Special Education Teachers, Preschool Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 30K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$64,830
Median hourly
$31
Average annual
$76,380
Typical range
$45,620–$130,040
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $64,830 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $31 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $45,620 and $130,040 a year. There are roughly 30K people employed as special education teachers, preschool in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Special Education Teachers, Preschool.
- Hourly
- $31.17
- Daily
- $249
- Weekly
- $1,247
- Bi-weekly
- $2,493
- Monthly
- $5,403
- Annual
- $64,830
$64,830 a year is around the 50th percentile for Special Education Teachers, Preschools. The median is $64,830.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$99,070
- 2New Jersey$92,060
- 3Connecticut$87,960
- 4Washington$86,580
- 5Maryland$85,010
- 6Pennsylvania$83,510
- 7Alaska$80,390
- 8Vermont$79,000
- 9Colorado$78,040
- 10Virginia$77,570
- 11Oregon$77,490
- 12Minnesota$75,880
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kansas City, MO-KS$119,560
- 2San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$117,200
- 3Akron, OH$100,650
- 4Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$99,440
- 5Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$94,240
- 6Fresno, CA$93,800
- 7Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$92,660
- 8New Haven, CT$90,440
- 9Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$89,180
- 10Naples-Marco Island, FL$86,120
- 11McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX$85,200
- 12Worcester, MA$84,040
Related job titles
Employers advertise Special Education Teachers, Preschool roles under these titles.
- Autistic Teacher
- Behavior Interventionist
- Behavioral Interventionist
- Deaf Education Teacher
- Early Intervention Teacher
- ED Teacher (Emotional Disabilities Teacher)
- Educational Intervention Teacher
- Exceptional Needs Teacher
- Home Therapy Teacher
- Literacy Interventionist
- Mentally Retarded Teacher
- Outdoor Educator
- Preschool Intervention Specialist
- Preschool Special Education Teacher
- Severe/Profound Mental Handicaps Special Education Teacher
- Special Education Paraprofessional
Related occupations
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540
- Special Education Teachers, All Other$76,580
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
What a Special Education Teachers, Preschool does
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, or potential.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Special Education Teachers, Preschool make?
- The median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $64,830 ($31 per hour). Pay ranges from about $45,620 at the 10th percentile to $130,040 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Special Education Teachers, Preschool?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $76,380, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Special Education Teachers, Preschools the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $99,070.
- Is Special Education Teachers, Preschool a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 30K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Special Education Teachers, Preschool do?
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.; Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.; Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy..