School Counselor vs Special Education Teacher: which pays more?
Special Education Teachers earn about $3,000 more per year than school counselors — roughly 5% higher at the national median. Here is how the two careers compare on pay, training, and outlook.
School Counselor
$62,000
median per year
School counselors help students develop academic and social skills and plan for careers.
Full school counselor salary data →Special Education Teacher
$65,000
median per year
Special education teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities.
Full special education teacher salary data →Side-by-side breakdown
| Metric | School Counselor | Special Education Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $62,000 | $65,000 |
| Median hourly pay | $30 | $31 |
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $42,000 | $48,000 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $98,000 | $100,000 |
| Education required | Master's degree in school counseling plus state certification. | Bachelor's degree plus special education certification. |
| Job outlook | 4% growth through 2033 — mental health focus grows. | 3% growth through 2033 — persistent shortages. |
Pay by state
| State | School Counselor | Special Education Teacher | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $73,000 | $76,500 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| New York | $70,500 | $74,000 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Massachusetts | $70,000 | $73,500 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Washington | $69,500 | $73,000 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| New Jersey | $67,500 | $71,000 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Colorado | $64,500 | $67,500 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
| Illinois | $63,000 | $66,500 | −$3,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Pennsylvania | $61,000 | $63,500 | −$2,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Texas | $60,000 | $63,000 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
| Arizona | $59,500 | $62,500 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
| Michigan | $59,000 | $62,000 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
| Ohio | $58,500 | $61,000 | −$2,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| Georgia | $58,500 | $61,000 | −$2,500 for Special Education Teacher |
| North Carolina | $57,500 | $60,500 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
| Florida | $57,000 | $60,000 | −$3,000 for Special Education Teacher |
Which career should you choose?
Pay is only one part of the decision. Special Education Teachers earn more on paper, but bachelor's degree plus special education certification. takes longer and costs more than master's degree in school counseling plus state certification.. If you want to start earning sooner, school counselor is usually the faster route. If long-term earning ceiling matters most, special education teacher tops out at $100,000 versus $98,000.
Job security also differs: school counselor outlook is "4% growth through 2033 — mental health focus grows." while special education teacher outlook is "3% growth through 2033 — persistent shortages."