Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $66,810/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$49,420$102,510

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -1.9% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 6,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningActive LearningSpeakingInstructingLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessWritingCoordinationMonitoringReading Comprehension

Top knowledge areas

English LanguageEducation and TrainingMathematicsAdministrativeCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologySociology and AnthropologyPublic Safety and Security

Core tasks

• Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.

• Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.

• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.

• Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.

• Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.

• Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.

• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

The median pay for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is $66,810 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

Employment for Special Education Teachers, Middle School is projected to change -1.9% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Special Education Teachers, Middle School?

About 6,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.