |
| Tennessee | $60,000 | 1,310 |
| Kansas | $59,780 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $59,420 | 1,130 |
| North Carolina | $59,360 | 2,470 |
| Indiana | $58,900 | 1,070 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,270 | 950 |
| North Dakota | $57,680 | 200 |
| Arkansas | $56,830 | 750 |
| West Virginia | $56,440 | 1,080 |
| South Dakota | $51,360 | 310 |
| Mississippi | $50,750 | 1,020 |
| Oklahoma | $50,450 | 930 |
| Missouri | $50,370 | 1,050 |
Best-paying metro areas for special education teachers, middle school
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,070 | 360 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $110,850 | 350 |
| Fresno, CA | $104,540 | 80 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $104,450 | 50 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $103,880 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,580 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $101,560 | 2,030 |
| Bellingham, WA | $101,120 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $100,840 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,350 | 720 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,190 | 520 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $97,980 | 490 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $97,360 | 390 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $97,000 | n/a |
| Modesto, CA | $96,500 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most special education teachers, middle school
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,330 | $94,740 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,610 | $65,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,190 | $77,840 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,780 | $78,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,540 | $77,050 |
| Cleveland, OH | 2,490 | $79,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,200 | $77,750 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,150 | $81,620 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,030 | $101,560 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,760 | $65,970 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,470 | $63,660 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,370 | $61,420 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,070 | $62,250 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,000 | $76,400 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 860 | $76,620 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2057. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, middle school make in the U.S.?
The median salary for special education teachers, middle school in the U.S. is $66,810 a year. Pay ranges from $49,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid special education teachers, middle school make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of special education teachers, middle school in the U.S. earn at least $102,510 a year. The top 25% earn $82,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for special education teachers, middle school in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,420 a year, and a quarter of special education teachers, middle school earn $60,000 or less.
How many special education teachers, middle school work in the U.S.?
About 95,200 special education teachers, middle school are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.