Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary Overview in North Dakota
Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Elementary Special Education Teacher pay in North Dakota at about $58,752.0 per year. On the latest official statewide BLS baseline, the range runs from about $44,480.0 at the lower end to $80,230.0 for top earners.
This guide covers the full statewide Elementary Special Education Teacher salary picture first, then compares metro markets inside North Dakota where BLS data is available — making it useful for candidates who want a broader view beyond any single city.
North Dakota Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary vs the U.S. Average
The statewide median for Elementary Special Education Teacher roles in North Dakota is $58,752.0, compared with a U.S. median of $63,000.0. That gap of -7% helps readers see whether this state sits in a premium salary market, a near-national market, or a lower-cost salary market relative to the rest of the country.
| Benchmark | North Dakota | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected annual salary | $58,752.0 | $63,000.0 | -7% vs U.S. |
| Entry-level benchmark | $49,058.0 | $48,367.0 | +1% vs U.S. |
| Senior-level benchmark | $62,969.0 | $80,578.0 | -22% vs U.S. |
| Top baseline wage range | $80,230.0 | $100,620 | -20% vs U.S. |
| Projected hourly equivalent | N/A | N/A | 720 state jobs |
Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary by Experience Level in North Dakota
Statewide experience bands help show how much of the salary story comes from growing responsibility, not location alone. Even inside one state, the distance between entry-level and senior pay can be wide enough to change how attractive the long-term path looks.
| Level | Experience | Projected Salary | Projected Range | Vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level Elementary Special Education Teacher | 0-2 years | $49,058.0 | $45,197.0 - $58,752.0 | -22% vs U.S. |
| Mid-Level Elementary Special Education Teacher | 3-5 years | $58,752.0 | $49,058.0 - $62,969.0 | -7% vs U.S. |
| Senior Elementary Special Education Teacher | 6-10 years | $62,969.0 | $58,752.0 - $81,523.0 | Near national |
| Lead / Principal Elementary Special Education Teacher | 10+ years | $81,523.0 | $62,969.0 - $99,459.0 | +29% vs U.S. |
Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary by City in North Dakota
City-level differences inside North Dakota can be large. Stronger salary metro areas often combine dense employers, specialized industries, and stronger competition for experienced Elementary Special Education Teacher talent.
| City / Metro | Projected Salary | Projected Range | Vs State | Market Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $61,970.0 | $51,930.0 - $83,990.0 | +5% vs U.S. | Competitive metro |
| Minot, ND | $61,290.0 | $46,180.0 - $80,230.0 | +4% vs U.S. | Competitive metro |
| Grand Forks, ND | $58,650.0 | $46,960.0 - $79,520.0 | Near national | Value market |
| Fargo, ND | $50,360.0 | $42,330.0 - $81,830.0 | -14% vs U.S. | Value market |
| Bismarck, ND | $62,030.0 | $51,990.0 - $84,080.0 | +6% vs U.S. | Competitive metro |
| Grand Forks, ND | $61,030.0 | $50,040.0 - $79,870.0 | +4% vs U.S. | Competitive metro |
| Fargo, ND | $56,480.0 | $42,280.0 - $83,370.0 | -4% vs U.S. | Value market |
| Grand Forks, ND | $59,940.0 | $48,100.0 - $75,510.0 | +2% vs U.S. | Competitive metro |
Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary by Industry in North Dakota
Industry mix is one of the strongest drivers behind pay differences inside a state. Stronger salary industry rows usually reflect employers that place the role closer to revenue, specialized operations, or hard-to-source talent.
| Industry | Modeled Salary | Reference Range | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services | $74,320.0 | $43,230.0 - $108,070 | Stronger salary |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $66,440.0 | $40,990.0 - $105,320 | Stronger salary |
| Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service | $64,530.0 | $45,310.0 - $100,880 | Stronger salary |
| Other Services Except Public Administration | $63,290.0 | $47,360.0 - $78,640.0 | Competitive |
| Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service | $63,220.0 | $47,770.0 - $100,950 | Competitive |
| Educational Services | $62,990.0 | $47,600.0 - $100,620 | Competitive |
Entry-Level Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in North Dakota
Entry-level pay in North Dakota for elementary special education teacher usually starts near the lower statewide wage band, then rises as candidates move from supervised work into independent delivery. The first major salary jump often comes from handling broader scope, changing employers, or moving into stronger local metro markets.
| Stage | Typical Salary | Timeline | Key Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern / trainee | $38.4K - $49.7K | Pre-full-time | Foundational proof |
| Entry-level | $49,058.0 | 0-2 years | Structured support and learning |
| Promotion-ready junior | $53.0K - $59.9K | 12-24 months | Independent delivery |
| Mid-level target | $58,752.0 | 18-30 months | Broader ownership |
Public vs Private-Sector Pay in North Dakota
The state salary dataset here does not label every wage row by public or private ownership, so this section models the comparison from statewide salary levels and the industry spread visible in the data. It is best read as pay guidance, not as a direct government-vs-private wage census.
| Employer Type | Estimated Salary | Best Match | How It Is Modeled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public / institutional style | $66,440.0 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Anchored to lower-variance industry rows and the statewide baseline |
| Private-market baseline | $58,752.0 | North Dakota commercial employers | Uses the core statewide median as the middle market |
| Top private-sector path | $74,320.0 | Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services | Anchored to the strongest visible industry pay rows |
Remote vs Onsite Elementary Special Education Teacher Pay in North Dakota
Remote and hybrid work can change the salary story for a state page because the employer market may be broader than the worker’s home location. Where direct remote comp data is available, it is shown below; otherwise the fallback rows use the local salary benchmark as the base case.
| Work Type | Estimated Salary | Experience | Best Fit | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote | $58,752.0 | Market dependent | National hiring pools | High |
| Hybrid | $60,514.6 | Metro dependent | North Dakota employers | Medium |
| Onsite | $59,339.5 | Location dependent | Local teams and offices | Lower |
The best remote comparison is total pay after commute, housing pressure, and access to stronger employer markets. A lower-cost metro paired with national hiring access can outperform a higher nominal local salary.
Cost of Living for Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in North Dakota
A state salary should be read alongside rent, taxes, commuting, and the mix of high-cost and lower-cost metro areas inside the state. The same Elementary Special Education Teacher salary can feel very different across North Dakota.
| Market | Projected Salary | Monthly | Vs State | Modeled Cost Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $61,970.0 | $5.2K | +5% vs U.S. | Balanced metro |
| Minot, ND | $61,290.0 | $5.1K | +4% vs U.S. | Balanced metro |
| Grand Forks, ND | $58,650.0 | $4.9K | Near national | Lower-cost signal |
| Fargo, ND | $50,360.0 | $4.2K | -14% vs U.S. | Lower-cost signal |
| Bismarck, ND | $62,030.0 | $5.2K | +6% vs U.S. | Balanced metro |
| Grand Forks, ND | $61,030.0 | $5.1K | +4% vs U.S. | Balanced metro |
Leading Salary Cities in North Dakota
Statewide averages flatten the most important local differences. This ranking brings those differences back into view by showing which cities and metros inside North Dakota create the strongest salary benchmarks for this role.
| City / Metro | Projected Salary | Projected Range | Vs State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $61,970.0 | $51,930.0 - $83,990.0 | +5% vs U.S. |
| Minot, ND | $61,290.0 | $46,180.0 - $80,230.0 | +4% vs U.S. |
| Grand Forks, ND | $58,650.0 | $46,960.0 - $79,520.0 | Near national |
| Fargo, ND | $50,360.0 | $42,330.0 - $81,830.0 | -14% vs U.S. |
| Bismarck, ND | $62,030.0 | $51,990.0 - $84,080.0 | +6% vs U.S. |
| Grand Forks, ND | $61,030.0 | $50,040.0 - $79,870.0 | +4% vs U.S. |
| Fargo, ND | $56,480.0 | $42,280.0 - $83,370.0 | -4% vs U.S. |
| Grand Forks, ND | $59,940.0 | $48,100.0 - $75,510.0 | +2% vs U.S. |
| Fargo, ND | $59,550.0 | $39,980.0 - $79,430.0 | +1% vs U.S. |
| Bismarck, ND | $58,690.0 | $49,190.0 - $79,560.0 | Near national |
Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary Trends in North Dakota Over Time
* 2024–2026 values are modeled estimates extending from the last confirmed BLS benchmark. The last confirmed BLS figure ($57.8K, 2024) is extended with recent wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available, then replaced when official data is published.
Elementary Special Education Teacher Demand Outlook in North Dakota
Career growth inside North Dakota is best read through two lenses: the local salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The salary ladder shows how compensation expands with responsibility, while the outlook data shows whether employers are likely to keep competing for talent.
| Metric | 2026 Outlook |
|---|---|
| Projected employment | 230.2k → 226.1k |
| Typical education | Bachelor's degree |
| Related experience | None |
| State market anchor | 720 jobs with a median of $58,752.0 |
Factors That Affect Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in North Dakota
State salary is shaped by more than the job title. Metro concentration, local industry strength, training expectations, and the size of the in-state employer market all influence where pay ultimately settles.
How to Increase Your Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in North Dakota
Salary growth tends to come fastest when candidates combine stronger proof of impact, better-paying market selection, and negotiation with current state and U.S. benchmarks in hand.
| Move | Why It Helps | Timeline | Avg. Salary Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark against stronger markets | Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data. | 1-3 months | +15-30% |
| Build a visible specialization | Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning. | 3-9 months | $7.1K - $16.5K |
| Target higher-paying industries | Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline. | 2-6 months | $4.7K - $10.6K |
Elementary Special Education Teacher Salary in North Dakota: FAQs
These questions usually come up after readers compare the statewide benchmark with city differences, experience bands, and demand signals. They are here to clear up the parts of the salary picture that still feel uncertain after the main sections.
These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Elementary Special Education Teacher" compare statewide salary levels, metro differences, and career progression across the state.
What is the average Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten And Elementary School salary?⌄
What is the entry-level Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten And Elementary School salary?⌄
How much can senior Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten And Elementary School professionals earn?⌄
Does location affect Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten And Elementary School salary?⌄
Which skills matter for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten And Elementary School salary growth?⌄
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