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The differences between educational assistants and special education assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education assistant has an average salary of $32,149, which is higher than the $31,100 average annual salary of an educational assistant.
The top three skills for an educational assistant include CPR, IEP and direct supervision. The most important skills for a special education assistant are paraprofessional, behavior management, and IEP.
| Educational Assistant | Special Education Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $31,100 | $32,149 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $15.46 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 49,979 | 62,239 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An educational assistant, or often called teaching assistant, assists teachers in instruction delivery and provides learning support to students. Educational assistants may perform classroom duties such as class preparations, taking attendance, and paperwork management. They help students by reviewing materials presented by teachers through one-on-one tutoring or in small groups. They may also supervise and monitor the educational activities of children, such as playing and other primary care. Educational Assistants can work in elementary, middle, and high schools while others work in preschools and childcare centers.
A special education assistant is responsible for supporting class activities in an inclusive classroom setting, assisting students with their tasks under the supervision of a special education teacher. Special education assistants create comprehensive lesson plans which adhere to the students' curriculum and special needs. They also help with developing engaging activities to promote an active learning environment while monitoring the students' personal and social behavior. A special education assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, ensuring the progress of the students by regular interaction, and managing their needs.
Educational assistants and special education assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Educational Assistant | Special Education Assistant | |
| Average salary | $31,100 | $32,149 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $47,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Benicia Unified School District |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Education |
There are a few differences between an educational assistant and a special education assistant in terms of educational background:
| Educational Assistant | Special Education Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between educational assistants' and special education assistants' demographics:
| Educational Assistant | Special Education Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8% | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 8.1% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |