Adapted Physical Education Specialists
SOC code 25-2059 · O*NET-SOC 25-2059.01 · Considerable preparation needed · Education and library
Adapted Physical Education Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$76,580
a year
Hourly
—
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$79,750
— per hour
Middle 50%
$60,930 – $99,690
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$48,440 – $120,080
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
33,930
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Special Education Teachers, All Other”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $48,440
- —/hr
- 25th percentile
- $60,930
- —/hr
- Median percentile
- $76,580
- —/hr
- 75th percentile
- $99,690
- —/hr
- 90th percentile
- $120,080
- —/hr
What does an adapted physical education specialist do?
Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
- Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
- Write reports to summarize student performance, social growth, or physical development.
- Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
- Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
- Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.
How to become an adapted physical education specialist
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does an adapted physical education specialist earn?
The national median is $76,580 a year. The full range runs from $48,440 at the 10th percentile to $120,080 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an adapted physical education specialist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Learning Strategies4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.8/5
- Psychology4.0/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Administrative3.4/5
- Law and Government3.4/5
- Public Safety and Security3.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation.