Special Education Teachers, Preschool
SOC Code: 25-2051 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Special Education Teachers, Preschool. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $141,481,600 | $197,585,440 | $253,691,360 | $309,795,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,302,400 | $151,209,760 | $192,115,040 | $233,022,400 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $141,232,000 | $169,686,400 | $198,140,800 | $226,595,200 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $139,193,600 | $167,808,160 | $196,420,640 | $225,035,200 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $153,753,600 | $176,161,440 | $198,571,360 | $220,979,200 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $153,753,600 | $176,009,600 | $198,265,600 | $220,521,600 |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $137,113,600 | $163,086,560 | $189,057,440 | $215,030,400 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $105,060,800 | $141,350,560 | $177,638,240 | $213,928,000 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $109,096,000 | $141,787,360 | $174,476,640 | $207,168,000 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $140,940,800 | $162,891,040 | $184,843,360 | $206,793,600 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.8 | |
| Writing | 3.8 | |
| Learning Strategies | 3.8 | |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 4.5 |
| Education and Training | 4.2 |
| Psychology | 3.8 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.4 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.3 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 |
| Administrative | 3.1 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 31.7% |
| Master's degree | 31.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.3% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 7.8% |
| Associate's degree | 3.0% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word American Sign Language Browser Children's educational software Drawing software Email software Screen magnification software Screen reader software Web browser software Word processing software
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