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Special Education Teachers

Employment Prospects

Employers

Approximately 490,780 special education teachers are employed in the United States. The majority of special education teachers teach in public and private schools. Others work in state education agencies, homebound or hospital environments, or residential facilities.

Starting Out

Because public school systems are by far the largest employers of special education teachers, this is where you should begin your job search.

You can also use your college's career services office to locate job leads. This may prove a very effective place to begin. You may also write to your state's department of education for information on placement and regulations, or contact state employment offices to inquire about job openings. Applying directly to local school systems can sometimes be effective. Even if a school system does not have an immediate opening, it will usually keep your resume on file should a vacancy occur.