Director of special education vs special ed teacher

The differences between directors of special education and special ed teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a director of special education has an average salary of $80,520, which is higher than the $49,456 average annual salary of a special ed teacher.

The top three skills for a director of special education include professional development, autism and education programs. The most important skills for a special ed teacher are classroom management, instructional materials, and behavior management.

Director of special education vs special ed teacher overview

	Director Of Special Education	Special ED Teacher
Yearly salary	$80,520	$49,456
Hourly rate	$38.71	$23.78
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	21,975	71,990
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a director of special education do?

A Director Of Special Education plans, implements, and maintains special education programs and services. They also consult with parents of students enrolled in the program.

What does a special ed teacher do?

Special ED teachers are teaching professionals who create and apply appropriate curricula and assign activities for students with special needs and disabilities. These teachers must work with the parents, general education teachers, and the school administrators to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student. They are required to monitor the behavioral patterns of children with special needs while keeping track of their progress. Special ED teachers must also mentor other professionals who are involved with children with disabilities.

Director of special education vs special ed teacher salary

Directors of special education and special ed teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Special Education	Special ED Teacher
Average salary	$80,520	$49,456
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $115,000	Between $34,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	Santa Clara, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Maryland	Alaska
Best paying company	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	Whitby School
Best paying industry	Education	Education

Differences between director of special education and special ed teacher education

There are a few differences between a director of special education and a special ed teacher in terms of educational background:

	Director Of Special Education	Special ED Teacher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Special Education	Special Education
Most common college	Columbia University in the City of New York	Northwestern University

Director of special education vs special ed teacher demographics

Here are the differences between directors of special education' and special ed teachers' demographics:

	Director Of Special Education	Special ED Teacher
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4%	Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between director of special education and special ed teacher duties and responsibilities

Director of special education example responsibilities.

Manage all office procedures including successfully meeting DCFS visits and requirements.
Provide oversight of fiduciary hold, non-publicly trade assets within the bank's wealth management department.
Integrate a customer relationship management application for improve tracking and communication for all study abroad relate students and activities.
Integrate a customer relationship management application for improve tracking and communication for all study abroad relate students and activities.

Special ed teacher example responsibilities.

Manage a classroom conducive to learning by creating an environment that encourages students to read, write, and master math.
Assist children with autism and special needs navigate the school curriculum.
Develop individualize lessons to accommodate learning differences and write IEPs.
Challenge students to master basic math concepts through implementation of manipulative.
Conduct assessments for children with developmental disabilities, and develop IEPs.
Collaborate with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other professionals to develop and implement IFSP goals.

Director of special education vs special ed teacher skills

Common director of special education skills

Professional Development, 13%
Autism, 10%
Education Programs, 6%
Behavior Management, 6%
K-12, 5%
IEPs, 5%

Common special ed teacher skills

Classroom Management, 20%
Instructional Materials, 11%
Behavior Management, 9%
Classroom Environment, 9%
Math, 7%
Professional Development, 5%

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Director Of Special Education
Director Of Special Education vs Special ED Teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

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