Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
SOC code 25-2058 · O*NET-SOC 25-2058.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Education and library
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$74,260
a year
Hourly
—
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$77,260
— per hour
Middle 50%
$60,180 – $93,730
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$49,800 – $109,100
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
163,930
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $49,800
- —/hr
- 25th percentile
- $60,180
- —/hr
- Median percentile
- $74,260
- —/hr
- 75th percentile
- $93,730
- —/hr
- 90th percentile
- $109,100
- —/hr
What do special education teachers, secondary school do?
Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school 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
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 42% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
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.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree42%
- Master's Degree42%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate15%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0%
Common questions
How much does a special education teachers, secondary school earn?
The national median is $74,260 a year. The full range runs from $49,800 at the 10th percentile to $109,100 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, secondary school 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
- Learning Strategies4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.8/5
- English Language4.6/5
- Psychology4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.6/5
- Administrative3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation.