Post job

Early childhood special educator vs special education teacher

The differences between early childhood special educators and special education teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education teacher has an average salary of $54,290, 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 special education teacher are classroom management, autism, and behavior management.

Early childhood special educator vs special education teacher overview

Early Childhood Special EducatorSpecial Education Teacher
Yearly salary$36,798$54,290
Hourly rate$17.69$26.10
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs62,48767,699
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4343
Years of experience2-

What does an early childhood special educator do?

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.

What does a special education teacher do?

A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence. A special education teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist the students with their learning areas. Special education teachers should be able to come up with engaging activities to support the students' behavioral and intellectual development.

Early childhood special educator vs special education teacher salary

Early childhood special educators and special education teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Early Childhood Special EducatorSpecial Education Teacher
Average salary$36,798$54,290
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $58,000Between $39,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaryland
Best paying companyBaltimore City Public SchoolsBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between early childhood special educator and special education teacher education

There are a few differences between an early childhood special educator and a special education teacher in terms of educational background:

Early Childhood Special EducatorSpecial Education Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorEarly Childhood EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Early childhood special educator vs special education teacher demographics

Here are the differences between early childhood special educators' and special education teachers' demographics:

Early Childhood Special EducatorSpecial Education Teacher
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 7.1% Female, 92.9%Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between early childhood special educator and special education teacher duties and responsibilities

Early childhood special educator example responsibilities.

  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Collaborate with other Pre-K teachers to plan and team-teach with a multicultural focus.
  • Develop IFSP's design to promote students' educational, physical, or social needs.
  • Assist in other classrooms as needed, from infants to pre-k, to help gain knowledge of children of all ages.
  • Adapted/Individualize curriculum base on individual student needs, including all need self-help skills.
  • Develop IEP objectives consistent with daily instruction as provided, base on developmentally appropriate activities.
  • Show more

Special education teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead a DIBELS intervention group.
  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Design a unique and differentiate curriculum that addressed state standards for both mathematics and special education.
  • Educate special needs kids with mental and physical disabilities using proven conventional and improvise teaching/learning methods.
  • Plan appropriate lessons align to NYS CCSS.
  • Instruct and create ELA lessons through Fountas and Pinnell and Fundations.
  • Show more

Early childhood special educator vs special education teacher skills

Common early childhood special educator skills
  • Autism, 9%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Child Development, 6%
  • IEP, 5%
  • Child Care, 5%
Common special education teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Autism, 10%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • IEPs, 6%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%

Browse education, training, and library jobs