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Occupational Outlook and Typical Salaries
Occupational Outlook
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.
Typical Salaries
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
2000-2001
|
|
Rank
|
State
|
Average
Salary
|
Rank
|
State
|
Average
Salary
|
|
1
|
Connecticut
|
53,507
|
27
|
New Hampshire
|
38,301
|
|
2
|
California
|
52,480
|
28
|
Vermont
|
38,254
|
|
3
|
New Jersey
|
51,955
|
29
|
Florida
|
38,230
|
|
4
|
New York
|
51,020*
|
30
|
South Carolina
|
37,938
|
|
5
|
Michigan
|
50,515*
|
31
|
Alabama
|
37,606*
|
|
6
|
Rhode Island
|
50,400*
|
32
|
Tennessee
|
37,413
|
|
7
|
Pennsylvania
|
49,528
|
33
|
Idaho
|
37,109
|
|
8
|
Washington, DC
|
48,488*
|
34
|
Kentucky
|
36,688
|
|
9
|
Alaska
|
48,123
|
35
|
Arizona
|
36,502
|
|
10
|
Illinois
|
47,865
|
36
|
Iowa
|
36,479
|
|
11
|
Massachusetts
|
47,789
|
37
|
Utah
|
36,441
|
|
12
|
Delaware
|
47,047
|
38
|
Maine
|
36,373
|
|
13
|
Maryland
|
45,963
|
39
|
West Virginia
|
35,888
|
|
14
|
Oregon
|
44,988
|
40
|
Kansas
|
35,766
|
|
15
|
Nevada
|
44,234
|
41
|
Missouri
|
35,091
|
|
16
|
Indiana
|
43,000
|
42
|
Arkansas
|
34,729
|
|
17
|
Ohio
|
42,892
|
43
|
Wyoming
|
34,678*
|
|
18
|
Minnesota
|
42,212
|
44
|
Nebraska
|
34,258
|
|
19
|
Washington
|
42,143
|
45
|
Louisiana
|
33,615
|
|
20
|
Georgia
|
42,141
|
46
|
New Mexico
|
33,531*
|
|
21
|
North Carolina
|
41,496
|
47
|
Montana
|
33,249
|
|
22
|
Wisconsin
|
40,939
|
48
|
Oklahoma
|
32,545
|
|
23
|
Hawaii
|
40,536
|
49
|
Mississippi
|
31,954
|
|
24
|
Virginia
|
40,247
|
50
|
North Dakota
|
30,891 |
|
25
|
Colorado
|
39,184
|
51
|
South Dakota
|
30,265
|
|
27
|
Texas
|
38,359
|
|
|
|
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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