Special Education Teachers, Preschool: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Education, Training, and Library · SOC 25-2051 · O*NET 25-2051.00
Special Education Teachers, Preschool fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn a median salary of $64,830 per year, ranking in the top 44% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.4% job growth through 2035, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do special education teachers, preschool earn?
The median annual wage for special education teachers, preschool is $64,830. That puts special education teachers, preschool at #361 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is special education teachers, preschool a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for special education teachers, preschool is +2.4%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 30K positions in 2024 to 31K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become special education teachers, preschool?
The standard path into special education teachers, preschool begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
How to become special education teachers, preschool: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 4-6 years. Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
Bachelor's Degree in Education or Subject Area
~4 yearsComplete a bachelor's degree in Education or in your subject area (Math, English, Science, etc.) with education certification program. Includes supervised student teaching experience.
- •Education coursework (child development, pedagogy, classroom management)
- •Content area specialization (Elementary Education or subject-specific)
- •Student teaching practicum (semester-long)
- •Pass required content area exams
- •Maintain GPA requirements (typically 2.75+)
- 2
Teacher Certification/Licensing
Obtain state teaching license by passing required exams and meeting state-specific requirements. Each state has different certification requirements.
- •Pass state-specific teaching exam
- •Pass subject area content exam
- •Background check and fingerprinting
- •TB test
- •First Aid/CPR certification
State teaching certification exam (e.g., Praxis, CSET, TExES)Subject-specific content exams - 3
Alternative Certification Pathway
~1 yearFor career changers who already have a bachelor's degree. Complete an alternative certification program (1-2 years) while teaching under provisional license.
- •Already hold bachelor's degree in any subject
- •Complete alternative certification program
- •Student teaching or residency
- •Pass state certification exams
- 4
Optional Master's in Education
Optional~2 yearsOptional Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Education (M.Ed.). Many states require or incentivize master's degrees for permanent certification or salary increases.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Archivists$64,550 median
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370 median
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970 median
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,820 median
- Curators$63,420 median
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about special education teachers, preschool
What is the median salary for special education teachers, preschool?
The median annual salary for special education teachers, preschool is $64,830 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is special education teachers, preschool a growing career?
BLS projects +2.4% growth for special education teachers, preschool from 2025 through 2035, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become special education teachers, preschool?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to special education teachers, preschool?
Related occupations within the Education, Training, and Library category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.