Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does an Elementary Special Education Teacher make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Elementary Special Education Teacher in the United States is $53,675 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,740
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,834 to $60,514
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,695
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,834 10% $38,695 90% $66,740 75% $60,514 $53,675 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Elementary Special Education Teacher Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $60,514 $5,043 $1,164 $29
Average $53,675 $4,473 $1,032 $26
25th Percentile $45,834 $3,820 $881 $22
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Key Factors That Influence Elementary Special Education Teacher Salaries

An Elementary 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 Elementary Special Education Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Elementary 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): $50,526
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,127
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,675
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $55,686
  • Expert (over 8 years): $56,189
Levels Salary
Entry Level Elementary Special Education Teacher$50,526
Intermediate Level Elementary Special Education Teacher$51,127
Senior Level Elementary Special Education Teacher$53,675
Specialist Level Elementary Special Education Teacher$55,686
Expert Level Elementary Special Education Teacher$56,189
$50,526 0 yr
$51,127 < 2 yrs
$53,675 2-4 yrs
$55,686 5-8 yrs
$56,189 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Elementary 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: $67,700
  • San Francisco: $66,959
  • Oakland: $65,548

What Skills Can Increase an Elementary Special Education 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 an Elementary Special Education 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
 $58,506
9%
Applied Behavior Analysis
 $56,359
5%
Goal Oriented
 $55,822
4%
Analysis
 $55,822
4%
Coaching
 $55,285
3%
Initiative
 $54,749
2%
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How Education impacts an Elementary Special Education Teacher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Elementary 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 an Elementary Special Education Teacher with a Bachelor's Degree is between $58,261 and $66,637).

Elementary Special Education Teacher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Elementary Special Education Teacher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 2.3%
Associates 3.8%
Bachelors 28.2%
Masters 63.4%
Doctorate 1.1%
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Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Elementary 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 May 01, 2026
$45,834
Average $53,675/year
$60,514
$3,820
Average $4,473/month
$5,043
$881
Average $1,032/week
$1,164
$22
Average $26/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,514 $5,043 $1,164 $29
Average $53,675 $4,473 $1,032 $26
25th Percentile $45,834 $3,820 $881 $22

Salaries of jobs related to Elementary Special Education Teacher

Salary Trends for Elementary Special Education Teacher

Salaries for an Elementary Special Education Teacher can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,095 in 2023 to around $52,903 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Elementary Special Education Teacher salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Elementary Special Education Teacher Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,095
2024
$53,333
2025
$52,903
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,095
2024 $53,333
2025 $52,903
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Elementary Special Education Teacher

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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.)

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

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