Salary distribution
Where California special education teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $76,850 and $122,740, with a median of $101,250.
Special Education Teachers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 39 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $70,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $89,502 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $88,147 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $105,837 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Special Education Teachers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 15 | $70,000 |
| West Contra Costa Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 7 | $101,643 |
| Monterey County Office of Education | Special Education Teacher | 3 | $60,143 |
| Liberty Union High School District | Special Education Teacher | 3 | $65,355 |
| AchieveKids | Behavior Specialist III | 2 | $92,968 |
| South Monterey County Joint Union High School District | Special Education Teacher | 2 | $58,160 |
| Southern Kern Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 2 | $78,473 |
| San Francisco Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 1 | $79,500 |
| Gonzales Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 1 | $102,170 |
| Ukiah Unified School District | Special Education Teacher | 1 | $89,502 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Special Education Teacher at San Jose Unified School District$72,051San JoseDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25338-456111
- Special Education Teacher at West Contra Costa Unified School District$94,706El CerritoDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-440993
- Behavior Specialist III at AchieveKids$92,968Palo AltoDecided Aug 13, 2025I-200-25218-226555
- Special Education Teacher at Monterey County Office of Education$61,346SalinasDecided Jul 25, 2025I-200-25199-186803
- Special Education Teacher at San Francisco Unified School District$79,500San FranciscoDecided Jul 23, 2025I-200-25197-179970
- Special Education Teacher at Gonzales Unified School District$102,170GonzalesDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-162832
- Special Education Teacher at West Contra Costa Unified School District$70,366RichmondDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-162312
- Special Education Teacher at San Jose Unified School District$70,000San JoseDecided Jul 15, 2025I-200-25189-160586
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Special Education Teachers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Special Education Teachers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 35 certified offers. The most common variant is Special Education Teacher at a median of $70,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teacher | San Jose Unified School District | 31 | $70,000 |
| Special Day Class Teacher | San Jose Unified School District | 4 | $70,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Speech Clarity
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- 02
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- 03
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- 04
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- 05
Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 06
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- 07
Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
- 08
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-1.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for special education teachers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Diego$108,790
- Riverside$103,800
- Los Angeles$103,150
- San Francisco$102,250
- Sacramento$100,640
- San Jose$96,510
Compare Special Education Teachers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Special Education Teachers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Special Education Teachers in California is $101,250.
- How does California compare to the national median for Special Education Teachers?
- The California median is +38.3% versus the BLS national figure of $73,212.
- What is the salary range for Special Education Teachers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,590 and the 90th-percentile at $133,600, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Special Education Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -1.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Special Education Teachers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.