SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington, DC the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School is $79,880 a year, which is 22.7% higher than the national figure of $65,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington, DC the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School is $79,880 a year, which is 22.7% higher than the national figure of $65,120. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $67,740 and $101,310. The lowest tenth earn under $61,770, while the highest tenth earn more than $122,620.
The area has 5,110 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.6 of every thousand jobs. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 288th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,770 | −5.1% |
| 25th | $67,740 | +4.0% |
| Median (50th) | $79,880 | +22.7% |
| 75th | $101,310 | +55.6% |
| 90th | $122,620 | +88.3% |
| Mean | $84,540 | +29.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $79,880 buys what $72,684 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$72,684US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,880 a year, 22.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,770 to $122,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,110 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $79,880, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $65,120, so pay in Washington, DC is 22.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington, DC earns more than $122,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,770 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,110 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data