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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary: Who Earns More?

Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools out-earn Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by $37K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools land at $74,260 and Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys at $36,780. The education gap is real: special education teachers, secondary school programs typically require bachelor's degree, while teaching assistants, except postsecondary programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools is Washington ($101,120); for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys it's Washington ($49,120).

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Median salary
$74,260
$36,780
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$49,800
$27,150
Senior level (90th %)
$109,100
$50,040
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
163,930
1,420,350
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

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

State
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary
Washington
$101,120
$49,120
California
$101,060
$46,490
District of Columbia
$99,670
$46,920
New York
$89,310
$38,240
Massachusetts
$83,890
$39,380
Connecticut
$81,710
$38,110
Vermont
$79,360
$43,800
Delaware
$78,490
$37,830
Oregon
$77,400
$39,850
Minnesota
$76,600
$40,100
New Hampshire
$69,560
$38,440
Virginia
$68,400
$38,520
Wisconsin
$63,520
$37,800
Maine
$61,710
$46,750
North Dakota
$61,210
$38,240

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys?

Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools earn more nationally. The median is $74,260 for Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools versus $36,780 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys, a difference of $37K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 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, Secondary School or Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary?

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 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, Secondary Schools get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools at $101,120/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, Secondary School vs. Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools earn $101,120 vs. $49,120 for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary breakdownView →Full Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Best cities for Special Education Teachers, Secondary Schools by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondarys by take-home payExplore →How to become a special education teachers, secondary schoolGuide →How to become a teaching assistants, except postsecondaryGuide →