Substitute Teachers vs Special Ed Teachers, Secondary
Median pay is about $33k higher for Special Ed Teachers, Secondary. Both usually start with the same education: bachelor's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Substitute Teachers | Special Ed Teachers, Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $41,670 | $74,260, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $34,170 | $60,180, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $54,890 | $93,730, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +2.0% Growing, higher | -0.2% Declining |
| Openings a year | 65,000 | 10,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Bachelor's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.6 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 90th pct | 42nd pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Substitute Teachers
- Critical Thinking
Only Special Ed Teachers, Secondary
- Learning Strategies
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, writing.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.