Special Education and Teachingat SUNY Buffalo State University
Graduates earn $16,737/yr in their first year — about 62.0% below the national Special Education and Teaching average. Base-case 10-year earnings $769K; scenarios range from $693K to $798K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Buffalo State
The compensation figures for this program reflect the realities of the Western New York education market. While demand for dedicated special education teachers remains consistently high across the region—from Buffalo Public Schools to surrounding suburban districts like Williamsville and Amherst—salaries in these vital public sector roles are often benchmarked against a lower regional cost of living. This typically means a stable career path with strong benefits, but potentially a slower salary growth ceiling compared to more competitive or higher-cost-of-living areas. Your career will likely involve direct classroom instruction and support within established school systems, requiring patience and dedication. It's crucial to research specific district salary schedules early on, understanding how experience and advanced degrees, like a master's, can impact your long-term earning potential within the local educational landscape.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Buffalo State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Special Education and Teaching
How Buffalo State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Buffalo State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Buffalo State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Special Education and Teaching offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Special Education and Teaching at Buffalo State
How does SUNY Buffalo State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do SUNY Buffalo State University Special Education and Teaching graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.2x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Special Education and Teaching earnings lower at SUNY Buffalo State University?
Lower starting pay at SUNY Buffalo State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.