Career comparison
High School Special Education Teacher vs. High School Teacher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
High school special education teachers earn more at the median ($74,260 vs. $72,040), while high school special education teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensure of training). High school special education teachers help high school students with disabilities graduate and plan for life after school. High school teachers teach teenagers a subject and prepare them for college, careers and life.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| High School Special Education Teacher | High School Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $74,260 | $72,040 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,800 – $109,100 | $48,780 – $107,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.2% (little or no change) | -0.2% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 10,400 | 63,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensure | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | State special education license | State teaching license |
| Work setting | Teachers work in high school classrooms, resource rooms and community job sites.. | High school teachers work in classrooms and labs, with after-school activities, meetings and events.. |
What each job does
High School Special Education Teacher
- Teach and co-teach classes
- Write IEPs with transition plans
- Teach life and job skills
- Coordinate work experiences
- Track credits toward graduation
High School Teacher
- Plan and teach lessons in a subject
- Grade assignments and exams
- Prepare students for state and AP exams
- Manage classroom behavior
- Differentiate instruction
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, in-demand, and teamwork. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose high school special education teacher if…
- I connect with teenagers
- I care about life after school
- I advocate for students
Choose high school teacher if…
- I love my subject
- I enjoy working with teenagers
- I can manage a classroom
Still torn? Take the High School Special Education Teacher fit quiz and the High School Teacher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, high school special education teacher or high school teacher?
High School Special Education Teachers earn more at the median: $74,260 versus $72,040 for high school teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
High School Special Education Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensure) than high school teachers (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects high school special education teachers to grow -0.2% from 2025–35, compared with -0.2% for high school teachers.