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The differences between early childhood special educators and pre-k teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pre-k teacher has an average salary of $40,301, which is higher than the $36,798 average annual salary of an early childhood special educator.
The top three skills for an early childhood special educator include autism, classroom management and CPR. The most important skills for a pre-k teacher are kids, math, and language arts.
| Early Childhood Special Educator | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $36,798 | $40,301 |
| Hourly rate | $17.69 | $19.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 62,487 | 60,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Early childhood special educators are professionals who provide direct services for infants and young children that are experiencing delays in their development. These educators are required to collaborate with parents to provide a program of activities that can encourage the growth of the children's skills. By incorporating the advice of other professionals, early childhood special educators must create individual education plans that address the specific learning challenges of children. They must also identify signs of child abuse and neglect so that they can take the necessary actions to remediate the situation.
Pre-K teachers play an essential role in the lives of young children ages three to five years old by developing and nurturing their interest in subjects appropriate for their age. They promote a creative learning environment and encourage social interactions among students while providing the fundamental educational foundation that will prepare them for a successful start to kindergarten. They are responsible for overseeing children during their mealtimes, reinforcing personal hygiene, and developing children's social skills. Pre-K teachers also plan curriculum and work with other school staff members.
Early childhood special educators and pre-k teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Early Childhood Special Educator | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Average salary | $36,798 | $40,301 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $58,000 | Between $28,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Faulkner University |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between an early childhood special educator and a pre-k teacher in terms of educational background:
| Early Childhood Special Educator | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Early Childhood Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between early childhood special educators' and pre-k teachers' demographics:
| Early Childhood Special Educator | Pre-K Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9% | Male, 8.5% Female, 91.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |