Special Needs Carer Salary in the United States

How much does a Special Needs Carer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Special Needs Carer in the United States is $45,029 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $51,344
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,685 to $48,335
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,730
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered Talent
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $40,685 10% $36,730 90% $51,344 75% $48,335 $45,029 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Special Needs Carer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $48,335 $4,028 $930 $23
Average $45,029 $3,752 $866 $22
25th Percentile $40,685 $3,390 $782 $20
Check out Special Needs Carer Job Openings in the United States
Occupational Therapist

Family Outreach Center for Understanding Special Needs, Inc. (FOCUS) - EAGLE RIVER, AK

Occupational Therapist

Family Outreach Center for Understanding Special Needs, Inc. (FOCUS) - EAGLE RIVER, AK

Special Education Teacher

Telesis Center for Learning, Inc - LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ

Special Education Teacher

Morgan Autism Center - SAN JOSE, CA

Search More Special Needs Carer Jobs in the United States
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Special Needs Carer Salaries

A Special Needs Carer'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 Needs Carer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Special Needs Carer'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): $42,231
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,433
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $44,786
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $46,633
  • Expert (over 8 years): $46,779
Levels Salary
Entry Level Special Needs Carer$42,231
Intermediate Level Special Needs Carer$42,433
Senior Level Special Needs Carer$44,786
Specialist Level Special Needs Carer$46,633
Expert Level Special Needs Carer$46,779
$42,231 0 yr
$42,433 < 2 yrs
$44,786 2-4 yrs
$46,633 5-8 yrs
$46,779 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Special Needs Carer 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 Needs Carers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $49,856.
  • California: $49,667.
  • Massachusetts: $49,005.

Top Paying Cities for Special Needs Carers

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: $56,795
  • San Francisco: $56,237
  • Oakland: $54,990

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 19.15% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Cash Handling (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): Process of receiving and giving money in a business. In retail, cash handling ranges from the point of sale to the behind-the-scenes money management during the day.
  • Sales Support (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): The tasks, roles, and technology that exist within our organization to help our sales force close deals.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 19.15%
Cash Handling 1.76%
Sales Support 1.05%
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 Carer's salary.
  • Sales Lead: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • POS System: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Housekeeping: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Sales Lead
 $48,632
8%
POS System
 $47,281
5%
Housekeeping
 $47,281
5%
Retail Operations
 $46,830
4%
Written Communication
 $46,380
3%
Team Management
 $46,380
3%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Special Needs Carer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Special Needs Carers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Needs Carer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $34,138 and $36,415).

Special Needs Carer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Special Needs Carer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 45.0%
Associates 18.0%
Bachelors 36.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Special Needs Carer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Special Needs Carer'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 January 01, 2026
$40,685
Average $45,029/year
$48,335
$3,390
Average $3,752/month
$4,028
$782
Average $866/week
$930
$20
Average $22/hour
$23
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $48,335 $4,028 $930 $23
Average $45,029 $3,752 $866 $22
25th Percentile $40,685 $3,390 $782 $20

Salaries of jobs related to Special Needs Carer

Salary Trends for Special Needs Carer

Salaries for a Special Needs Carer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,530 in 2023 to around $45,048 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Special Needs Carer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Special Needs Carer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,530
2024
$45,353
2025
$45,048
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,530
2024 $45,353
2025 $45,048
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Special Needs Carer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Special Needs Carer

Here are companies hiring for Special Needs Carer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Special Needs Carer Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst