Special Education Teachers, Preschool
SOC 25-2051 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $65,270, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $76,420, and an estimated 24,850 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +6.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -9.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 1.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $65,270 | $65,270 | 24,850 |
| 2022 | $62,240 | $64,802 | 22,970 |
| 2021 | $62,420 | $70,190 | 21,130 |
| 2020 | $61,400 | $72,287 | 20,300 |
Nominal change
+6.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-9.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+1.4%
About average
Employment 2024
29,300
Projected 2034
29,700
Annual Openings
2,100
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $65,270. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $134,810 | +106.5% | 4,150 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $89,190 | +36.6% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $87,320 | +33.8% | 2,170 |
| Massachusetts | $83,490 | +27.9% | 610 |
| Washington | $82,710 | +26.7% | 830 |
| California | $81,530 | +24.9% | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $80,910 | +24% | — |
| Michigan | $80,290 | +23% | 80 |
| Georgia | $77,550 | +18.8% | 850 |
| Minnesota | $71,290 | +9.2% | 1,530 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$41,250
25th Pct
$51,240
Median
$65,270
75th Pct
$89,440
90th Pct
$135,170
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVE BEYOND INC. | NY | 3 | $79,384 |
| The Stepping Stones Group LLC | MA | 1 | $72,800 |
| Bellevue School District No. 405 | WA | 1 | $80,690 |
| San Jose Unified School District | CA | 1 | $82,212 |
| WilMac Multidistrict Special Education Unit | ND | 1 | $89,357 |
| Oakland Unified School District | CA | 1 | $76,158 |
| King City Union School District | CA | 1 | $56,696 |
| RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | NM | 1 | $50,000 |
| Sunnyvale School District | CA | 1 | $112,195 |
| Montessori Escuela | MA | 1 | $50,430 |
| Silicon Valley International School | CA | 1 | $80,562 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Educational Instruction & Library
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.