How much does a special education teachers, preschool make?

The median pay is $29.90 per hour — roughly $62,000 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a special education teachers, preschool?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

What does a special education teachers, preschool actually do all day?

Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement. Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.

Education

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

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 it pays
Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn a median of $29.90/hr — about $62,000 a year. (Annual figure is approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; you're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.8% of special education teachers, preschool are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, creative and analytical.

Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.

Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a special education teachers, preschool make?: The median pay is $29.90 per hour — roughly $62,000 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a special education teachers, preschool?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
What does a special education teachers, preschool actually do all day?: Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement. Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.