As of May 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Special-Needs Caregiver in the US is $30,194, equivalent to $15 per hour, $581 weekly, or $2,516 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Special-Needs Caregiver in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Special-Needs Caregiver in the US vary widely, spanning from $25,157 to $35,413. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($27,558) and 75th percentile ($32,926), while top earners (90th percentile) make $35,413 per year. This $5,368 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Time Management or Laundry, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Special-Needs Caregiver often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 43 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Special-Needs Caregiver Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Special-Needs Caregiver Salary $25,157 US May 01, 2026
25th Percentile Special-Needs Caregiver Salary $27,558 US May 01, 2026
50th Percentile Special-Needs Caregiver Salary $30,194 US May 01, 2026
75th Percentile Special-Needs Caregiver Salary $32,926 US May 01, 2026
90th Percentile Special-Needs Caregiver Salary $35,413 US May 01, 2026
25% $27,558 10% $25,157 90% $35,413 75% $32,926 $30,194 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Special-Needs Caregiver ?

A caregiver or carer is an unpaid or paid member of a person's social network who helps them with activities of daily living. Caregiving is most commonly used to address impairments related to old age, disability, a disease, or a mental disorder. Typical duties of a caregiver might include taking care of someone who has a chronic illness or disease; managing medications or talking to doctors and nurses on someone's behalf; helping to bathe or dress someone who is frail or disabled; or taking care of household chores, meals, or bills for someone who cannot do these things alone. With an incre...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Special-Needs Caregiver

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
27558
32926
30194

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
36555
44235
39978
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Special-Needs Caregiver in the United States. The base salary for Special-Needs Caregiver ranges from $27,558 to $32,926 with the average base salary of $30,194. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $36,555 to $44,235 with the average total cash compensation of $39,978.

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27558
32926

 

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