Prevailing Wage for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
Prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School is set by DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts substantially depending on where the worksite is located. Whether your offer covers a Learning Support Teacher role, a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher (DHH Teacher) position, or an Emotional Disabilities Teacher posting, the same SOC 25-2056 floor applies.
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Entry-level teachers with limited classroom experience, typically in their first one to two years with a bachelor's degree and state licensure but no specialized caseload history. DOL expects minimal independent judgment and close supervisory oversight at this level.
Teachers with two to four years of experience managing a specialized caseload, applying IEP development skills with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School because it matches most standard district hire profiles.
Experienced teachers with four or more years who lead IEP teams, mentor newer staff, or manage complex caseloads across multiple disability categories. DOL expects substantial independent judgment and a record of student outcome responsibility.
Senior or lead special education teachers who function as department heads, instructional coaches, or district-level specialists. This level reflects full competency with broad program authority, policy input, and responsibility for shaping district-wide special education practices.
Prevailing Wage for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your IEP caseload complexity before selecting a level
DOL levels for this occupation hinge on IEP leadership and disability category breadth. A teacher managing a multi-disability caseload independently typically warrants Level 3, not Level 2. Filing too low creates a wage floor that undersells your qualifications and raises LCA red flags.
Watch for title aliasing under the wrong SOC
District postings titled Resource Program Teacher or Learning Support Teacher sometimes get filed under a general elementary teacher SOC, missing the SOC 25-2056 floor entirely. Verify your offer letter title matches the LCA job title and that the SOC cited is 25-2056.
Factor in the California metro premium when comparing offers
Top-paying metros for this occupation are concentrated in California. An offer in El Centro or San Jose carries a substantially higher prevailing wage floor than a comparable role in Provo or Yuma. The gap between top and bottom metros for this SOC is among the widest in education.
Use Migrate Mate to find districts with a sponsorship history
Most school districts rarely sponsor visas, but some do so repeatedly. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Special Education Teachers, Elementary School before, letting you target districts with a proven H-1B or green card filing track record rather than starting from scratch.
Jobs for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-2056.00 alongside Special Education Teachers, Elementary School, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher (DHH Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher (DHH Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher (DHH Teacher) positions fall under SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Emotional Disabilities Teacher Prevailing Wage
Emotional Disabilities Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Emotional Disabilities Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Learning Support Teacher Prevailing Wage
Learning Support Teacher Prevailing Wage
Learning Support Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Resource Program Teacher Prevailing Wage
Resource Program Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Resource Program Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher (SED Elementary Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher (SED Elementary Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher (SED Elementary Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Special Educator Prevailing Wage
Special Educator Prevailing Wage
Special Educator positions fall under SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
SPED Inclusion Teacher (Special Education Inclusion Teacher) Prevailing Wage
SPED Inclusion Teacher (Special Education Inclusion Teacher) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a SPED Inclusion Teacher (Special Education Inclusion Teacher) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
SPED Resource Teacher (Special Education Resource Teacher) Prevailing Wage
SPED Resource Teacher (Special Education Resource Teacher) Prevailing Wage
SPED Resource Teacher (Special Education Resource Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
SPED Teacher (Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
SPED Teacher (Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
SPED Teacher (Special Education Teacher) positions fall under SOC 25-2056.00 (Special Education Teachers, Elementary School). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School?
DOL draws on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mapped to SOC 25-2056. OFLC then publishes four wage levels for each metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area. Employers filing an LCA must offer at least the level that matches the position's experience and supervision requirements. The resulting floor is binding for H-1B, E-3, and PERM-based green card filings.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 applies to entry-level roles with close supervision and limited experience. Level 2, the most common filing level for this occupation, covers teachers with standard IEP experience working with moderate independence. Level 3 covers experienced teachers with complex caseloads or mentorship duties. Level 4 applies to lead or senior roles with district-wide responsibilities. Compare your actual day-to-day duties and supervisory structure against DOL's level definitions to identify the correct tier.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC publishes separate wage tables for each metropolitan statistical area based on regional labor market data from BLS surveys. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, and DOL applies the wage floor for that specific area. Markets with strong union contracts, high district budgets, or teacher shortages tend to push local wages up, creating large gaps between metros like San Jose and smaller markets like Enid or Yuma.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and level. If the offer falls short, the employer must either raise the salary before filing or the LCA will not be certified by OFLC. A certified LCA is required before USCIS will process an H-1B petition, so a below-floor offer blocks the sponsorship entirely until corrected.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Elementary School in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website. Enter SOC code 25-2056, select the relevant metropolitan area or county, and choose the appropriate wage level. The result shows the current binding floor for your worksite. You can also cross-reference with O*NET for occupation-level wage context. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location to see which districts are actively hiring and have sponsored this role before.
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