Adapted Physical Education Specialists
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.
Also called: Adapted Physical Activity Specialist · Adapted Physical Education Specialist (APE Specialist) · Adapted Physical Education Teacher (Adapted PE Teacher) · Adapted Physical Educator · Certified Adapted Physical Educator · DAPE Specialist (Developmental Adapted Physical Education Specialist)
Median pay (national)
$67,430
$43,220–$109,360 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
39,350
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.1%
~2,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for adapted physical education specialists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $109,360 versus $43,220 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $67,430 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.1% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 45 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $96,600, +43% vs the national median), while West Virginia sits lowest at $31,100 — a 211% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students.
- Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
- Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
- Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
- Assess students' physical progress or needs.
- Assist in screening or placement of students in adapted physical education programs.
- Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
- Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.
Tools & technology
- Database software
- Individualized Educational Program IEP software
- Student record software
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security