by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Elementary Special Education covers Education/teaching Of Individuals In Elementary Special Education Programs. A Program That Focuses On The Design And Provision Of Teaching And Other Educational Services To Children With Special Learning Needs Or Disabilities Who Are In The Elementary Grades. Includes Instruction In Diagnosing Learning Disabilities; Developing Individual Education Plans; Curriculum Development, Instructional Strategies, And Classroom Management For Elementary Special Education; And Teaching Elementary Education Subject Matter. Continue reading for the important information every elementary special education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering elementary special education programs.
In the U.S., elementary special education draws strong interest, with 2,055 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Elementary Special Education Schools ranking analyzes these 77 schools to determine the best overall colleges for elementary special education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of elementary special education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Elementary Special Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations elementary special education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a elementary special education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a elementary special education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several elementary 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 613 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,442 |
People currently working in careers related to elementary special education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 78.6% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in elementary special education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in elementary special education opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to elementary special education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to elementary special education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | 1,257,499 | 14.0% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of elementary special education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 elementary special education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers elementary special education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | $73,597 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
With 77 different elementary special education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased elementary special education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in elementary 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.
