Special Education Teacher Jobs in Illinois

Special Education Teacher jobs in Illinois are among the most active in the Midwest, with steady demand across public school districts, private therapeutic day schools, and early intervention programs at every level from paraprofessional-to-teacher transitions through lead and department-head roles. Chicago Public Schools, Easterseals, and Clearbrook are among the anchor employers, with the largest concentrations of openings in the Chicago metro, Rockford, and Springfield. Autism spectrum support, emotional and behavioral disorders, and learning disabilities specialists are the most consistently sought sub-areas statewide. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles140+
Top employerEdu-Aids
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring88
Work type100% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 140+ Special Education Teacher jobs

Chicago Public Schools
Temporary Special Education Teacher (PreK-3)
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Chicago Public Schools
Added 1d ago
Temporary Special Education Teacher (PreK-3)
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$64k.94 - $83k.39/yr
Teaching Certification
10,000+

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Chicago Public Schools
Anticipated Temporary Special Education Teacher (PreK-3 SPED LBS, 4-5 SPED LBS)
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Chicago Public Schools
Added 1d ago
Anticipated Temporary Special Education Teacher (PreK-3 SPED LBS, 4-5 SPED LBS)
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$64k.94 - $83k.39/yr
Teaching Certification
10,000+

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Specialized Education Services, Inc.
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
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Specialized Education Services, Inc.
Added 1d ago
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Specialized Education Services, Inc.
Custer Park, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$55k - $70k/yr
Teaching Certification
1,001-5,000

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D
Special Education Teacher
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D
Added 1d ago
Special Education Teacher
DC Champion
Niles, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$60k - $70k/yr
On-Site

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Distinctive Schools
Special Education Teacher
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Distinctive Schools
Added 1d ago
Special Education Teacher
Distinctive Schools
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
11-50

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See All 140+ Special Education Teacher Jobs in Illinois

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Special Education Teacher Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Burbank
6 jobs
Joliet
3 jobs
Maywood
3 jobs
Arlington Heights
3 jobs
Elgin
2 jobs
Niles
2 jobs
Oswego
2 jobs
Rantoul
2 jobs

Special Education Teacher Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • E
    Edu-Aids10
  • Chicago Public Schools
    Chicago Public Schools9
  • Kreyco
    Kreyco6
  • Burbank School District 111
    Burbank School District 1116
  • The Menta Education
    The Menta Education5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in special education teacher jobs across Illinois.

  • Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with a Special Education approval from ISBE
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in special education or a closely related field
  • Experience developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs for students
  • Knowledge of Illinois state special education compliance regulations and procedures
  • Ability to collaborate with general education teachers, therapists, and family members
  • Proficiency with assistive technology tools and differentiated instructional strategies

Special Education Teacher Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a special education teacher in Illinois?

To become a special education teacher in Illinois, you must earn a Professional Educator License with a Special Education approval issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. This requires completing an approved teacher preparation program, passing the Illinois Licensure Testing System exams including the Special Education General Curriculum test, and completing student teaching hours. The Illinois State Board of Education oversees all licensing, and candidates apply through the ISBE Educator Licensure Information System.

How much do special education teachers make in Illinois?

Special education teachers in Illinois earn a median of about $62,580 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $42,320 for the lowest 10% to over $100,460 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire special education teachers in Illinois?

Employers hiring special education teachers in Illinois right now include Edu-Aids, Chicago Public Schools, and Kreyco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's mix of large urban public districts, private therapeutic day schools, and nonprofit disability-services organizations means hiring is spread across employer types rather than concentrated in a single sector.

Which Illinois cities have the most special education teacher jobs?

Chicago, Burbank, and Joliet have the most special education teacher openings in Illinois. The Chicago metro dominates due to the sheer size of Chicago Public Schools and the dense network of private special education providers in the suburbs, while Rockford and Springfield reflect the staffing needs of their respective regional school districts and state-funded early intervention programs.

Are there remote special education teacher jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of special education teacher openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that most of the work requires in-person instruction, therapy co-facilitation, and direct student support. The roles most likely to carry a remote or hybrid component are supervisory positions, special education coordinators, and itinerant consulting roles that focus on compliance review or IEP coaching rather than daily classroom instruction.

How can I get hired as a special education teacher in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying as a special education paraprofessional or instructional aide within a district while completing an Illinois-approved teacher preparation program. Chicago Public Schools and many suburban Cook County districts hire paraprofessionals without a teaching license and offer tuition support partnerships with local universities. Candidates who hold an Illinois substitute teaching license can gain classroom exposure quickly. Completing coursework toward the ISBE Special Education approval and logging student teaching hours in an Illinois placement significantly strengthens applications for junior teaching roles.

Where can I find and apply to special education teacher jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to special education teacher jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings, identify roles that match your license endorsement and preferred district or employer type, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 140+ Special Education Teacher Jobs in Illinois

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