Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Special Education Teachers, Preschool vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Special Education Teachers, Preschool out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by $860 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Special Education Teachers, Preschool land at $64,830 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: special education teachers, preschool programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is Massachusetts ($99,070); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$64,830
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$45,620
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$130,040
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
29,510
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
1.4%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Massachusetts
$99,070
$94,000
New Jersey
$92,060
$78,200
Connecticut
$87,960
$80,600
Washington
$86,580
$102,350
Maryland
$85,010
$77,680
Pennsylvania
$83,510
$77,060
Alaska
$80,390
$79,260
Oregon
$77,490
$77,130
Minnesota
$75,880
$76,350
New York
$68,180
$85,760
Illinois
$62,580
$75,320
Ohio
$60,700
$77,370
California
$59,550
$99,650
Rhode Island
$59,310
$90,930
Delaware
$59,250
$75,920

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Special Education Teachers, Preschool or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn more nationally. The median is $64,830 for Special Education Teachers, Preschool versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $860. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Special Education Teachers, Preschool or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Special Education Teachers, Preschool has the better 10-year outlook at 1.4% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Special Education Teachers, Preschool or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Special Education Teachers, Preschool typically requires bachelor's degree. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Special Education Teachers, Preschool get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, Preschool at $99,070/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, Preschool vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn $99,070 vs. $94,000 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Special Education Teachers, Preschool by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a special education teachers, preschoolGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →