According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2000 the median salary for special education teachers was $40,880 at the preschool, kindergarten, and elementary level; $38,600 at the middle school level; and $41,290 at the secondary level. The range of salaries was from less than $26,640 to over $67,000.

Salaries for public school teachers are set by the local school districts and so will vary from state to state and even within a particular state. In general, teacher salaries are determined by the teacher's education level and length of service, not the subject taught. However, because special education is a critical need area, some local school districts have begun offering stipends or signing bonuses to qualified special educators.

Rank	State	Average Salary		Rank	State	Average Salary
1	California	54,348		26	Arizona	39,973
2	Connecticut	53,551		27	South Carolina	39,923
3	New Jersey	53,192		28	New Hampshire	39,915
4	Michigan	52,676*		29	Idaho	39,591
5	New York	52,000		30	Florida	39,275
6	Pennsylvania	50,599		31	Vermont	39,240
7	Massachusetts	50,293		32	Texas	39,232
8	Rhode Island	49,758*		33	Tennessee	38,515
9	Rhode Island	49,758*		34	Iowa	38,230
10	Alaska	49,418		35	Missouri	37,996
11	Delaware	48,363		36	Kentucky	37,951
12	Maryland	48,251		37	Wyoming	37,837
13	District of Columbia	47,049		38	Utah	37,414*
14	Oregon	46,081		39	Maine	37,300
15	Nevada	44,234		40	Alabama	37,194
	United States	44,683*		41	Kansas	37,093
16	Georgia	44,073		42	Arkansas	36,962*
17	Ohio	44,029		43	West Virginia	36,751
18	Washington	43,464		44	New Mexico	36,440
19	North Carolina	42,680		45	Louisiana	36,328
20	Hawaii	42,615		46	Nebraska	36,236
21	Wisconsin	42,232		47	Oklahoma	34,744
22	Minnesota	42,194		48	Montana	34,379
23	Virginia	41,731*		49	Mississippi	33,295
24	Nevada	40,764*		50	North Dakota	32,253
25	Colorado	40,659		51	South Dakota	31,295

*NEA Research, Estimates Database (2003)
From Rankings & Estimates 2002-2003, Rankings, Table C-11.

For further information on teacher's salaries, you may wish to investigate the following:

American Federation of Teachers
Center for Special Education Finance
Educational Research Service
National Education Association
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages