Special Education Teacher, Elementary School
Impact: Direct, long-term impact on student development.
Educate students with disabilities in elementary school settings, adapting lessons and providing individualized support to meet diverse learning needs.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $62,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000
- Senior
- $85,000
- Growth by 2033
- 6%
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- 35%
- Typical student debt
- $35,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- Differentiated Instruction
- Behavior Management
- Assessment
- Special Education Law
Soft skills
- Patience
- Communication
- Empathy
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Master's degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 7
- Years to senior
- 15
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Lead Teacher, Special Education Coordinator, School Administrator
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 5
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7.5/10
- Meaning
- 9/10
- Work-life balance
- 5.5/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- Very High