Special Education
Education · federal classification: Special Education and Teaching
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $50,585 | $45,663 to $55,244 | 209 | 99% |
| Post-baccalaureate Certificate | $64,773 | $58,686 to $68,990 | 10 | 100% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $66,392 | $57,800 to $75,887 | 20 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $62,140 | $56,324 to $67,568 | 328 | 100% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $79,956 | $67,322 to $80,481 | 5 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +1% (2024 to 2034), about 34,900 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $69,590 | -1.6% | 11,100 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $59,440 | +1.7% | 6,900 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $64,880 | -1.9% | 6,300 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,090 | +2.1% | 5,600 |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $67,430 | +1.1% | 2,900 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $62,190 | +1.4% | 2,100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.