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Jobs Similar to Special Education Teachers (Secondary School)

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

Special Education Teachers (Secondary School): $74,260 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. 1Special Education Teachers, Middle School

    86% similar · $66,810 (−10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  2. 2Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

    86% similar · $63,970 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  3. 3Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

    86% similar · $62,680 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

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

    85% similar · $72,040 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  5. 5Special Education Teachers, Preschool

    85% similar · $64,830 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

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

    84% similar · $61,540 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree

  7. 7Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

    84% similar · $64,370 (−13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  8. 8Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

    84% similar · $75,870 (+2%) · Graduate degree

  9. 9Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

    84% similar · $77,570 (+4%) · Graduate degree

  10. 10Education Teachers, Postsecondary

    83% similar · $75,350 (+1%) · Graduate degree

  11. 11Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School

    83% similar · $65,030 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  12. 12School Psychologists

    83% similar · $95,990 (+29%) · Graduate degree

  13. 13Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

    83% similar · $80,340 (+8%) · Graduate degree

  14. 14Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

    83% similar · $60,280 (−19%) · Graduate degree

  15. 15Tutors

    83% similar · $43,350 (−42%) · Training or associate

  16. 16Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

    83% similar · $64,330 (−13%) · Graduate degree

  17. 17Substitute Teachers, Short-Term

    82% similar · $41,670 (−44%) · Bachelor's degree

  18. 18Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

    82% similar · $80,250 (+8%) · Graduate degree

  19. 19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

    82% similar · $66,270 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group

  20. 20Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

    82% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate

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

Thinking of a career change?

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

Jobs for former special education teachers (secondary school) →

Jobs that can lead here

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

Questions about jobs like special education teachers (secondary school)

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

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

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

Among the 20 most similar careers, School Psychologists ($95,990, +29%; usually a graduate degree), Psychology Teachers ($80,340, +8%; usually a graduate degree) and Nursing Instructors and Teachers ($80,250, +8%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with special education teachers (secondary school) ($74,260).

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