Prevailing Wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
The prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2058) is set by the DOL using four experience-based levels, so whether your offer is filed as an Education Specialist position or an Emotional Disability Special Education Teacher (ED SPED Teacher) role, the floor you must clear depends on both level and worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level special education teachers with limited classroom experience, typically recent graduates or those new to secondary settings. DOL expects minimal independent judgment, close supervision, and a developing familiarity with IEP development and disability-specific instruction.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School. It applies to teachers with some independent caseload management, established IEP practice, and a standard secondary credential. Employers routinely anchor LCA filings here for qualified candidates with one to four years of experience.
Level 3 covers experienced special education teachers who handle complex caseloads, mentor junior staff, or lead departmental compliance efforts. Candidates typically hold advanced credentials or endorsements and operate with broad professional autonomy across multiple disability categories.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior practitioners: lead special education coordinators, department heads, or district-level resource teachers who set program standards, oversee compliance, and require no supervisory guidance in managing multi-disability secondary caseloads.
Prevailing Wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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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Verify your IEP caseload maps to the right level
DOL level assignments for special educators hinge on caseload complexity and supervisory independence, not just years in the classroom. A teacher managing 15 to 20 IEPs across multiple disability categories independently typically supports a Level 3 filing, not Level 2.
Watch California metro wage floors before accepting offers
San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco report significantly higher prevailing wages for this occupation than the national median. If your offer is based on a national salary band, the LCA wage floor in California metros may exceed it substantially.
Check whether your signing bonus counts toward the wage floor
DOL requires the base wage alone to meet the prevailing wage; one-time signing bonuses and retention payments do not satisfy the floor. Special education employers in high-demand districts sometimes structure offers this way, which creates compliance risk at visa filing.
Use Migrate Mate to find districts with H-1B sponsorship history
Public school districts and charter networks vary widely in sponsorship willingness. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, so you can focus your search on districts already familiar with the H-1B process.
Jobs for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-2058.00 alongside Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Education Specialist Prevailing Wage
Education Specialist Prevailing Wage
Education Specialist positions fall under SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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 Disability Special Education Teacher (ED SPED Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Emotional Disability Special Education Teacher (ED SPED Teacher) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Emotional Disability Special Education Teacher (ED SPED Teacher) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary School). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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.
Handicapped Teacher Prevailing Wage
Handicapped Teacher Prevailing Wage
Handicapped Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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.
HS SPED Teacher (High School Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
HS SPED Teacher (High School Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a HS SPED Teacher (High School Special Education Teacher) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary School). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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.
Special Day Class Teacher (SDC Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Special Day Class Teacher (SDC Teacher) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Special Day Class Teacher (SDC Teacher) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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 25-2058.00 (Special Education Teachers, Secondary 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, Secondary School?
DOL publishes prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 25-2058, wages are calculated at the metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area level and divided into four levels based on experience and job complexity. Employers must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified, Level 3 is experienced, and Level 4 is fully competent. Your level depends on how much independent judgment, supervisory responsibility, and caseload complexity DOL and the employer assign to the specific position. Review the actual job duties on the LCA: a teacher managing a complex multi-disability caseload without supervision typically warrants Level 3, while a newly credentialed hire under mentorship fits Level 1 or 2.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects local teacher pay markets. California metros like San Diego and San Francisco have significantly higher floors than rural areas in Utah or North Carolina. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, meaning the wage floor is tied to where you physically work, not where the employer's headquarters is located. OFLC enforces this through the LCA certification process.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School?
USCIS will deny the H-1B petition if the LCA wage does not meet the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite and level. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC will reject certification if the offered wage falls below the applicable floor. The employer must either raise the salary before filing or refile at the correct prevailing wage level. Retroactive adjustments after denial are not permitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 25-2058 in any metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area. Select the correct OES wage year, enter the SOC code, and choose your worksite area. You can also cross-reference occupation details on O*NET. For finding employers who actively sponsor this role, Migrate Mate filters listings by visa type and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts.
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