Special Education Program Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Special Education Program Specialist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Special Education Program Specialist in the United States is $54,435 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Special Education Program Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,752
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,355 to $61,406
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,820
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View as table View as graph 25% $48,355 10% $42,820 90% $67,752 75% $61,406 $54,435 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Special Education Program Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,406 $5,117 $1,181 $30
Average $54,435 $4,536 $1,047 $26
25th Percentile $48,355 $4,030 $930 $23
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Key Factors That Influence Special Education Program Specialist Salaries

A Special Education Program Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Special Education Program Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Special Education Program Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $53,844
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,013
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,283
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,543
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,776
Levels Salary
Entry Level Special Education Program Specialist$53,844
Intermediate Level Special Education Program Specialist$54,013
Senior Level Special Education Program Specialist$56,283
Specialist Level Special Education Program Specialist$59,543
Expert Level Special Education Program Specialist$59,776
$53,844 0 yr
$54,013 < 2 yrs
$56,283 2-4 yrs
$59,543 5-8 yrs
$59,776 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Special Education Program Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Special Education Program Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $60,270.
  • California: $60,042.
  • Massachusetts: $59,241.

Top Paying Cities for Special Education Program Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $68,659
  • San Francisco: $67,907
  • Oakland: $66,476

What Skills Can Increase a Special Education Program Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.83% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Tutoring (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A Tutor is responsible for helping students learn and understand new concepts and complete assignments.
  • Early Childhood Education (Mentioned in 1.01% Job Postings): Early childhood education, also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.83%
Tutoring 2.26%
Early Childhood Education 1.01%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Special Education Program Specialist's salary.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Client Service
 $59,334
9%
Consulting
 $58,790
8%
Analysis
 $57,701
6%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $56,068
3%
Collaboration
 $55,523
2%
Flexibility
 $55,523
2%
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How Education impacts a Special Education Program Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Special Education Program Specialists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Special Education Program Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $52,077 and $55,563).

Special Education Program Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Special Education Program Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 1.7%
Associates 2.1%
Bachelors 32.5%
Masters 59.3%
Doctorate 4.0%
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Special Education Program Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Special Education Program Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$48,355
Average $54,435/year
$61,406
$4,030
Average $4,536/month
$5,117
$930
Average $1,047/week
$1,181
$23
Average $26/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $61,406 $5,117 $1,181 $30
Average $54,435 $4,536 $1,047 $26
25th Percentile $48,355 $4,030 $930 $23

Salaries of jobs related to Special Education Program Specialist

Salary Trends for Special Education Program Specialist

Salaries for a Special Education Program Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $52,104 in 2023 to around $52,148 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Special Education Program Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Special Education Program Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$52,104
2024
$52,353
2025
$52,148
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $52,104
2024 $52,353
2025 $52,148
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Special Education Program Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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