Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged 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, Preschool
SOC: 25-2051 O*NET: 25-2051.00
Median Salary
$62,190
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 1.4%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Job Zone 5
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged 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, Preschool do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$38,740
10th percentile
Early Career
$49,370
25th percentile
Median
$62,190
50th percentile
Experienced
$81,330
75th percentile
Top Earners
$132,530
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$38,740
25th
$49,370
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$62,190
Mean: $72,610
75th
$81,330
90th
$132,530
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $93,790 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $49,370 and $81,330
- •Salary spread is 51.4% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 28,200 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:29,300
Top Industries
Social Assistance25%
Child Care Services18.4%
Ambulatory Health Care Services9.7%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+1.4%
Annual Openings:2,100
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)29,300
Current
2034 (Projected)29,700
+1.4%
+400
Employment Change
+1.4%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Special Education Teachers, Preschool professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 41 locations
New York
4,460 jobs$129,8602.56x
California
3,440 jobs$55,8901.04x
Florida
2,190 jobs$50,0301.22x
New Jersey
1,830 jobs$86,6502.35x
Texas
1,630 jobs$60,8100.64x
Minnesota
1,130 jobs$66,5702.11x
Ohio
1,130 jobs$62,8201.12x
Missouri
1,110 jobs$48,9902.08x
Illinois
1,030 jobs$60,4200.93x
Washington
880 jobs$80,0801.35x
Colorado
850 jobs$66,4201.61x
Louisiana
810 jobs$52,7002.32x
Massachusetts
680 jobs$82,7401.03x
Georgia
650 jobs$78,3000.73x
North Carolina
610 jobs$54,3900.68x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
Standard growth expectations for this occupation
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Critical Thinking
86%
#4
Social Perceptiveness
80%
#5
Reading Comprehension
74%
#6
Learning Strategies
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Writing
54%
#9
Instructing
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.3
86%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate4.0
80%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.7
74%
Learning Strategies
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
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:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Learning Strategies
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Writing
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Instructing
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors100%
5 shared skills
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School100%
5 shared skills
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary100%
5 shared skills
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary100%
5 shared skills
Self-Enrichment Teachers100%
5 shared skills
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary100%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
Learn on the Job:
- →Learning Strategies
- →Monitoring
- →Writing
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Critical Thinking
- ★Reading Comprehension
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, Preschool
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
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
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡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 moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (6)Communication & Coordination (2)Training & Development (3)Planning & Development (6)Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)
1
Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination94% perform96%
4
Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development91% perform94%
5
Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development88% perform92%
6
Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development85% perform90%
7
Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Establish and communicate clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students, parents, or guardians.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Communication & Coordination76% perform84%
10
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Special Education Teachers, Preschool
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Special Education Teachers, Preschool professionals typically have a SAI Holland code and highly value relationships
SSocial
AArtistic
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.84
Adaptability/Flexibility
CriticalAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.84
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.79
Achievement/Effort
CriticalAchievement/Effort
Importance Level4.67
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.67
Cooperation
CriticalCooperation
Importance Level4.66
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.8
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.8
Self-Control
4.8
Achievement/Effort
4.7
Dependability
4.7
Cooperation
4.7
Initiative
4.6
Concern for Others
4.6
Persistence
4.5
Stress Tolerance
4.5
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 5
Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Training:
Extensive training and work experience required
💼 Experience Requirement
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Master's or doctoral degree
- • Extensive work experience in the field
- • State licensure or professional certification
5
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Master's or doctoral degreeExtensive work experience in the fieldState licensure or professional certification
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