Special education teachers, middle school

United States AI Work IndexISCO 2511major_group_fallback

United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.

94.8 current · 93 projectedConfidence high

Why This Score

Tasks 97%

Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities

Wage $65K

Median annual wage

Demand -2%

Projected employment change over 10 years

Preparation Zone 4

Typical preparation needed for this occupation

Occupation profile

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Task evidence

97% weighted task match · 18% effective coverage

Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works

United States Now

Median Wage

USD 64,880

Employment 2024

94.8K

Projected Change (2024–34)

-1.9%

Openings (2024–34)

6.3K

Wage distribution

Bottom 10%: USD 48,07025th pctl: USD 58,590Median: USD 64,88075th pctl: USD 81,940Top 10%: USD 102,730

Demand outlook

Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.

Education: Bachelor's degree Experience: None

Role Profile

AdaptabilityInterpersonalWriting and reading

Tasks

1. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. AI use: 0%
2. Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. AI use: 0%
3. Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions. AI use: 0%
4. Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests. AI use: 0%
5. Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy. AI use: 0%
6. Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. AI use: 0%

Technologies

Apple macOSMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePoint

Requirements

Adaptability: Work schedule variability: 26.5%Adaptability: Work schedule variability: 73.5%Pace: Work pace: 53.2%

Work context

E-Mail 5.0/5

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.7/5

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams 4.6/5

Conflict Situations 4.6/5

Physical Proximity 4.5/5

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled 4.3/5

Worker profile

Median age 43.4 · 349K employed

Under 25: 7% · 25–54: 75% · 55+: 18%

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