Special education teachers, secondary school
SOC Code: 25-2058
Special education teachers, secondary school carries a 36% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $69,590 and -1.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 164,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 36% AI exposure, Special education teachers, secondary school sits 1 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 58% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Special education teachers, secondary school sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Special education teachers, secondary school has ai exposure of 36%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Special education teachers, secondary school vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Special education teachers, secondary school is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Special education teachers, secondary school (SOC 25-2058) carries an AI exposure score of 36%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 164,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -1.6% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $69,590, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Special education teachers, secondary school. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- 2. Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 3. Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
- 4. Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- 5. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- 6. Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 7. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- 8. Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- 9. Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- 10. Teach personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
Key Skills Required
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
Knowledge Areas
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Special education teachers, secondary school?
Special education teachers, secondary school has an AI exposure score of 36%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Special education teachers, secondary school?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Special education teachers, secondary school is projected to decline by 1.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 164,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Special education teachers, secondary school?
Key skills for Special education teachers, secondary school include Learning Strategies, Instructing, Reading Comprehension, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Special education teachers, secondary school earn?
The median annual wage for Special education teachers, secondary school is $69,590, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Special education teachers, secondary school?
The typical entry-level education for Special education teachers, secondary school is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Special education teachers, secondary school?
Special education teachers, secondary school roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).