20 Best States for Special Education Teachers

It’s time to hit the books with the best states for special education teachers.

My dad was a special education teacher. Well, he was a lot of things–a fireman, a businessman, a bowling instructor, and he still is a park ranger–but special education is something he did for many years. It inspires me that after working in the business for so long, he switched careers, got certified, and found something that was challenging and rewarding–also I’m sure the summers off didn’t hurt.

What sets special education teachers apart from teachers is their students. Their job is more complex and quite challenging, as they are tasked to educate students with special needs. Special education teachers hold a completely different set of responsibilities than ordinary teachers. That’s not to say they are better teachers, but it is undeniable how their job tends to be harder and complicated. There are extra, or at least different responsibilities to take into account.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), special education teachers are tasked to work with students with various disabilities. These disabilities could be physical, mental, emotional, or the more common learning disabilities. Some special needs students have difficulty in learning areas–they could be speech delayed, have problems comprehending, or lack focus. Physical and mental disabilities, which are usually congenital in nature, require special attention when learning as well.

This is where the challenge comes in. Being a special education teacher does not only mean you would have to attend to students with special needs. It is also crucial that you are well-prepared and also informed to take care of what those needs may be. Why? Special education teachers are only classified based on the level they handle–pre-school, elementary, middle school, and high school. They are not classified according to what needs they can help with. A special education class can be filled with students of a wide variety of different special needs.

These job descriptions show that being a special education teacher is definitely not for those afraid of learning or a challenge. Aside from having tons of patience and empathy, it is also important that they have the proper educational background and also some previous experience in education or with children as well.

Apart from providing aid in learning, special education teachers also teach the usual subjects including basic math, reading, science, and writing. In some sense, it is just like traditional teaching–but with a different audience, you have to adjust to. Lesson plans tend to be more personalized, as students usually have different needs–one might need more time with each question no matter the subject; while another could be a math whiz, but struggle with encoding and decoding language; still another student could learn in standard ways but face physical challenges to pick up a pen or move around the classroom.

Academically, special education teachers are of course required to have a Bachelor’s Degree in education, and must also hold teaching licenses and certificates. That being said, the degree is not the only thing you need. Patience and motivation should also be your natural personalities.

Still, according to a file from BLS, the projected job growth for special education teachers is at 6%, which just as fast as other jobs, making its job growth score on the average. Their annual median wage is at $56,800 on the average. The highest wage recorded for special education teachers is $90,260, while the lowest is at $37,410.

In looking for the best states for special education teachers, we had to find out each state’s annual median wage, cost of living index, and employment rates for Special Education Teachers.

Information about annual median salary and employment rates were gathered from BLS, while the data about each state’s cost of living index were sourced from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). Each state’s ranking for each point of the criteria were averaged, which led us to the results and rankings we have below.

It has to be noted that each of the three criteria points has equal values. It is not just the high salary we should be looking at because at the end of the day we also have to take our expenses into the equation. To get a job that pays well is great, but to live in a place that wouldn’t slash it too much with your spendings is always better. Plus, it is ideal to live in a state with a high demand for the job. There are better chances for you to get hired, and unemployment should as much as possible be out of the situation.

Do you think any of the Best States for Kindergarten Teachers made it to this list, too?

Take a look at the 20 best states for special education teachers.

20. Massachusetts

Annual median salary: $66,000

Cost of living index: 134.7

Employment: 830

Massachusetts has quite a lot of great universities and colleges, and it sure does not lose in having great educational institutions offering special education programs. They have an average demand for special education teachers and also pay them several notches higher than the national average. The only downside of being a special education teacher here is their especially high cost of living rates. You get paid well, only to spend most of it on your rent and food. You could most probably make little sacrifices on the things you want to give more way to the things you really need.

19. Alabama

Annual median salary: $60,520

Cost of living index: 91.2

Employment: 40

This sweet home state has always been known for being one of the most practical states to live in America. It is more country than city, but that does not mean they are slow on development. Their economy is also on the rise, as evident on its job opportunities. It might be the highest in America, but the fact that they pay their special education teachers in wages higher than most states make them among your safest bets. Their cost of living rates looks like a winner, too!

18. Pennsylvania

Annual median salary: $63,950

Cost of living index: 102.8

Employment: 400

Pennsylvania has many prestigious educational institutions which are why lots of students move there when they’re off to college, and also why families choose to settle there. This list also proves they’re also a clear winner for special education programs. They offer wages that are good enough to sustain a living in a state where not everything is cheap. Their cost of living rates are a bit over the average, but the jobs they have for special education teachers are worth giving a try at least.

17. California

Annual median salary: $62,310

Cost of living index: 134.8

Employment: 4,740

California ranks second in the states having the highest demand for special education teachers. This is most probably due to their growing population–thanks to migration and American love for the so-called laid-back California lifestyle. They also pay their special education teachers well, higher than most states. Then again, we should always remember how everything seems to be a bit more expensive in here. If you get a job in California, prepare to forego the extra dessert and weekly shopping sprees to afford a decent apartment.

16. Florida

Annual median salary: $47,890

Cost of living index: 99

Employment: 12,200

At the moment, Florida has the highest demand for special education teachers. Their many special education institutions prove to be doing really well, as we can see in their statistics. Their annual median wages for these professionals, however, did not make the cut on the average. Special education teachers can still find consolation in their low cost of living rates, which is 1% lower than the national average. It might not seem so much, but 1% is 1%.

15. New Mexico

Annual median salary: $51,280

Cost of living index: 95.7

Employment: 720

New Mexico’s claim to this list is its ideally sustainable cost of living rates. Life becomes harder every day as we have to work harder to earn more, so states with affordable living expenses are always safer than those with more expensive ones. A wage that’s lower than the average can dampen our spirits, but with cheap rent and meals, do you still really mind? They have a decent employment rate as well.

14. Ohio

Annual median salary: $46,370

Cost of living index: 93

Employment: 1,280

Ohio, the next on our list of best states for special education teachers is like New Mexico in many ways–relative to this topic. It has special education teacher’s wages lower than the average, which is avenged by its low cost of living rates–making it a safe state to get a job and settle in. Looking for a place where you do not have to spend so much for your living expenses is very challenging, as the big cities and booming states usually mean high living rates. Ohio does not lose when it comes to economic development, and they have tons of jobs up for grabs as well.

13. West Virginia

Annual median salary: $55,090

Cost of living index: 95.7

Employment: 530

West Virginia’s wages for special education teachers are just a few dollars away from the average. This is why this state belongs in the list. What proves their place here, even more, is how affordable it is to live there. Living expenses are quite at the minimum, while employment opportunities come plenty, too. West Virginia is among the few American states where living expenses do not cost so much, and wages pretty much hover on the average. Sounds like a great income-expenses balance, don’t you think?

12. Maryland

Annual median salary: $72,230

Cost of living index: 125

Employment:1,540

There is not as much for special education teachers in pre-school as compared to other levels like high school and middle school. Maryland has always been one of the highest rollers in wages in the country. In this context, they rank third in terms of the highest wages for special education teachers. The state usually pays their workers higher than the others, which attracts people to move in. However, the perpetual issue about Maryland is their sky-high cost of living rates. A few compromises between your needs and your wants could be the key. Now, let’s see what’s next on our list of Next in line on our list of best states for special education teachers.

11. Minnesota

Annual median salary: $67,000

Cost of living index: 101.1

Employment: 520

It is quite a rare situation to be able to find an American state providing high wages and having a low cost of living rates. It is rare, but yes it is possible. Minnesota pays its special education teachers way higher than the average, which most definitely attracts them to get a job and live here. Their living expenses hang tight on the average and have pretty good employment rates for special education teachers, so what else is there that you are still looking for?

10. Texas

Annual median salary: $54,560

Cost of living index: 90.7

Employment: 310

Next in line on our list of best states for special education teachers is Texas that has always been popular for having the highest number of jobs available. We know it is because a lot of Texas cities are now tagged as up and coming, making the Lone Star State among your best bets when looking for a new job, whether or not you are a special education teacher. They have among the most affordable living expenses in the country, too.

9. Kentucky

Annual median salary: $53,080

Cost of living index: 90.8

Employment: 380

The reason why Kentucky ranked higher than Texas on the list best states for special education teachers is because it has more jobs for special education teachers. This just shows that wages and expenses are of equal importance as employment rates. Now, even if Kentucky’s salary for special education teachers is lower than most states, their cost of living index that’s just a dime a dozen make the state still so appealing to everyone looking for a new place to move in.

8. Oregon

Annual median salary: $72,740

Cost of living index: 115.4

Employment: 1,120

Oregon ranks second in the list of American states when it comes to their salary offers for special education teachers. It makes perfect sense when you see how much you have to spend on your living expenses, as sustaining a life in expensive Oregon could be very challenging, to say the least. To encourage you to still give this state a try, look at their employment rates for special education teachers. They have the number of jobs you might be rooting for.

7. Iowa

Annual median salary: $56,820

Cost of living index: 91.7

Employment: 460

Iowa’s statistics look so balanced, you’d probably doubt it the first time you see it. The wages they have for special education teachers stay in the average range, so it is good enough. What makes it better is their affordable cost of living prices. House rents, mortgage rates, food expenses, and basic utilities are cheap in Iowa. You can most probably enjoy so much of what you earn because it does not have to be slashed with your living expenses.

6. Georgia

Annual median salary: $67,320

Cost of living index: 91.4

Employment: 150

We are continung our list of best states for special education teachers with Georgia that would have possibly topped the list if it had a better employment rate than what it currently has. Even so, it does not make it any less good for special education teachers. Its high salary rates for these professionals is a lot higher than the national average, so you know it really deserves to be on the best states for special education teachers. Their living expenses are also among America’s most ideal.

5. Louisiana

Annual median salary: $52,890

Cost of living index: 94.4

Employment: 1,900

Louisiana has an annual median wage for special education teachers that is just some dollars shy of reaching the average. Despite that, the state still proves to be a better state for these professionals than the others because of their cost of living rates. Their economical living expenses always attract professionals to get jobs here. Fortunately, this state also ranks well in terms of employment and job opportunities.

4. Tennessee

Annual median salary: $61,210

Cost of living index: 89.8

Employment: 350

Tennessee, next in line on the list of best states for special education teachers is very consistent on its economical cost of living rates. That’s not to say it is a cheap state, for it is also known to have amazing amenities and tons of employment opportunities. They ranked high in being among the best states for special education teachers because they pay more than most American states. Special education teachers can also find a lot of jobs since the state has plenty of schools around.

3. Virginia

Annual median salary: $76,160

Cost of living index: 100.2

Employment: 1,640

Virginia, number three on our list of best states for special education teachers pays the highest wages for special education teachers, which is explained further by their great employment rates for these professionals. The state also has cost of living rates that hovers just around the average, so rents and food prices are not expensive. Prices are not cheap, but at least it won’t wreck havoc on your earnings as a teacher. Virginia is also home to lots of schools, so you know they take education very seriously.

2. Illinois

Annual median salary: $64,180

Cost of living index: 95.5

Employment: 1,920

Illinois, next in line on our list of best states for special education teachers has always been consistent in having among the cheapest living expenses in the country. They also have high wage rates for special education teachers. The fact that they pay them well and teachers can enjoy their salary without worrying about their basic needs in the state are enough for Illinois to really be part of this list. The employment rates they have do not disappoint either.

1. Michigan

Annual median salary: $56,570

Cost of living index: 88.2

Employment: 1,230

The number one on our list of best states for special education teachers, Michigan that has apparently hit the best balance in terms of what special education teachers earn and spend in a state. Michigan is the third most affordable state in America. Their cost of living index looks like it can sustain a living with the most meager salaries, but the salary they have for this profession is on the average, so they get more. Employment rates in this state look very promising, too.

You must have noticed how affordable states usually rank higher than more expensive ones in lists like this. It is always crucial to find a place where you can have a decent job with a great paycheck. That paycheck must be enough for the bills and all your other needs. The point is moot if you get a high wage somewhere you can’t afford a decent space. To conclude, if you are still at the crossroads of where you’ll get a job, take your cue from these best states for special education teachers.