Careers with a Master's Degree in Special Education

Earning your master’s in special education can empower you to make a difference in people’s lives. By entering or advancing within the field of special education, you can impact lives and your community. At the same time, having a master’s degree sets you apart as a qualified candidate for many roles and often increases your salary and earning potential.

The Growing Need for Special Education Professionals

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2020-21, 15% of all public-school students received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Many states, including California, have reported a shortage of qualified special education teachers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a whopping 7% job growth for special education teachers. More and more qualified special education teachers are needed nationwide. This affects both individuals with disabilities and the entire education system.

Why Pursue a Master's in Special Education?

A master’s degree in special education is a graduate degree designed to offer experienced teachers additional skills and knowledge for teaching students effectively and reaching students with different educational needs. Earning this graduate degree also makes you a more marketable candidate when applying for a job, because school systems are turning toward hiring teachers with special education credentials who can teach a wider range of students in their classrooms. Although you can become a special education teacher without a graduate degree, earning your master’s in special education will not only make you a more qualified applicant, the advanced training is also likely to make you a more effective teacher. Teachers with master’s degrees also typically earn a higher salary.

Career Paths with a Master's in Special Education

While many people who earn a master’s in education or special education plan to teach in a classroom setting, a special education master’s can lead to a variety of careers that help people or children with exceptionalities. A master’s degree in special education isn’t just a key to one door. It opens doors to diverse and impactful roles in several different fields to make a real difference in people’s lives. Here are some careers you can pursue with a master’s in special education:

1. Classroom Teacher

Average annual salary: \$61,820
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 4%

Special education teachers help students with disabilities in all grade levels. If you want to work in a classroom or teach directly, this role may be the right fit for you. As a special education teacher, you can work at the preschool, elementary, middle, or high school level. In some cases, you may spend time planning and implementing relatively minor educational accommodations for students with mild to moderate disabilities. If you work with students whose challenges are more severe, you may help teach life skills that will allow your students to have the greatest independence possible as adults. Special education teachers craft individualized plans and strategies to meet their students’ needs. If you enjoy customizing approaches for individuals with different needs, you’re likely to enjoy this process.

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2. Educational Diagnostician or Tester

Average annual salary: \$80,078
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 7%

If you’d like to help with early intervention and diagnosis of special needs, you may want to become an educational diagnostician or tester. In these roles, you’ll assess children to help understand their needs and growth. Diagnosticians often meet with teachers and parents to help design appropriate learning plans and evaluate a student’s progress along the way. A master’s degree is almost always necessary to be a diagnostician, so this is a great way to use your advanced training to help others.

3. Adjunct Professor

Average annual salary: \$88,064
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 12%

Community colleges and some four-year colleges and universities hire people with master’s degrees to teach as adjunct faculty members. You might consider using a master’s in special education to teach in this setting if you want to help equip and inspire soon-to-be special education teachers.

4. Special Education Clinical Roles

Average annual salary: Varies

An advanced degree in special education can also prepare you for work in clinical settings. Hospitals, for example, may offer early intervention positions designed to help children and adults with disabilities receive the services they need. You could also use your master’s degree in special education to help coordinate learning for children who are hospitalized for long periods of time or are in rehabilitation centers after experiencing an illness or injury. You may also be able to provide education, therapy, or rehabilitation for people with disabilities in other clinical settings. Early Intervention Specialist: You’ll guide young children with disabilities, fostering their development in hospital settings. Occupational Therapist: Leverage your disability expertise to design personalized therapy plans for individuals regaining functional skills after illness or injury. Speech-Language Pathologist: From children born with speech delays to adults recovering from strokes, you’ll assess and treat communication disorders across all ages. Rehabilitation Counselor: Partner with individuals with disabilities on their medical journeys.

5. Behavior Intervention Specialist

Average annual salary: \$52,388-\$66,861
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 25%

A behavior intervention specialist observes and assesses individual students and provides counsel to teachers, parents, and students in order to improve behavior and enable student success. If you’d enjoy working with a team of people determined to help a student succeed, this career might be a good fit. As a behavior intervention specialist, you might work at one or more schools or at a residential treatment center, group home, or in an early intervention program.

6. Special Education Instructional Coordinator

Average annual salary: \$63,740
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 7%

Special education instructional coordinators help develop curriculum to meet the needs of special education students. They may also provide teachers with mentorship and advice on working with special education students who are in mainstream classrooms. Instructional coordinators help develop individualized education programs, or IEPs, for students. If you become an instructional coordinator, you’ll work with teachers and school leaders to customize plans and meet students’ needs. Most instructional coordinators need a master’s degree in education or special education.

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7. Independent Consultant or Trainer

Average annual salary: \$69,309
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 6%

Using your knowledge of special education, you could provide expertise to your state department of education or to school districts. As a consultant with an advanced degree, you might also train other teachers to be more effective in their work.

8. Director or Program Manager

Average annual salary: \$126,897
Projected percent employment increase from 2020 to 2030: 24%

Having a master’s degree can prepare you to manage special education programs or to design programs or curriculum to meet students’ needs. Classroom and leadership experience will help you achieve this high-impact role. Develop, implement, and evaluate special education programs, often within nonprofit organizations, shaping the lives of countless students. In this position, you will oversee special education programs for compliance and effectiveness to ensure that students receive the care and training they need. Special education professionals can work in school or district administration to direct special education programs. They may have control of a budget, hire and train staff, and approve curriculum, as well as play a role in assessing students and determining their needs. Master’s degree in special education, education, or educational administration is required.

9. Specialist Roles

Average annual salary: Varies

A master’s in special education can also prepare you for specialist roles within a school or district. Examples include:

Resource specialist
Transition team specialist
Curriculum adaptation specialist

An M.A. with added authorizations could also prepare you to be a reading specialist or adapted physical education (P.E.) teacher.

Additional Career Options

Graduates of a master’s in special education can also qualify for jobs outside the classroom, depending on their other skills and experience.

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Adult education instructors help older students catch up on skills or knowledge they may have missed as children. This can include preparing for the General Education Development tests (GED) or learning English as a foreign language. Bachelor’s or master’s degree in special education is required.
CTE teachers may work in secondary vocational-technical programs or in community colleges, helping students to develop job skills for specific careers. Bachelor’s or master’s degree in education or special education, plus work experience in the field they teach is required.
Post-secondary teachers deliver course content to students at community colleges, colleges, or universities. Post-secondary special education teachers may work with students who have learning disabilities, helping them to develop effective study habits in the college environment. Master’s degree in education or special education is required. Some colleges may also require a doctoral degree, such as an Ed.D.
Post-secondary administrators lead programs and departments at colleges, universities, and community colleges. Master’s degree in education or special education is required. Some colleges may also require a doctoral degree, such as an Ed.D.
Social and community service managers direct service programs offered by private or public organizations.
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Next Steps in Your Teaching Career

Earning your master’s in special education can lead you to a fulfilling career - and the field is ripe with opportunities. Department of Education reports that 14% of all students between the ages of 3-21 received special education services during the 2019-2020 school year.* Many of the teachers and administrators who provided those services held master’s degrees in special education. However, so did many of the textbook writers, program developers, and other professionals working behind the scenes. As the importance of special education grows, so does the earning potential of professionals in this field.

Here are some steps you can take to advance your career:

Look for accredited degree programs that align with your career goals.
Ensure you meet the prerequisites for admission.
Explore financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Consider whether you prefer a full-time or part-time program.
Engage in practical experiences to apply your learning in real-world settings.

The Impact of a Master's in Special Education

A master’s in special education isn’t just a qualification. It can equip graduates with the right types of skill sets needed in and out of the classroom. This advanced degree in the field of education can serve as your toolkit and next steps in the classroom. You’ll gain essential skills to stand out in the competitive world of education. As an educator working with students with disabilities, you will encounter dynamic opportunities to help your students learn and develop. There are many approaches to engaging students, helping each succeed academically and socially. Become a learning detective, meticulously unlocking student potential through personalized learning plans.

With a background in special education and with leadership skill sets, you can step into influential roles and contribute meaningfully to shaping and improving special education programs. Elevate your classroom impact with your master’s degree. Command higher-paying positions, leadership roles, and specialized endorsements, enriching the lives of your students even further. Become a teacher’s champion! Provide resources, professional development, and data analysis, empowering them to create thriving learning environments.

Choosing the Right Program

For those aspiring to make a meaningful impact in the field of special education, New Mexico State University (NMSU) Global Campus offers a broad Master of Arts in Special Education program. At NMSU Global Campus, we get that everyone’s journey is unique. That’s why our MAEd in Special Education program offers a variety of pathways. With our fully online coursework, you can kiss those campus commutes goodbye. We believe in quality education that won’t break the bank. NMSU Global Campus offers competitive tuition rates and scholarship opportunities.

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