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Occupation · SOC 25-2058

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

There are 163,930 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $74,260 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Education & LibraryTypical education: Bachelor's degree
163,930
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$74,260
Median pay a year
Middle half: $60,180–$93,730
10,400
Annual openings
10-year change: −0.2%
236
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
−3.7% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 314 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 $100,430 · LCA filings 314,700$100,4303
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $82,350 · LCA filings 27,360$82,3502
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $79,760 · LCA filings 15,790$79,7601
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $85,000 · LCA filings 103,930$85,00010
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $87,630 · LCA filings 73,920$87,6307
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $100,900 · LCA filings 03,920$100,9000
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $66,440 · LCA filings 62,670$66,4406
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $79,190 · LCA filings 42,590$79,1904
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $77,180 · LCA filings 122,550$77,18012
Columbus, OHMedian pay $72,860 · LCA filings 02,170$72,8600

Metro areas with the highest median pay

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

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 400 · LCA filings 14$117,64040014
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAEmployment 1,220 · LCA filings 0$115,1601,2200
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 1,260 · LCA filings 10$105,1601,26010
Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CAEmployment 290 · LCA filings 0$104,0902900
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CAEmployment 1,630 · LCA filings 0$103,7301,6300

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
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 2 · Employment 400142400
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAEmployers with LCA filings 6 · Employment 2,5501262,550
Jackson, MSEmployers with LCA filings 1 · Employment 330111330
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVEmployers with LCA filings 4 · Employment 3,9301043,930
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 1,2601031,260

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 $87,117 · Level III $101,893 · Level IV $116,670$72,340$87,117$101,893$116,670
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $77,030 · Level III $91,590 · Level IV $106,150$62,470$77,030$91,590$106,150
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $69,430 · Level III $79,760 · Level IV $90,090$59,100$69,430$79,760$90,090
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $76,627 · Level III $88,703 · Level IV $100,780$64,550$76,627$88,703$100,780
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $78,317 · Level III $90,793 · Level IV $103,270$65,840$78,317$90,793$103,270
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $83,867 · Level III $100,543 · Level IV $117,220$67,190$83,867$100,543$117,220
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $64,117 · Level III $68,253 · Level IV $72,390$59,980$64,117$68,253$72,390
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $68,030 · Level III $81,400 · Level IV $94,770$54,660$68,030$81,400$94,770
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $68,400 · Level III $75,770 · Level IV $83,140$61,030$68,400$75,770$83,140
Columbus, OHLevel II $60,120 · Level III $72,560 · Level IV $85,000$47,680$60,120$72,560$85,000
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $94,907 · Level III $110,583 · Level IV $126,260$79,230$94,907$110,583$126,260
Jackson, MSLevel II $51,503 · Level III $55,617 · Level IV $59,730$47,390$51,503$55,617$59,730
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $89,647 · Level III $106,813 · Level IV $123,980$72,480$89,647$106,813$123,980

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, Secondary School in every metro area

All 314 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