Special Education

How to Become a Special Education Teacher

Teachers are a special group of individuals who dedicate their lives to teaching students and helping them learn. Not every student learns in the same way. While some students catch on and learn quickly, others may need additional support.

Special education teachers (SPED) are dedicated teachers who work with students with learning or other disabilities. If the idea of playing a role in teaching students with diverse learning needs appeals to you, continue reading to learn how to become a special education teacher and what it requires.

A SPED teacher works with students who have difficulty learning in a regular classroom due to emotional, physical, cognitive, mental, or behavioral disabilities. SPED teachers work with students of all ages. Every student is different and learns at a different pace and in different ways.

Special education teachers work with students one-on-one so they can assess the student and determine his or her needs. They also develop a general education curriculum to meet each student’s needs. Special ed teachers work with other teachers, administrators, specialists, and parents. Some special education teachers work with their students in a regular classroom, while others may have their own classroom.

SPED teachers work with all grades K-12.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that special education teachers should see overall job growth of four percent between 2021 and 2031. This job growth is like all other occupations. They also predict that around 37,600 new special education teacher jobs will be created by 2031.

This includes special education teachers working in kindergarten , elementary schools , middle schools, high schools , and all others. Of the 37,600 new jobs, 7,200 are for kindergarten and elementary special education teachers. This group is also expected to see a job growth of eight percent, which is the highest for all special education teachers.

Many of the job openings are due to teachers retiring or seeking other occupations. Although the projected job growth isn’t as high as some other industries, special education teachers are very much in demand. Even though the federal government requires that states keep a certain amount of financial support for special education teachers, this amount is not always as much as is needed in comparison to the number of SPED teachers needed.

Therefore, employment and job growth of special education teachers are often dependent on state and federal funding. Disabilities in children are being noticed at a much younger age than in the past, and the services of special education teachers are required at much younger ages. These facts alone keep these teachers very much in demand.

• Number and type of certifications earned
• Years of work experience
• Degree level
• Geographic location

Below are the wages earned by special education students based on their grade level as of May 2021.

• Secondary school students – Wages ranging from $47.230 to $100,300 with an average annual wage of $70,100
• Kindergarten and elementary school students – Wages ranging from $46,400 to $98,870 with an average annual wage of $46,400.
• Special education, all others – Wages ranging from $38,130 to $104,370 with average annual wages of $61,720

Below are the top five states where special education teachers working with kindergarten and elementary school students earned the highest wages

• New York – $83,250
• Massachusetts – $81,940
• District of Columbia – $81,050

Here are the top five states where special education teachers working with secondary students earn the highest wages.

• New York – $87,520
• Connecticut – $84,450
• Washington – $83,990
• Massachusetts – $83,160

Here are the top five-paying states for special education teachers, all other.

• New York – $102,960
• Massachusetts – $92,330
• Delaware – $89,090

Wondering how to become a special education teacher? There are specific steps. SPED teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree, certification, and licensure. A bachelor’s degree is a requirement in all states.

Certification and/or licensure is a requirement to work…