Special Education Teacher - Pay and progression
Kaiako Mātauranga Whakahirahira
Pay
Pay for special education teachers and resource teachers depends on whether they are trained primary or secondary teachers.
- A primary-trained special education teacher with a three-year teaching qualification starts on $44,348 a year. Those with four years of study start on $45,653 a year.
- A secondary-trained special education teacher starts on $45,653 a year.
- Both primary and secondary teachers who have done four years' of tertiary study can reach a maximum salary of $68,980 after seven years.
- Early intervention teachers are on the same salary scale as other qualified early childhood teachers, starting on approximately $41,000 a year and reaching a maximum salary of about $68,980 after seven years.
According to the 2006 Census, special education teachers earned an average of $35,900 a year and worked an average of 32 hours per week. This includes full and part-time workers.
This information is provided as a guide only
Career Progression
Special education teachers may become senior teachers or heads of department. They may also move into management roles, becoming school principals, or assistant or deputy principals.
They may become advisers, such as a special education adviser or an adviser on deaf children, offering curriculum and professional development support to schools in their region.
Outside the school system, teachers may move into research and policy roles at the Ministry of Education or not-for-profit organisations.
Updated
September 2009
