Adapted Physical Education Specialists Career, Salary and Skills
Adapted Physical Education Specialists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $76,580 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 33,930. Wage data is published for 150 locations.
Occupation description
Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.
O*NET code
25-2059.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$76,580
Hourly median
Not published
Employment
33,930
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$48,440
10th
$60,930
25th
$76,580
Median
$99,690
75th
$120,080
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.12 | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.88 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
- Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
- Write reports to summarize student performance, social growth, or physical development.
- Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
- Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
- Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.
- Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
Technology
- Database software
- Email software
- Individualized Educational Program IEP software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Student record software
- Web browser software
Adapted Physical Education Specialists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in CAMedian $103,050 · Employment 8,920
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $109,600 · Employment 4,230
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in MIMedian $78,540 · Employment 3,320
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in MDMedian $76,100 · Employment 3,020
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in ILMedian $64,850 · Employment 2,560
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in Baltimore, MDMedian $76,090 · Employment 2,270
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in NYMedian $65,970 · Employment 2,170
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in New York, NYMedian $66,170 · Employment 1,880
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $74,180 · Employment 1,550
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in CTMedian $61,480 · Employment 1,400
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $79,500 · Employment 1,250
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists Salary in NVMedian $64,410 · Employment 1,230
Related careers
- Recreational TherapistsNational median $61,960
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $63,820
- Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $107,310
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationNational median $62,680
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsNational median $61,540
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolNational median $65,030
- Self-Enrichment TeachersNational median $46,800
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationNational median $63,970
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.