Special Education Teacher

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle 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.

O*NET definition of Special Education Teachers, Middle School (SOC 25-2057) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

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.

O*NET definition of Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2058) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

Education workers say the job requires

Share of surveyed workers in Special Education Teachers, Middle School (SOC 25-2057) naming each level as required to be hired, 29 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Education workers say the job requires

Share of surveyed workers in Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2058) naming each level as required to be hired, 38 respondents, O*NET survey August 2025. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Special education teachers in public schools are required to have a bachelor's degree and a state-issued certification or license. Teachers in private schools typically need a bachelor's degree but may not be required to have a state license or certification.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Special Education Teachers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (SOC 25-2052)

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Special Education Teachers, Middle School (SOC 25-2057)

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2058)

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

1. Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.4.6
2. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.4.5
3. Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.4.5
4. Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.4.4
5. Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.4.4
6. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.4.3
7. Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.4.3
8. Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.4.3
9. Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.4.3
10. Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.4.3

The 10 most important of 36 core tasks for Special Education Teachers, Middle School, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

1. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.4.6
2. Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.4.5
3. Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.4.5
4. Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.4.5
5. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.4.4
6. Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.4.4
7. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.4.3
8. Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.4.3
9. Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.4.3
10. Teach personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.4.3

The 10 most important of 33 core tasks for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2025.

13,321 school districts in the registry. Regular public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data (charter-only districts are not included). The 10 largest by teachers (fte):

Full lists by state: