Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Special Education Teachers, All Other vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary: Who Earns More?

Special Education Teachers, All Others out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by $40K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Special Education Teachers, All Others land at $76,580 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys at $36,780. The education gap is real: special education teachers, all other programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, All Others is California ($103,050); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys it's Washington ($49,120).

Special Education Teachers, All Other
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$76,580
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,440
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$120,080
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
33,930
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
California
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Special Education Teachers, All Other median pay.

State
Special Education Teachers, All Other
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
California
$103,050
$46,490
Delaware
$85,040
$37,830
Oregon
$82,240
$39,850
Massachusetts
$78,440
$39,380
Virginia
$77,280
$38,520
Washington
$76,790
$49,120
District of Columbia
$71,130
$46,920
Minnesota
$69,470
$40,100
Wisconsin
$66,910
$37,800
New Hampshire
$66,670
$38,440
New York
$65,970
$38,240
North Dakota
$61,500
$38,240
Connecticut
$61,480
$38,110
Maine
$56,780
$46,750
Vermont
$46,980
$43,800

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Special Education Teachers, All Others or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys?

Special Education Teachers, All Others earn more nationally. The median is $76,580 for Special Education Teachers, All Others versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys, a difference of $40K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Special Education Teachers, All Other or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Special Education Teachers, All Other or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Special Education Teachers, All Other typically requires bachelor's degree. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Special Education Teachers, All Others get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, All Others at $103,050/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Special Education Teachers, All Other vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Special Education Teachers, All Others earn $103,050 vs. $46,490 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Special Education Teachers, All Other salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Special Education Teachers, All Others by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →How to become a special education teachers, all otherGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →