Quick answer: The Indianapolis metro employs about 1,030 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state education agency for current certification requirements.
Compare special education programs enrolling now:
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states.
See the Indiana licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 10 schools within 100 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Indianapolis area earn a median $60,220 per year, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Indianapolis metro | Indiana | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $60,220 | $58,760 | $65,120 |
| 10th percentile | $47,760 | $46,730 | $49,350 |
| 25th percentile | $51,490 | $49,290 | $59,710 |
| 75th percentile | $66,450 | $65,640 | $80,280 |
| 90th percentile | $80,120 | $78,490 | $103,010 |
| Employment | 1,030 | 3,640 | 260,870 |
| Location quotient | 0.56 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area.
The Indianapolis median of $60,220 is below the national median of $65,120, and above the Indiana statewide median of $58,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.56 means special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Special education positions exist in every district, and shortage-driven demand is broad rather than metro-concentrated - which favors candidates willing to work outside the largest markets.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $59,000 | 330 |
| Lafayette | $49,050 | 170 |
| Evansville | $51,120 | 150 |
| South Bend | $56,040 | 150 |
| Bloomington | $57,230 | 120 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $60,220, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area employs about 1,030 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states. Confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state education agency for current certification requirements.
The Indianapolis metro median is $60,220 against a statewide median of $58,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
