Special educational needs teacher
Also known as: teacher in special education needs, teacher of special educational needs, special needs educator, autism teacher, special educational needs professional, special education teacher
About this occupation
Special educational needs teachers work with and teach children, young people, and adults with an intellectual or physical disability. They use a range of specialised concepts, strategies and tools to optimise learners' communication, mobility, autonomy, and social integration. They select teaching methods and support resources to enable individual learners to maximise their potential for independent living.
Essential skills and knowledge
- perform classroom management
- assist students in their learning
- support the positiveness of youths
- learning needs analysis
- give constructive feedback
- curriculum objectives
- disability types
- apply intercultural teaching strategies
- implement care programmes for children
- encourage students to acknowledge their achievements
- guarantee students' safety
- children's physical development
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (O*NET 25-2012.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
- Demonstrate activities to children.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Artistic, Conventional
Top skills: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Active Listening, Speaking, Learning Strategies, Monitoring
US median pay: US$62,680 a year (2025), 108,870 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageExtremely important (4.6)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.0)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.9)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- GeographyO*NET: GeographyImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.