Quick answer: The Lexington metro employs about 480 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.
Licensing
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 Kentucky licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.
Schools Near You
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.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 72 miles, nearest first in 25-mile
distance bands, then by BOC Score inside each band with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
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.
What Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Earn in Lexington
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Lexington area earn a median $61,450 per year, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Special Education Pay in Lexington, KY
Metric
Lexington metro
Kentucky
National
Median annual wage
$61,450
$60,060
$65,120
10th percentile
$47,880
$46,070
$49,350
25th percentile
$51,130
$48,630
$59,710
75th percentile
$73,570
$63,240
$80,280
90th percentile
$83,190
$75,560
$103,010
Employment
480
3,710
260,870
Location quotient
1.0
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Lexington median of $61,450 is below the national median of $65,120, and above the Kentucky statewide median of $60,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.0 means special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are more 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in Lexington?
The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $61,450, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work in the Lexington area?
The Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area employs about 480 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Lexington need a license?
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.
Can I study special education online from Lexington?
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.
Is Lexington a better market than the rest of Kentucky?
The Lexington metro median is $61,450 against a statewide median of $60,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (SOC 25-2052), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
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/.
