Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
SOC: 25-2057 O*NET: 25-2057.00
Median Salary
$64,880
per year
Job Growth
📉 -1.9%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
6.3
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4
Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
What does a Special Education Teachers, Middle School do?
How much can you earn?
Salary Distribution by Percentile
Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.
10th
$38,928
25th
$51,904
50th (Median)
$64,880
75th
$77,856
90th
$97,320
Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.
Typical Benefits Package
Health & Wellness
- ✓Health Insurance
- ✓Dental Insurance
- ✓Vision Insurance
- ✓Mental Health Support
- ✓Wellness Programs
Financial Benefits
- ✓401(k) Retirement Plan
- ✓Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
- ✓Profit Sharing
- ✓Stock Options
- ✓Performance Bonuses
Work-Life Balance
- ✓Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
- ✓Paid Sick Leave
- ✓Flexible Work Arrangements
- ✓Remote Work Options
- ✓Parental Leave
Professional Development
- ✓Tuition Reimbursement
- ✓Professional Certifications
- ✓Conference Attendance
- ✓Training Programs
- ✓Mentorship Opportunities
Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:94,800
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-1.9%
Annual Openings:6,300
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)94,800
Current
2034 (Projected)93,000
-1.9%
-1,800
Employment Change
-1.9%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Learning Strategies
100%
#2
Active Learning
94%
#3
Social Perceptiveness
86%
#4
Speaking
80%
#5
Instructing
74%
#6
Active Listening
66%
#7
Service Orientation
60%
#8
Writing
54%
#9
Coordination
46%
#10
Monitoring
40%
Skills Overview
Learning Strategies
advanced5.0
100%
Active Learning
advanced4.7
94%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate4.3
86%
Speaking
intermediate4.0
80%
Instructing
intermediate3.7
74%
Active Listening
intermediate3.3
66%
Service Orientation
intermediate3.0
60%
Writing
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Learning Strategies
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Learning
advancedImportance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Instructing
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Service Orientation
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Writing
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Monitoring
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education82%
5 shared skills
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School82%
5 shared skills
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors67%
5 shared skills
Animal Trainers67%
5 shared skills
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School67%
5 shared skills
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary67%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Learning Strategies
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Active Listening
- →Service Orientation
- →Writing
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Learning Strategies
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Learning
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Learning Strategies
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Learning
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Technology Intensity
High
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft SharePoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechApple macOS
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Apple macOS
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
VERY HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet very high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What education is required?
Education Required
Bachelor's degree or higher
Experience Required
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Job Training
Significant preparation with related work experience