Special Education Teachers, Preschool
SOC code 25-2051 · O*NET-SOC 25-2051.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Education and library
Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$64,830
a year
Hourly
—
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$76,380
— per hour
Middle 50%
$52,210 – $91,660
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$45,620 – $130,040
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
29,510
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $45,620
- —/hr
- 25th percentile
- $52,210
- —/hr
- Median percentile
- $64,830
- —/hr
- 75th percentile
- $91,660
- —/hr
- 90th percentile
- $130,040
- —/hr
What do special education teachers, preschool do?
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
How to qualify for this work
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 a special education teachers, preschool earn?
The national median is $64,830 a year. The full range runs from $45,620 at the 10th percentile to $130,040 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a special education teachers, preschool 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
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Learning Strategies4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Education and Training4.3/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Psychology3.5/5
- Administrative3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
- Sociology and Anthropology2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing.