Career comparison
Kindergarten Teacher vs. Special Education Teacher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Special education teachers earn more at the median ($65,120 vs. $62,680), while kindergarten teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). Kindergarten teachers teach children their first year of school: reading, math and how to learn. Special education teachers teach and support students with disabilities so they can learn and thrive.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Kindergarten Teacher | Special Education Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,680 | $65,120 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,990 – $101,830 | $49,350 – $103,010 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.3% (little or no change) | -0.4% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 11,900 | 16,400 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | State teaching license | State special education license |
| Work setting | Kindergarten teachers work in elementary school classrooms that are active and noisy, with lots of movement.. | Special education teachers work in resource rooms, self-contained classrooms and general education classrooms, with meetings and paperwork.. |
What each job does
Kindergarten Teacher
- Teach early reading, writing and math
- Plan hands-on lessons
- Build classroom routines and social skills
- Assess student progress
- Differentiate instruction for different learners
Special Education Teacher
- Assess students’ needs and progress
- Write and implement IEPs
- Adapt lessons and materials
- Teach individuals and small groups
- Co-teach in general education classes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose kindergarten teacher if…
- I love young children
- I’m patient and energetic
- I want to teach reading foundations
Choose special education teacher if…
- I want to help students with disabilities
- I’m patient and persistent
- I like individualized teaching
Still torn? Take the Kindergarten Teacher fit quiz and the Special Education Teacher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, kindergarten teacher or special education teacher?
Special Education Teachers earn more at the median: $65,120 versus $62,680 for kindergarten teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Kindergarten Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensing) than special education teachers (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects kindergarten teachers to grow -0.3% from 2025–35, compared with -0.4% for special education teachers.