Special Education Teacher: career path and pay in the US
Where a Special Education Teacher goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Special Education Teacher to Special Education Coordinator / Director of Special Education.
Also for the United Kingdom: Special Education Teacher in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Special Education Teacher
$70K to $105K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Special Education License/Certification - US, SEN (Special Educational Needs) Qualification - UK/EU, Teaching License/Certification - US.
Step 2 · 3 to 10 years
Special Education Teacher / Senior Special Education Teacher
$80K to $120K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Special Education License/Certification - US, SEN Qualification - UK/EU, Teaching License/Certification - US, Advanced Special Education Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 10+ years
Special Education Coordinator / Director of Special Education
$90K to $135K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Special Education License/Certification - US, SEN Qualification - UK/EU, Teaching License/Certification - US, M.Ed. (preferred) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$70K to $105K → $90K to $135K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Special Education Teacher ($42.74); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. The published figure for Senior Special Education Teacher sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it. The published figure for Special Education Coordinator sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school 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.
O*NET does not rate Special Education Teachers, All Other separately; the profile shown is for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, the nearest rated occupation.
Skills that matter most
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- Administrative
Education people bring
- Bachelor's Degree: 42%
- Master's Degree: 42%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: 15%
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Other paths from here
- Special Education Coordinator
- Director of Special Education
- Education Consultant
- Principal
More Education paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, Special Education Teachers, Elementary School, Special Education Teachers, Middle School, Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Teaching Assistants, Special Education.
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.