Special Education Teacher salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A special education teacher earns a median of $74,260 a year in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $77,260. About 163,930 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $74,260
- Gross pay
- $2,856.15
- Federal income tax
- −$288.74
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$177.08
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$41.41
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,348.92
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $74,260
- Federal
- $7,507
- FICA
- $5,681
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $61,072
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Special Education Teacher salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $101,120 | $97,960 | 2,510 |
| California | $101,060 | $102,780 | 12,100 |
| District of Columbia | $99,670 | $101,340 | 440 |
| Maryland | $93,530 | $89,120 | 1,560 |
| Rhode Island | $92,990 | $83,100 | 830 |
| New York | $89,310 | $95,910 | 15,250 |
| Massachusetts | $83,890 | $88,250 | 5,470 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 | $88,760 | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $81,710 | $85,660 | 1,920 |
| Alaska | $80,580 | $81,150 | 590 |
| Illinois | $79,890 | $86,150 | 9,490 |
| Vermont | $79,360 | $75,820 | 660 |
| Delaware | $78,490 | $74,760 | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $78,050 | $77,810 | 2,570 |
| Oregon | $77,400 | $76,330 | 1,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,000 | $76,080 | 11,040 |
| New Mexico | $76,940 | $74,670 | 2,150 |
| Minnesota | $76,600 | $76,720 | 4,130 |
| Ohio | $76,180 | $73,730 | 10,580 |
| Georgia | $74,150 | $73,780 | 4,090 |
| New Hampshire | $69,560 | $74,140 | 910 |
| Virginia | $68,400 | $75,200 | 6,380 |
| Colorado | $67,240 | $74,310 | 2,970 |
| Hawaii | $65,980 | $69,780 | 800 |
| Texas | $64,830 | $66,450 | 10,200 |
| Arizona | $64,300 | $71,690 | 1,960 |
| Utah | $64,210 | $65,640 | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | $63,520 | $66,440 | 3,350 |
| Nebraska | $63,460 | $66,090 | 1,240 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | $65,400 | 350 |
| Montana | $62,310 | $63,830 | 480 |
| Alabama | $62,210 | $63,200 | 740 |
| South Carolina | $62,150 | $66,510 | 1,780 |
| Maine | $61,710 | $64,590 | 860 |
| Florida | $61,510 | $65,290 | 7,940 |
| Tennessee | $61,360 | $61,990 | 2,010 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $62,880 | 520 |
| Indiana | $61,130 | $65,450 | 2,580 |
| Nevada | $60,810 | $63,920 | 350 |
| Iowa | $60,780 | $63,800 | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $60,730 | $60,910 | 2,680 |
| Idaho | $60,700 | $62,100 | 470 |
| Kansas | $60,700 | $61,370 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $59,660 | $60,070 | 2,020 |
| Louisiana | $59,100 | $57,720 | 3,160 |
| Arkansas | $57,000 | $57,110 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $56,770 | $55,540 | 3,400 |
| Missouri | $55,920 | $56,900 | 2,760 |
| West Virginia | $55,390 | $56,350 | 840 |
| South Dakota | $54,810 | $54,290 | 500 |
| Mississippi | $51,970 | $54,230 | 1,670 |
Similar jobs
- Education Teacher: $75,350
- Social Sciences Teacher: $72,990
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher: $75,870
- High School Teacher: $72,040
- Special Education Teacher: $76,580
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher: $76,590
- Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher: $77,270
- Instructional Coordinator: $77,440
BLS occupation: Special Education Teachers, Secondary School. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2058). Excludes the self-employed. BLS publishes annual pay only for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour?
BLS reports annual pay only for this job: a median of $74,260 a year.
Which state pays special education teachers the most?
Washington ($101,120 median), followed by California and District of Columbia.
What is the salary range for a special education teacher?
The bottom 10% earn under $49,800 and the top 10% earn over $109,100 a year.
How much is $74,260 after taxes?
About $61,072 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $57,391 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.