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.
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?