How does Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 50 states with BLS data.
84% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • National averages across 50 states • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Special Education Teachers, Middle School spans from $48,085 at entry-level to $88,254 at senior level — a difference of $40,169 per year.
Senior Special Education Teachers, Middle Schools earn $40,169 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $48,085 | $4,007 | $23.12 |
| Early Career | P25 | $55,929 | $4,661 | $26.89 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $65,931 | $5,494 | $31.70 |
| Experienced | P75 | $77,823 | $6,485 | $37.41 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $88,254 | $7,354 | $42.43 |
Special Education Teachers, Middle School has a moderate salary progression with a 84% growth from entry-level ($48,085) to senior ($88,254). While the growth potential is steady, professionals looking to maximize earnings may benefit from specialization, advanced certifications, or moving to higher-paying states. The gap between median ($65,931) and P90 ($88,254) shows there is still room for meaningful growth beyond mid-career.
Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Special Education Teachers, Middle School? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.
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Entry-level Special Education Teachers, Middle Schools (10th percentile) earn approximately $48,085 per year, or $4,007 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $55,929. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Special Education Teachers, Middle Schools (90th percentile) earn approximately $88,254 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $77,823. This represents a career premium of 84% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Special Education Teachers, Middle Schools is 84%. Entry-level professionals start at $48,085, while senior-level can earn up to $88,254 — a difference of $40,169 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Special Education Teachers, Middle Schools is New York, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $136,770 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National averages are computed across 50 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS