by our College Data Analytics TeamBrittany has Down syndrome and is in a special contained classroom. With the help of her teacher, Brittany learns many life skills that will help her live a happy and less dependent life.
Eric is autistic and has a hard time socializing. After several weeks, Eric is able to work better with his classmates because of the teaching aid and the teacher working together to modify instruction.
These are just a few examples of what Special Education teachers do every day. A major in Special Education focuses on designing educational services and teaching children with learning needs or disabilities. You will create individualized learning plans (IEP) and monitor your student's progress while also supporting each student emotionally and making sure that their needs are met. Your students will have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Some classes you could be required to take are behavior management, assistive technology, human development and learning, cultural and linguistic diversity, issues in special populations, issues in contemporary education, mild to moderate disabilities, moderate to severe disabilities, and assessment in special education.
There are many different concentrations within special education. In your major you can focus on hearing or vision impairment, gifted and talented education, emotional disturbances, multiple disabilities, orthopedic and other physical impairments, speech impairment, autism, developmental delays, brain trauma, and more.
Studying Special Education explores Special Education And Teaching. Continue reading for the key facts every special education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering special education programs.
In the U.S., special education draws strong interest, with 33,988 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Special Education Schools ranking analyzes these 886 schools to determine the best overall colleges for special education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of special education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Special Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations special education graduates commonly enter.
As a special education teacher there are certain skills needed in order to have a successful career. You need to be patient and willing to put in extra work and effort. Students with special needs usually require more patience and attention in certain areas depending on their individual needs. Although Special Education teachers are patient and understanding, they must also be assertive in advocating for students to receive the services and support they need. A good sense of humor will be very helpful in this field as well as being able to enjoy small successes. It will help you to be inclusive and celebratory of differences.
This field required you to have excellent interpersonal skills as you will be working with students, as well as other teachers, parents, administrators, and teacher aids. Teachers become heavily invested in the success of their students; you need to be able to persevere through difficult moments in order to achieve the happiness and growth of your student.
In order to become certified, you will need to complete a teacher certification program at your college. This program will prepare you for teaching as well put you in a classroom with a certified teacher to student teach. Along with student teaching, it is a good idea to work as a camp counselor, a coach, or even a tutor with special-needs students to help gain experience.
The skill set emphasized by a special education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a special education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several special education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 177 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,437 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,183 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23,928 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 249 |
People currently working in careers related to special education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.0% |
| Master’s degree | 21.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 12.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in special education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Special Education teachers can work with a variety of students with different needs. There is a high demand for special education teachers in public and private schools. The growth seems to be mainly for students in kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools because students are getting diagnosed at earlier ages.
Majoring in special education can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to special education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to special education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 1,501,521 | 9.2% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | 1,257,499 | 14.0% |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 1,064,121 | 10.9% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 913,965 | 4.8% |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of special education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,981 |
| 4 years | $54,220 |
| 5 years | $59,983 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for special education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers special education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $86,208 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $80,694 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $79,680 |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | $77,976 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | $73,597 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
With 886 different special education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased special education school rankings to help you.
Those considering special education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
