Salary

Average Salary: $55,000

Expected Lifetime Earnings: $2,296,140


It's safe to say you won't be pulling up to school in a $100,000 sports car. Actually, if you have a wealthy spouse, it may not be out of the question, but the funds for your sweet ride won't be coming from your paycheck.

We're thinking more in the Honda Civic zone. Maybe you could put a spoiler on it if you really wanted to. (Source)

The average annually salary for a special education teacher is around $55k (source). Low teacher pay isn't a new issue, but if you put in the time and effort, and work in the right district, you might be able to make a nice little salary. In fact, the top 10% of special education teachers can earn over $87k a year (source).

That's almost a six-figure salary—almost.

You'll be repped by a union, so you'll have people fighting on your behalf and making sure you're getting paid a fair wage and getting hooked up with the right benefits.

Did we mention you get the summers off?