Special Education Specialist: Salary and Job Description

The number of children eligible for special education is on the rise. In the 2012-13 school year, 6.4 million children were eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). By the 2022-23 school year, that number had grown to 7.5 million, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Teaching students with disabilities requires qualified individuals who have the skills and expertise necessary to help ensure that these students can reach their full potential. Unfortunately, schools nationwide face a shortage of teachers who are special education specialists.

Anyone who’s been considering enrolling in a Master of Arts in Special Education degree program can benefit from learning more about working as a special education specialist and how to enter the profession.

What Does a Special Education Specialist Do? 

The special education specialist job description centers on teaching students ages 3-21 with disabilities that adversely affect their academic performance and who therefore require special education services. Special education specialists can work in classrooms that include only students with special needs, or they can work in inclusive classrooms that include students with a range of abilities.

Teachers who work as special education specialists prepare an individualized education program (IEP) for each student who qualifies for special education services. Those programs outline students’ specific needs as well as objectives that students can work toward reaching. Special education specialists then provide instruction in accordance with those programs and monitor students’ progress.

A special education specialist’s responsibilities can include the following:

• Assessing students’ skills and needs
• Developing learning activities that align with students’ abilities
• Mentoring and teaching students, both in group settings and in individual sessions
• Monitoring students’ progress toward achieving goals
• Revising IEPs in accordance with students’ progress
• Meeting with students’ parents, administrators, and counselors to review students’ progress
• Supervising teacher assistants 
• Helping students prepare to progress to the next grade or for life after the conclusion of their schooling

What Are the Requirements to Become a Special Education Specialist? 

The requirements to become a special education specialist can vary by state, so it’s important to become familiar with the specific requirements of the state where you want to work. In general, those requirements typically include the following:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree. Ideally, earning a bachelor’s degree in special education is a great way to acquire expertise to work as a special education specialist. However, students who earn other types of bachelor’s degrees also can pursue special education preparation programs to gain knowledge and skills in special education.
• Gain experience. Special education degree programs and special education preparation programs typically include internships and opportunities to get teaching experience in the field.
• Obtain a teaching license. State requirements for teaching licenses vary, so it’s important to learn about licensure requirements in your state. Getting a teaching license usually requires passing a state-required exam and a criminal background check. 
• Consider earning a graduate degree. Earning a Master of Arts in Special Education is a great way to enhance your expertise and acquire more skills to use in the classroom. These degree programs offer students the chance to enhance their special education expertise and pursue concentrations that focus on specific aspects of special education.

In general, whether you need to complete a Master of Education to teach depends on the requirements of the state where you want to teach. Some states require individuals to earn a master’s degree to work as special education specialists. In addition, it’s important to remember that Master of Arts in Special Education degree program requirements differ from Master of Education program requirements. Therefore, learning about the various graduate degrees in education and the particular degree a state requires can benefit anyone considering entering the field of special education. 

Special Education Specialist Salary and Job Outlook

It’s beneficial for anyone who’s thinking about entering the profession to become familiar with special education specialist salary levels and employment prospects.

Special education teachers earned a median annual salary of $65,910 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

The BLS forecasts that schools will have 35,900 openings for special education teachers each year through 2033 because current special education teachers will retire or move into other occupations.

Special education specialists are needed nationwide. When NCES surveyed schools in August 2024, 72% of schools that had openings for special education teachers reported that they encountered difficulty filling those positions.

Special Education Specialists Have the Opportunity to Perform Meaningful Work 

Acquiring the education necessary to become a special education specialist can set the stage for a fulfilling career helping students achieve their goals. Every day, special education specialists have the chance to make a significant difference in the lives of the students they teach.

Individuals who are interested in acquiring graduate-level expertise in special education can explore the  Master of Arts in Special Education degree program at Notre Dame de Namur University to learn how it can help them achieve their career goals. Offering concentrations focused on students with mild/moderate support needs or students with extensive support needs, the program can establish the foundation for rewarding work. Start your journey to a career in special education today.