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Occupational Outlook and Typical Salaries
The employment opportunities in special education teaching are expected to grow 21-35% through 2010, an increase of over 150,000 positions.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 edition.
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.
Average Salaries of Public School Teachers, 2001-02
| 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
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