SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — District of Columbia
District of Columbia · 1 metro areas compared
In District of Columbia the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $99,670 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In District of Columbia the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $99,670 a year. That is 34.2% more than the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $80,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $127,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $82,460 to $127,940.
The area has 440 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.60 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. District of Columbia ranks number 3rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Washington records the highest median at $85,000. Of the 465 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 164th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,640 | +8.6% |
| 25th | $82,460 | +11.0% |
| Median (50th) | $99,670 | +34.2% |
| 75th | $127,940 | +72.3% |
| 90th | $127,940 | +72.3% |
| Mean | $101,340 | +36.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in District of Columbia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $85,000 | 3,930 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $99,670 buys what $90,692 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 22.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$99,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$90,692US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $99,670 a year, 34.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,640 to $127,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 440 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Washington, at $85,000.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in District of Columbia?
The median annual wage is $99,670, 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 $74,260, so pay in District of Columbia is 34.2% 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 District of Columbia earns more than $127,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,640 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Washington, at $85,000 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 440 jobs in this occupation in District of Columbia. 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.
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