Special Education Teachers, Preschool

Professionals in this field teach basic academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged children who have diverse learning needs, including students with visual, hearing, or intellectual impairments. The daily work centers on assisting and caring for others, making decisions to solve problems, and organizing classroom activities. Teachers must gather information about each child's progress, document records, and communicate regularly with parents, supervisors, and colleagues.

This role is highly social and requires strong skills in active listening, instructing, speaking, and social perceptiveness. Teachers draw on knowledge of education, training, psychology, therapy, counseling, and customer service. Success in this environment relies on work styles like empathy, cooperation, self-control, and adaptability to meet the unique needs of every child.

Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Most individuals need several years of related experience alongside their degree to be fully prepared for the classroom. College students preparing for this field generally major in special education and teaching.

Depending on where they plan to work, teachers may need to meet specific state requirements. Some states list a license for this work. Additionally, professionals can pursue credentials such as the DoDEA Certification from the Department of Defense Education Activity to qualify for specific teaching roles.

The median annual pay for these teachers is $64,830. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $45,620 and the highest 10% earning more than $130,040.

There are 29,510 people employed in this occupation. Employment is projected to grow by 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all careers. About 2,000 job openings are expected each year.