SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Washington
Washington · 10 metro areas compared
In Washington the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $101,120 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School reaches $101,120 a year. That is 36.2% more than the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $67,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $128,090 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $80,620 to $112,750.
Employment stands at 2,510, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Washington ranks number 1st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Mount Vernon records the highest median at $103,420. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 189th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,880 | −8.6% |
| 25th | $80,620 | +8.6% |
| Median (50th) | $101,120 | +36.2% |
| 75th | $112,750 | +51.8% |
| 90th | $128,090 | +72.5% |
| Mean | $97,960 | +31.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon | $103,420 | 60 | |
| 2 | Bremerton | $102,890 | 80 | |
| 3 | Seattle | $102,290 | 1,270 | |
| 4 | Olympia | $101,060 | 90 | |
| 5 | Spokane | $97,540 | 220 | |
| 6 | Bellingham | $96,940 | 70 | |
| 7 | Wenatchee | $93,380 | 30 | |
| 8 | Kennewick | $90,340 | 120 | |
| 9 | Yakima | $85,590 | 90 | |
| 10 | Longview | $81,830 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $101,120 buys what $94,505 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 27.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$101,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$94,505US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $101,120 a year, 36.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,880 to $128,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,510 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Mount Vernon, at $103,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Washington?
The median annual wage is $101,120, 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 Washington is 36.2% 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 Washington earns more than $128,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,880 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 Mount Vernon, at $103,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,510 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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