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Occupation · SOC 25-2051

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

There are 29,510 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $64,830 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Education & LibraryTypical education: Bachelor's degree
29,510
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$64,830
Median pay a year
Middle half: $52,210–$91,660
2,000
Annual openings
10-year change: +2.4%
25
LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 91 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $81,210 · LCA filings 76,110$81,2107
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $61,950 · LCA filings 0900$61,9500
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $80,700 · LCA filings 3760$80,7003
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $74,110 · LCA filings 0750$74,1100
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $99,440 · LCA filings 0610$99,4400
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $79,560 · LCA filings 1510$79,5601
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $94,240 · LCA filings 1470$94,2401
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $82,760 · LCA filings 0440$82,7600
St. Louis, MO–ILMedian pay $50,920 · LCA filings 0400$50,9200
Kansas City, MO–KSMedian pay $119,560 · LCA filings 0380$119,5600

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Kansas City, MO–KSEmployment 380 · LCA filings 0$119,5603800
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAEmployment 240 · LCA filings 0$117,2002400
Akron, OHEmployment 60 · LCA filings 0$100,650600
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployment 610 · LCA filings 0$99,4406100
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 470 · LCA filings 1$94,2404701

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 5 · Employment 6,110756,110
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 76033760
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FLEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 33021330
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 51011510
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 47011470

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $76,107 · Level III $101,623 · Level IV $127,140$50,590$76,107$101,623$127,140
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $56,013 · Level III $67,067 · Level IV $78,120$44,960$56,013$67,067$78,120
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $65,300 · Level III $77,250 · Level IV $89,200$53,350$65,300$77,250$89,200
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $66,380 · Level III $76,150 · Level IV $85,920$56,610$66,380$76,150$85,920
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $82,733 · Level III $96,877 · Level IV $111,020$68,590$82,733$96,877$111,020
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $71,930 · Level III $83,660 · Level IV $95,390$60,200$71,930$83,660$95,390
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $83,620 · Level III $94,710 · Level IV $105,800$72,530$83,620$94,710$105,800
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $77,610 · Level III $88,940 · Level IV $100,270$66,280$77,610$88,940$100,270
St. Louis, MO–ILLevel II $47,563 · Level III $55,877 · Level IV $64,190$39,250$47,563$55,877$64,190
Kansas City, MO–KSLevel II $73,463 · Level III $94,387 · Level IV $115,310$52,540$73,463$94,387$115,310
Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FLLevel II $54,810 · Level III $60,210 · Level IV $65,610$49,410$54,810$60,210$65,610

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Special Education and TeachingCIP 13.10OPT · up to 12 months411OPT · up to 12 months

See Special Education Teachers, Preschool in every metro area

All 91 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Education & Library

Teaching Assistants, except PostsecondaryElementary School Teachers, except Special EducationPreschool Teachers, except Special EducationSubstitute Teachers, Short-TermSecondary School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical EducationSelf-Enrichment TeachersMiddle School Teachers, except Special and Career/Technical EducationTutors

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology