Online Special Education Degree

Principals are responsible for the supervision of all teachers and students, as well as a wide range of administrative tasks. The principal creates school policies, drafts the academic calendar, hires staff, handles the school budget, and disciplines students. Principals work incredibly hard and their efforts are reflected in their compensation, with average yearly salaries over $90,000. Competition for principal jobs is somewhat tough, with only 240,000 roles in the U.S. in 2014.

High school teachers prepare students in grades 9-12 for success in college and beyond. These teachers tend to focus on one specialized subject, including branches of traditional academic subjects. Because the material they’re required to teach is fairly advanced, high school teachers often work beyond the school week to prepare lectures and grade assignments. With more than 961,000 high school teaching jobs in the U.S. and an average yearly salary of $57,200, teaching high school is a stable career path.

Middle school teachers work with students in grades 6-8, building on the academic foundation learned in elementary school. Middle school teachers are responsible for preparing their students for the transition into the more challenging academic environment of high school, and often teach specialized subjects versus a general curriculum. The 627,500 middle school teachers in the U.S. make an average annual salary of $55,860.

Elementary school teachers work with children from kindergarten to 6th grade. They teach basic subjects like reading, writing, and arithmetic, and ensure their students’ emotional and personal growth. Character traits like creativity and organization are imperative. The average salary for elementary teachers is $54,550 annually. Demand for professionals in this role remains consistently high; there were more than 1.5 million elementary teaching jobs in the U.S. in 2014.

As a special education teacher, you’ll work with students with mental, emotional, physical, or learning-specific disabilities and will be required to assess your students to create and manage individualized education programs that will ensure their success. Sometimes this means creating variations on traditional lessons, and often entails additional instruction in emotional wellness, communication, and literacy. Teaching special education requires patience, and the best educators are adaptable, creative, organized, and understanding. On average, special education teachers earn upwards $56,000 per year.