The median pay for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $64,830 a year, according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% through 2035, with about 2,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 25-2051
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Special Education Teacher, Preschool in four numbers
- Median pay
- $64,830a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $130K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,00030,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202530.5K
- Projected 203531.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 30.5K Projected 2035 31.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE Teacher), Early Intervention Teacher, Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Preschool SPED Teacher (Preschool Special Education Teacher), Profound Mental Handicaps SPED Teacher (Profound Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher), Severe Mental Handicaps SPED Teacher (Severe Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher).
Pay
How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool make?
Every special education teacher, preschool in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$64,830
Middle half earn $52,210 to $91,660
- 10th
- $45,620
- 25th
- $52,210
- 75th
- $91,660
- 90th
- $130,040
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,620 |
| 25th | $52,210 |
| Median | $64,830 |
| 75th | $91,660 |
| 90th | $130,040 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $64,830
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $76,380
- People employed
- 29,510
Versus all US occupations
At $64,830, Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn 27% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $13,850 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $130,040 or more while the bottom 10% earn $45,620, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 40% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $99,070, and still leads at $93,677 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Special Education Teachers, Preschool the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $99,070 | $93,677 | 710 |
| 2New Jersey | $92,060 | $84,610 | 1,720 |
| 3Connecticut | $87,960 | $84,895 | 380 |
| 4Washington | $86,580 | $80,906 | 820 |
| 5Maryland | $85,010 | $80,994 | 70 |
| 6Pennsylvania | $83,510 | $85,588 | 490 |
| 7Alaska | $80,390 | $78,537 | 110 |
| 8Vermont | $79,000 | $80,647 | 70 |
| 9Colorado | $78,040 | $75,729 | 810 |
| 10Virginia | $77,570 | $76,723 | 650 |
Job outlook
Is Special Education Teacher, Preschool a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | +2.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Special Education Teachers, Preschool to change 2.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,000 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 30,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to decline 0 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Despite declining employment, about 37,100 openings for special education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Declining school enrollments may limit demand for special education teachers. However, these teachers are projected to still have some demand as children with disabilities are identified earlier and are enrolled into special education programs.
Getting in
How to become a Special Education Teacher, Preschool
Special education teachers in public schools are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued certification or license. Private schools typically require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, but the teachers are not required to be licensed or certified.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Special Education Teacher, Preschool do?
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.
Special education teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects to students with mild to moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
- Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Meet with parents or guardians to discuss their children's progress, advise them on using community resources, or teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Special education teachers typically work during school hours. In addition to providing instruction during this time, they grade papers, update students’ records, and prepare lessons. They may meet with parents, students, and other teachers or specialists before and after classes.
Many work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work in summer programs.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Writing3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Instructing3.9
- Service Orientation3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Persuasion3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Instructing | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Device drivers or system software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Special Education Teacher, Preschool?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Special Education Teacher, Preschool |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Social7.0
- Artistic4.0
- Investigative3.5
- Conventional3.2
- Realistic2.7
- Enterprising1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Special Education Teacher, Preschool
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
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Most earn $49K to $105K
−0.1%Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed - Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Elementary School
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with special education teachers, preschool highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Special Education Teacher, Preschool$64,830
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Special Education Teacher, Preschool | $64,830 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Special Education Teacher, Preschool appears on
Questions
Special Education Teacher, Preschool: frequently asked questions
How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool make?
Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn a median of $64,830 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 27% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. The middle half earn between $52,210 and $91,660. The top 10% earn $130,040 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Special Education Teacher, Preschool?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Special Education Teacher, Preschool a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Special Education Teacher, Preschool do?
Special education teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities. A core O*NET task: develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Special Education Teachers, Preschool the most?
The highest state medians for Special Education Teachers, Preschool are Massachusetts ($99,070), New Jersey ($92,060), Connecticut ($87,960) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Special Education Teacher, Preschool?
O*NET scores Special Education Teachers, Preschool highest on the Social, Artistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFP, ESFP, ISFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.