Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary by state
Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
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.
Top skills:SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay by experience level
Entry level$47,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$54,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$67,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$95,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$134,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary by industry
Educational Services
19,590 workers
$74,500
Elementary and Secondary Schools
19,180 workers
$74,500
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
17,280 workers
$76,500
Social Assistance
6,730 workers
$80,000
Child Care Services
4,450 workers
$92,500
Ambulatory Health Care Services
2,230 workers
$119,000
Individual and Family Services
2,130 workers
$57,000
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
2,030 workers
$118,000
Educational Services, Privately Owned
1,980 workers
$55,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
740 workers
$75,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Special Education Teachers, Preschool pays 11% below the average across 65 roles in the Educational Instruction and Library job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Educational Instruction and Library
