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Middle School Special Education Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does a Middle School Special Education Teacher make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Middle School Special Education Teacher in the United States is $54,734 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,994
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,719 to $61,675
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,421
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $46,719 10% $39,421 90% $67,994 75% $61,675 $54,734 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Middle School Special Education Teacher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,675 $5,140 $1,186 $30
Average $54,734 $4,561 $1,053 $26
25th Percentile $46,719 $3,893 $898 $22
Check out Middle School Special Education Teacher Job Openings in the United States
Middle School Math Teacher

ACCEL Schools - Columbus, OH

Middle School Spanish Teacher (Long-Term Substitute)

Columbus Academy - Columbus, OH

Special Education Teacher

The Learning Spectrum - Columbus, OH

'26/'27 Special Education Teacher at KCE

Phalen Leadership Academies - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Middle School Special Education Teacher Salaries

A Middle School Special Education 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Middle School Special Education Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Middle School Special Education 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): $51,517
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,763
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,734
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $57,592
  • Expert (over 8 years): $57,796
Levels Salary
Entry Level Middle School Special Education Teacher$51,517
Intermediate Level Middle School Special Education Teacher$51,763
Senior Level Middle School Special Education Teacher$54,734
Specialist Level Middle School Special Education Teacher$57,592
Expert Level Middle School Special Education Teacher$57,796
$51,517 0 yr
$51,763 < 2 yrs
$54,734 2-4 yrs
$57,592 5-8 yrs
$57,796 > 8 yrs
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View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Middle School Special Education Teacher 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 Middle School Special Education Teachers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $60,602.
  • California: $60,372.
  • Massachusetts: $59,567.

Top Paying Cities for Middle School Special Education 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: $69,036
  • San Francisco: $68,281
  • Oakland: $66,842

What Skills Can Increase a Middle School Special Education Teacher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.13% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Special Education (Mentioned in 5.55% Job Postings): Special education is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs.
  • Physical Education (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.13%
Special Education 5.55%
Physical Education 2.46%
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 Middle School Special Education Teacher's salary.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Physical Education: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability
 $58,018
6%
Collaboration
 $57,471
5%
Physical Education
 $56,376
3%
Analysis
 $55,829
2%
Coaching
 $55,829
2%
Dedication
 $55,829
2%
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Middle School Special Education Teacher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Middle School Special Education Teacher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Middle School Special Education Teacher positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Middle School Special Education Teacher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Middle School Special Education Teacher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$65,681$32.020%
Software & Networking$65,681$32.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$60,208$29.010%

How Education impacts a Middle School Special Education Teacher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Middle School Special Education Teachers 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 Middle School Special Education Teacher with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,827 and $60,665).

Middle School Special Education Teacher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Middle School Special Education Teacher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 45.4%
Masters 46.3%
Doctorate 3.4%
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Middle School Special Education Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Middle School Special Education 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$46,719
Average $54,734/year
$61,675
$3,893
Average $4,561/month
$5,140
$898
Average $1,053/week
$1,186
$22
Average $26/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $61,675 $5,140 $1,186 $30
Average $54,734 $4,561 $1,053 $26
25th Percentile $46,719 $3,893 $898 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Middle School Special Education Teacher

Salary Trends for Middle School Special Education Teacher

Salaries for a Middle School Special Education Teacher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,251 in 2023 to around $54,034 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Middle School Special Education Teacher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Middle School Special Education Teacher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$55,251
2024
$54,473
2025
$54,034
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $55,251
2024 $54,473
2025 $54,034
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Middle School Special Education Teacher

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Middle School Special Education Teacher

Here are companies hiring for Middle School Special Education Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Middle School Special Education Teacher Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Middle School Special Education Teacher job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Columbus Academy

    Columbus, OH

    Upper School Physical Education Teacher

    Columbus Academy | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Upper School Physical Education Intern Teacher (part-time). 2026-27. Position Description. Columbus Academy seeks a part-... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    20 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    Regional Truck Driver Company

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    22 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    22 Days Ago

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FAQ about Middle School Special Education Teacher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Middle School Special Education Teacher?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Middle School Special Education Teacher roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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