How to become a special education teacher, secondary school

Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not..A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

What special education teachers, secondary school do

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
• Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.

Skills that matter most

• Learning Strategies
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning

Is special education teacher, secondary school a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 46% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $101,120
• California $101,060
• District of Columbia $99,670
• Maryland $93,530
• Rhode Island $92,990

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.