Special Needs Teacher Salary in Tacoma, WA

How much does a Special Needs Teacher make in Tacoma, WA?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Special Needs Teacher in Tacoma, WA is $55,556 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Special Needs Teacher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,618
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,328 to $62,917
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,927
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View as table View as graph 25% $46,328 10% $37,927 90% $69,618 75% $62,917 $55,556 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Special Needs Teacher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $62,917 $5,243 $1,210 $30
Average $55,556 $4,630 $1,068 $27
25th Percentile $46,328 $3,861 $891 $22
Check out Special Needs Teacher Job Openings in Tacoma, WA
Special Needs Instructional Assistant

Overlake Hospital Medical Center - Bellevue, WA

Office Assistant Special Needs Unit

Washington State ESD - Seattle, WA

Substitute Bus Safety&amp Special Needs Aide

Liberty School District - Deer Park, WA

Special Needs Support Paraeducator Build Skills

Lake Washington School District - Sammamish, WA

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Key Factors That Influence Special Needs Teacher Salaries

A Special Needs Teacher'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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Special Needs Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Special Needs Teacher'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): $54,659
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,300
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $58,033
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,253
  • Expert (over 8 years): $60,808
Levels Salary
Entry Level Special Needs Teacher$54,659
Intermediate Level Special Needs Teacher$55,300
Senior Level Special Needs Teacher$58,033
Specialist Level Special Needs Teacher$60,253
Expert Level Special Needs Teacher$60,808
$54,659 0 yr
$55,300 < 2 yrs
$58,033 2-4 yrs
$60,253 5-8 yrs
$60,808 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Special Needs Teachers

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: $64,786
  • San Francisco: $64,149
  • Oakland: $62,726

What Skills Can Increase a Special Needs Teacher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Child Development (Mentioned in 1.83% Job Postings): Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
  • Early Childhood Education (Mentioned in 1.59% 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
Analysis 8.08%
Child Development 1.83%
Early Childhood Education 1.59%
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 Needs Teacher's salary.
  • LMS: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Applied Behavior Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Goal Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
LMS
 $60,556
9%
Applied Behavior Analysis
 $58,334
5%
Goal Oriented
 $57,778
4%
Analysis
 $57,778
4%
Coaching
 $57,223
3%
Initiative
 $56,667
2%
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Special Needs Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Special Needs Teacher'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$46,328
Average $55,556/year
$62,917
$3,861
Average $4,630/month
$5,243
$891
Average $1,068/week
$1,210
$22
Average $27/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,917 $5,243 $1,210 $30
Average $55,556 $4,630 $1,068 $27
25th Percentile $46,328 $3,861 $891 $22

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Cost of Living In Tacoma, WA

Cost of Living in Tacoma, WA is
16.5% Higher
than the National Average

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