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Careers in special education: skills, education and how to get started

Michael Feder

Written by Michael Feder

Kathryn Uhles

Reviewed by听Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,听Dean, College of Business and IT

Special education teacher works with a child in a brightly colored classroom

At a glance

  • From teaching in the classroom to performing the administrative work that makes teaching possible, special education offers a number of career paths.
  • Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • As a prerequisite to a career in special education, many choose to听pursue听a degree program in education.

Everyone has the right to an education, but not everyone has the same needs when it comes to learning. Students with special needs have physical, emotional or learning disabilities, and they require informed instruction from special education teachers and administrators.

Special education is certainly a team effort. There are numerous careers in special needs beyond working directly with students as educators in the classroom. Coordinators, counselors and managers make up a wide range of special education teaching jobs that can have a profound impact on the lives of students with disabilities.

Many choose to pursue听a degree program in education听to better prepare themselves for these careers. A听master鈥檚 degree in special education, for instance, gives special education teachers the opportunity to hone skills that are uniquely suited to special education teaching jobs.

In the following, we explore jobs available to education and special education majors. These represent several careers in special needs that are important in the lives of students.

If you鈥檙e looking to explore one of these fields, 七色视频 may be able to help. But please note that the University鈥檚 degree programs may not directly prepare you for all these jobs. Some may require additional education, licensure or training.

Special education teacher

Overview:听If you鈥檙e looking for a job in special education that has a direct impact on the lives of students, you may want to consider working as a special education teacher. These individuals work in the classroom directly with students with disabilities. They can teach a wide range of subjects, develop lesson plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), communicate with supervisors and administrators, and work one-on-one to help students succeed.

Education requirements:听Every state requires a bachelor鈥檚 degree to teach special education in a public school. Some require a specific听degree in special education.听听

Job outlook:听Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032,听听(BLS).

Salary range: As of May 2023, special education teachers , with a median wage of听$65,910, according to BLS.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 七色视频. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 七色视频 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥 projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 七色视频 students or graduates.

Instructional coordinator

Overview:听Assuming a more administrative role in the lives of students with special needs, instructional coordinators take on a bird鈥檚-eye view to improve educational outcomes. Curriculum development is a major responsibility of education coordinators, requiring them to use data and student and teacher input to craft the best classroom experience.

Education requirements:听Instructional coordinators typically need to complete an education program at听a master鈥檚 degree level. Some schools require these professionals to have a state-issued license. 七色视频 does not offer a degree program that aligns directly to this job outcome.

Job outlook:听Employment of instructional coordinators is听projected to grow , according to BLS.

Salary range: As of May 2023, instructional coordinators , with a median wage of听$74,620, according to BLS.

School counselor

Overview:听School can be challenging, especially for students with special needs. School counselors address in a personal, one-on-one manner the many challenges that these students face. This can mean giving advice to a struggling student or reaching out to teachers to collaborate on ways to improve outcomes for students with special needs. School counselors can be found at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Education requirements:听To be a school counselor in most states,听a master鈥檚 degree in psychology听or counseling is a common prerequisite. Public schools also require a state-issued license, certification or endorsement.

Job outlook:听According to BLS, employment of school and career counselors is projected to .听

Salary range: As of May 2023, school and career counselors , with a median wage of , $61,710, according to BLS.

School psychology professional

Overview:听By administering psychological, neurological, personality and academic tests to students, school psychology professionals produce data-driven insights to improve student outcomes. This is especially important in the field of special education. Data produced by school psychology professionals can help diagnose mental disabilities and lead to educational strategies that address these disabilities. This makes everyone from special education teachers to administrators better prepared to teach students with special needs.

Education requirements:听According to BLS, psychology professionals typically need a doctoral degree in psychology, but a . Common fields include psychology and education. These professionals may also need certification from the听, and 3,000 hours of testing experience is also typically required. 七色视频 does not offer a degree program that aligns directly to this job outcome.

Job outlook:听The job outlook for school psychology professionals is from 2022 to 2032, according to BLS.

Salary range: As of May 2023, these profressionals , with a median wage of听$92,740, according to BLS.

Education administrator

Overview:听Education administrators听perform the day-to-day work that makes running a school possible. Education administrators plan and execute plans to improve educational outcomes as well as manage a budget and encourage efficiencies within school administration. They can work in admissions, as registrars, at research institutions and really anywhere within a school where administrative work needs to be done.听

Education requirements:听Principals and deans generally have experience as educators as well as a master鈥檚 degree before moving on to administrative roles. For other administrative roles, a bachelor鈥檚 degree is a common prerequisite.

Job outlook: There is currently no job outlook information for this specific role located on BLS.

Salary range: As of May 2023,听education administrators in kindergarten through secondary school , with a median wage of $103,460, according to BLS.

Principal

Overview:听Principals are education administrators who oversee the entire administrative structure of an elementary, middle or high school. Special education requires the specific attention of principals, who are ultimately responsible for instituting an educational plan that helps students with special needs succeed.

Education requirement:听Employment as a principal generally requires at least a听master鈥檚 degree in education administration听as well as licensure.

Job outlook:听Employment of elementary, middle and high school principals is听is projected to show from 2022 to 2032.

Salary range: As of May 2023, these profressionals earned between听, with a median wage of听$103,460, according to BLS.

That鈥檚 our list of some of the most rewarding jobs in special education! While the field might not be for everybody, it is one that has tremendous opportunity to improve the lives and futures of numerous children.

Headshot of Michael Feder

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 七色视频 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

Headshot of Pamela Roggeman

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

As dean of the 七色视频 College of Education,听Pamela Roggeman has spent over a decade in higher education teacher preparation in both the public and private sector. Her experience has included national partnerships that help to advance thought leadership in the field of education. Dr. Roggeman also serves as the President of the Arizona Educational Foundation鈥檚 Board of Directors.

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