SOC 25-2051 · Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

Special Education Teachers, Preschool wages by metro

National median annual wage

$64,830

10th percentile: $45,620
25th percentile: $52,210
Median: $64,830
75th percentile: $91,660
90th percentile: $130,040
Mean: $76,380

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates. BLS reports this occupation on an annual basis. Hourly wages are not published.

National employment in May 2025: 29,510.

That median is 27.2% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.

The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.

An auto mechanic working on a car engine — An auto mechanic working on an engine. Photograph by Okpashira. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Highest published medians

Metros with the highest published annual medians for Special Education Teachers, Preschool.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
Kansas City, MO-KS	380	$47,200	$119,560	$119,570
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	240	$54,530	$117,200	$117,200
Akron, OH	60	$51,380	$100,650	$136,140
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	610	$62,940	$99,440	$126,340
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	470	$68,470	$94,240	$127,980
Fresno, CA	120	$56,170	$93,800	$98,770
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	80	$46,800	$92,660	$124,850
New Haven, CT	50	$58,240	$90,440	$118,780
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	130	$58,940	$89,180	$155,150
Naples-Marco Island, FL	40	$38,550	$86,120	$98,750
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	60	$80,950	$85,200	$93,970
Worcester, MA	50	$65,010	$84,040	$98,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	440	$61,690	$82,760	$122,780
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	50	$64,560	$82,600	$120,190
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	40	$64,340	$82,390	$107,680
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	Not available	$58,620	$82,280	$141,560
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	6,110	$45,760	$81,210	$170,200
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	350	$62,490	$80,950	$102,630
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	760	$47,990	$80,700	$101,110
Anchorage, AK	90	$65,760	$80,390	$98,240

Where employment is largest

Metros with the most Special Education Teachers, Preschool jobs in the May 2025 tables.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	6,110	$45,760	$81,210	$170,200
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	900	$42,320	$61,950	$100,330
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	760	$47,990	$80,700	$101,110
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	750	$49,570	$74,110	$95,960
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	610	$62,940	$99,440	$126,340
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	510	$58,520	$79,560	$119,860
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	470	$68,470	$94,240	$127,980
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	440	$61,690	$82,760	$122,780
St. Louis, MO-IL	400	$33,660	$50,920	$78,750
Kansas City, MO-KS	380	$47,200	$119,560	$119,570
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	350	$62,490	$80,950	$102,630
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	330	$50,800	$61,380	$74,350
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	320	$52,370	$57,840	$79,370
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	310	$36,180	$59,340	$82,010
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	280	$49,220	$66,240	$95,070
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	270	$62,170	$77,540	$96,300
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	250	$47,250	$60,400	$80,680
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	240	$54,530	$117,200	$117,200
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	210	$46,730	$64,690	$130,040
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	200	$45,620	$59,520	$126,950

States and territories

State estimates for Special Education Teachers, Preschool, May 2025.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
Massachusetts	710	$62,400	$99,070	$126,340
New Jersey	1,720	$61,880	$92,060	$138,050
Connecticut	380	$58,140	$87,960	$116,380
Washington	820	$65,240	$86,580	$125,040
Maryland	70	$70,730	$85,010	$106,080
Pennsylvania	490	$49,510	$83,510	$121,750
Alaska	110	$51,760	$80,390	$98,240
Vermont	70	$66,350	$79,000	$89,860
Colorado	810	$54,200	$78,040	$102,630
Virginia	650	$50,350	$77,570	$122,530
Oregon	400	$61,830	$77,490	$95,460
Minnesota	1,250	$43,020	$75,880	$101,100
Michigan	430	$47,050	$75,860	$103,290
Hawaii	230	$58,170	$75,120	$95,300
Georgia	380	$49,650	$72,310	$98,450
New York	6,220	$45,760	$68,180	$170,200
New Mexico	270	$35,560	$66,010	$82,520
Texas	2,010	$39,090	$65,680	$94,410
Iowa	Not available	$36,250	$63,540	$72,980
Nebraska	80	$36,690	$62,760	$82,010
Illinois	1,080	$42,320	$62,580	$100,460
Missouri	940	$35,960	$62,250	$119,570
New Hampshire	80	$49,430	$61,720	$84,270
Wisconsin	240	$46,580	$60,870	$82,200
Ohio	1,150	$45,630	$60,700	$101,580
Maine	40	$48,050	$60,680	$74,870
North Carolina	640	$42,300	$60,180	$73,780
Arizona	330	$45,920	$60,130	$80,680
North Dakota	50	$50,160	$60,060	$81,240
South Carolina	170	$30,580	$59,800	$79,190
California	2,510	$38,050	$59,550	$117,700
Tennessee	330	$44,210	$59,550	$77,900
Rhode Island	120	$34,750	$59,310	$97,740
Delaware	100	$46,600	$59,250	$63,430
Kansas	350	$47,510	$59,220	$75,380
Florida	1,370	$50,100	$58,240	$78,340
Utah	110	$50,630	$58,230	$93,410
Louisiana	960	$37,750	$56,890	$61,200
Kentucky	Not available	$35,690	$54,220	$64,000
Mississippi	110	$48,660	$52,420	$62,710
Wyoming	80	$45,300	$52,100	$61,980
Oklahoma	60	$40,000	$49,720	$58,020
Idaho	180	$31,720	$49,610	$89,540
Indiana	380	$35,620	$48,680	$76,530
Arkansas	510	$27,800	$35,580	$53,990

Other educational instruction and library occupations

Questions this page answers

What is the national median wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is $64,830. Employment is 29,510.

How does Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay compare with all occupations?

The national median for Special Education Teachers, Preschool is 27.2% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.

Which metro has the highest published median for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?

Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Kansas City, MO-KS is highest on this page's list at $119,560.