Explore Career Opportunities in Special Education with an MEd

Begin transforming lives with these career opportunities in special education that are impactful and fulfilling.

Special education careers present varied opportunities for professionals to support individuals who are disabled and differently abled in a range of environments. From school to home life, employment support, community engagement, and more, experts in this field employ research-based strategies to support individuals with disabilities. Continued learning in the form of a master’s degree or graduate certificate in special education can offer new approaches to support, allowing professionals to better address complex learning needs and advance in their careers.

In the sections below, learn more about career opportunities in special education and how the online master’s in special education from George Mason University can help you develop the expertise you need to make a meaningful difference for people with learning disabilities across the lifespan.

The Impact of Special Education for Lifetime Success

Professionals in special education careers play an essential role in supporting individuals with disabilities as they build full, successful lives. This demand is growing as enrollments increase—from 6.4 million students with disabilities in 2012–13 to 7.5 million in 2022–23, representing 15% of all K-12 students.¹ In 2024, people with disabilities accounted for about 13 percent of the American population, and the unemployment rate for these individuals (7.5 percent) was about twice that of individuals with no disability (3.8 percent).² Helping to eliminate this disparity is just one of the many goals of those who work in special education jobs.

The impact of special education often begins during a person’s K-12 years, but it can extend well into adulthood. For this reason, professionals in fields such as social work, psychology, community services, and health care may pursue a master’s degree in special education to develop the skills needed to impact this historically underserved population in their own work.

Special education experts utilize many strategies to prepare individuals for lifetime success, including³:

• Accessible Environments: Implementing physical and instructional modifications that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, ensuring all individuals have access to inclusive environments.
• Collaboration: Working with educators and other professionals to support the diverse needs of differently abled individuals through a range of interventions.
• Differentiation: Tailoring activities to offer various approaches to learning and engagement, resulting in many pathways that match individual strengths and interests.
• Family Communication: Building partnerships with individuals’ families and providing education and resources that involve parents and other family members in activities.
• Individualized Support: Personalizing experiences to ensure individual learning and engagement in response to unique needs; may include tiered intervention, customized learning plans, and more.
• Promoting Positive Behavior: Using evidence-based strategies to support individuals in developing healthy coping skills, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and appropriate social behaviors.
• Supportive Feedback: Providing guidance and suggestions for improvement that are tailored to the individual and respond to each person’s unique strengths, goals, and needs.

Thorough training and continued professional development in these areas are essential for professionals working in special education jobs. With consistent implementation, these strategies can support individuals with disabilities in pursuing their goals and attaining improved outcomes in education, employment, independent living, and more.

Qualifications Needed to Work in Special Education

Success in this career path begins with a strong foundational education. With 45 states reporting special education teacher shortages⁴ and approximately 37,800 annual job openings projected, the field offers strong job security and career growth opportunities for qualified professionals. Qualifications for working with people with learning disabilities vary by state* and industry, but in many cases, a master’s degree or graduate certificate can support professionals in their special education career goals. Examples include:

• Direct support professionals pursuing leadership opportunities, such as residential facility director
• Social services managers working to better support individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in engaging with their community
• Social workers and child psychologists interested in offering intervention services for individuals with disabilities

With an online MEd in Special Education or standalone Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Graduate Certificate from George Mason University, you can gain specialized skills for new career opportunities in special education.

Transform Lives and Build Better Futures

View GMU’s Online Master of Special Education 

Career Opportunities in Special Education

Professionals trained in special education can pursue exceptionally fulfilling careers. Learn more about potential special education jobs below.

Behavior Consultant

Median Salary: $84,940/year⁵

Behavior consultants work with individuals, families, or schools to develop and implement interventions to support students in developing behaviors and coping strategies conducive to learning. These professionals closely monitor student progress and adjust interventions as needed while maintaining effective communication with families and educators. Behavior consultants may work within one school or school district, or they may be privately employed.

Disability Employment Consultant

Median Salary: $69,032/year⁶

Disability employment consultants support people living with disabilities in finding employment that aligns with their individual strengths and professional goals. Consultants spend time learning about their clients before identifying potential job opportunities and assisting clients in applying for positions. Professionals in this role may also offer interview practice and may help individuals prepare documents such as resumes and cover letters.

Educational Diagnostician

Median Salary: $68,018/year⁷

Educational diagnosticians collaborate with teachers, administrators, students, and families to pair individuals with the most appropriate learning environments for their needs. These professionals consider a learner’s disabilities, educator’s background, instructional goals, and other factors to identify the resources needed for success. Educational diagnosticians are most often employed by K-12 school districts, but they may also work with adults in an educational, work, or home-based setting.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialist

Median Salary: $64,270/year (special education teachers)⁸

Autism Spectrum Disorders specialists work with individuals across the lifespan who have autism, providing specialized interventions, behavioral support, and educational strategies tailored to the unique needs of each person. These professionals may work in K-12 schools, early intervention programs, adult services, community settings, or private practice. With expertise in evidence-based practices for autism, ASD specialists collaborate with families, educators, and other professionals to create comprehensive support plans. George Mason’s ASD Graduate Certificate prepares professionals to address the complex needs of individuals with autism from early childhood through adulthood.

Transition Specialist / Adult Services Coordinator

Median Salary: $64,270/year (special education teachers)⁸

Transition specialists guide students with disabilities through the critical shift from secondary education to adult life, helping them develop skills for employment, independent living, and community engagement. These professionals assess individual needs, coordinate with service providers, connect families with resources, and develop transition plans that align with students’ goals and abilities. Adult services coordinators continue this support into adulthood, helping individuals with disabilities access community resources, maintain employment, and live as independently as possible. This career path reflects George Mason’s lifespan approach to special education and addresses the growing demand for professionals who can support individuals with disabilities beyond the K-12 system.

Explore the Master’s in Special Education Degree Path

George Mason University’s online MEd in Special Education prepares students to address the complex learning needs of individuals with disabilities. This program includes the option to build specialized knowledge by earning the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Graduate Certificate or choosing courses in a selected area of focus. Ranked fifth in Best Online Master’s in Special Education Programs by U.S. News & World Report,⁹ George Mason’s Special Education (MEd) program is designed and taught by an experienced faculty of distinguished scholar-practitioners.

Request more information about the online Special Education (MEd) today. 

Sources and Disclaimer

1. National Center for Education Statistics. “Students With Disabilities.” Condition of Education. May 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2026, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg.
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Persons Weith a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics — 2024.” February 25, 2025. Forbes. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf.
3. Parallel. “Special Education Teachers: Roles and Responsibilities.” Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://www.parallellearning.com/post/special-education-teachers-roles-and-responsibilities.
4. Learning Policy Institute. “State Teacher Shortages: 2024 Update.” August 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2026, from https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/state-teacher-shortages-vacancy-resource-tool-2024.
5. O*NET OnLine. “School Psychologists.” Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3034.00.
6. Payscale. “Average Consultant, Employment Salary.” Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Consultant%2C_Employment/Salary.
7. Payscale. “Average Educational Diagnostician Salary.” Retrieved April 22, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Educational_Diagnostician/Salary.
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Special Education Teachers: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” May 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm.
9. U.S. News & World Report. “Best Online Master’s in Special Education Programs.” Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/online-special-education-rankings.

* Learn more about teacher licensure in Virginia, or visit your state’s Department of Education website for additional information. You may also consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.