Jobs Similar to Adapted Physical Education Specialists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to adapted physical education specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Occupational Therapy Assistants, Special Education Teachers (Preschool) and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School).
Adapted Physical Education Specialists: $76,580 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Adapted Physical Education Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 82% | $72,300 | Training or associate |
| 2 | Special Education Teachers, PreschoolSame group | 81% | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolSame group | 81% | $74,260 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationSame group | 81% | $38,140 | Training or associate |
| 5 | Occupational Therapists | 80% | $100,330 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 80% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Recreational Therapists | 79% | $61,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSame group | 79% | $65,030 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $80,250 | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationSame group | 79% | $62,680 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSame group | 79% | $72,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Psychiatric Technicians | 79% | $45,130 | Training or associate |
| 13 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 78% | $97,870 | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 78% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 15 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolSame group | 78% | $66,270 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSame group | 78% | $63,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSame group | 78% | $66,810 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $75,870 | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Psychiatric Aides | 77% | $44,910 | High school |
| 20 | Physical Therapists | 77% | $102,760 | Graduate degree |
- 1Occupational Therapy Assistants
82% similar · $72,300 · Training or associate
- 2Special Education Teachers, Preschool
81% similar · $64,830 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
81% similar · $74,260 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
81% similar · $38,140 · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Occupational Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 · Graduate degree
- 6Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Recreational Therapists
79% similar · $61,960 · Bachelor's degree
- 8Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
79% similar · $65,030 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $80,250 · Graduate degree
- 10Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
79% similar · $62,680 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
79% similar · $72,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Psychiatric Technicians
79% similar · $45,130 · Training or associate
- 13Speech-Language Pathologists
78% similar · $97,870 · Graduate degree
- 14Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
78% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 15Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
78% similar · $66,270 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
78% similar · $63,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Special Education Teachers, Middle School
78% similar · $66,810 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $75,870 · Graduate degree
- 19Psychiatric Aides
77% similar · $44,910 · High school
- 20Physical Therapists
77% similar · $102,760 · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Occupational Therapy Assistants82% similar · Training or associate
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education81% similar · Training or associate
- Psychiatric Technicians79% similar · Training or associate
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants78% similar · Training or associate
- Psychiatric Aides77% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for adapted physical education specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where adapted physical education specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (84)
- Recreational Therapists (79)
- Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
- Occupational Therapy Assistants (77)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (75)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (75)
- Community Health Workers (74)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Midwives (74)
Questions about jobs like adapted physical education specialists
What jobs are most similar to adapted physical education specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Occupational Therapy Assistants (82% similar), Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (81% similar), Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (81% similar), Preschool Teachers (81% similar) and Occupational Therapists (80% similar).
Do jobs like adapted physical education specialists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than adapted physical education specialists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.