Special Education Teachers (Middle School)
O*NET title: Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Also called: Blind Teacher, Braille Teacher, Deaf Teacher, DHOH Teacher (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher), EBD SPED Teacher (Emotional-Behavioral Disabilities Special Education Teacher), ED SPED Teacher (Emotional Disabilities Special Education Teacher)
Median pay
$66,810
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$49,420 – $102,510
People employed
95,200
Holland code
SAI
Social · Artistic · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Special Education Teachers (Middle School) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Special Education Teachers (Middle School) salary in every state →
What special education teachers (middle school) do
- 01Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
- 02Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- 03Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- 04Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 05Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
- 06Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Skills that matter most
- Learning Strategies
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
Knowledge
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from special education teachers (middle school)
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors93% · −8%
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary80% · +13%
- Instructional Coordinators79% · +16%
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers78% · −11%
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary77% · +14%
Change into special education teachers (middle school)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors90% · $61,540
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term87% · $41,670
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary81% · $75,350
- Tutors81% · $43,350
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors80% · $64,330
Majors that lead here
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism
- Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.