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Jobs Similar to Special Education Teachers (Middle School)

The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to special education teachers (middle school), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Elementary School Teachers, Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) and Kindergarten Teachers.

Special Education Teachers (Middle School): $66,810 median pay · 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

  1. 1Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

    86% similar · $63,970 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  2. 2Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

    86% similar · $74,260 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  3. 3Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

    86% similar · $62,680 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  4. 4Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    85% similar · $72,040 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  5. 5Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    84% similar · $64,370 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  6. 6Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

    83% similar · $61,540 (−8%) · Bachelor's degree

  7. 7Special Education Teachers, Preschool

    83% similar · $64,830 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  8. 8Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

    83% similar · $41,670 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree

  9. 9Tutors

    82% similar · $43,350 (−35%) · Training or associate

  10. 10Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

    82% similar · $75,870 (+14%) · Graduate degree

  11. 11School Psychologists

    82% similar · $95,990 (+44%) · Graduate degree

  12. 12Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

    81% similar · $77,570 (+16%) · Graduate degree

  13. 13Education Teachers, Postsecondary

    81% similar · $75,350 (+13%) · Graduate degree

  14. 14Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

    81% similar · $80,340 (+20%) · Graduate degree

  15. 15Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

    80% similar · $38,140 (−43%) · Training or associate · Same group

  16. 16Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

    80% similar · $66,270 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  17. 17English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

    80% similar · $78,760 (+18%) · Graduate degree

  18. 18Instructional Coordinators

    80% similar · $77,440 (+16%) · Graduate degree

  19. 19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School

    80% similar · $65,030 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  20. 20Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary

    80% similar · $84,290 (+26%) · 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 pay more

Only careers that usually need no more preparation than special education teachers (middle school).

Similar jobs that need less preparation

Thinking of a career change?

Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for special education teachers (middle school) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.

Jobs for former special education teachers (middle school) →

Jobs that can lead here

Careers where special education teachers (middle school) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).

Questions about jobs like special education teachers (middle school)

What jobs are most similar to special education teachers (middle school)?

By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Elementary School Teachers (86% similar), Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (86% similar), Kindergarten Teachers (86% similar), Secondary School Teachers (85% similar) and Middle School Teachers (84% similar).

Which jobs like special education teachers (middle school) pay more?

Among the 20 most similar careers, School Psychologists ($95,990, +44%; usually a graduate degree), Sociology Teachers ($84,290, +26%; usually a graduate degree) and Psychology Teachers ($80,340, +20%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with special education teachers (middle school) ($66,810). Without more preparation than special education teachers (middle school) usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) and Secondary School Teachers.

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.

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Sources. Skills, tasks and education: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data Sources & Licenses