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Educational assistant vs special projects assistant

The differences between educational assistants and special projects assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special projects assistant has an average salary of $36,997, 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 projects assistant are powerpoint, policy issues, and administrative tasks.

Educational assistant vs special projects assistant overview

Educational AssistantSpecial Projects Assistant
Yearly salary$31,100$36,997
Hourly rate$14.95$17.79
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs49,97921,685
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does an educational assistant do?

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.

What does a special projects assistant do?

A special projects assistant is someone who is in-charged in the organization and management of company projects whose purpose varies depending on the industry and type of organization. Special projects assistants should be able to ensure that company projects comply with the budgetary requirements and that staff complete each phase of the project within the set timeframe. The requirements to qualify for the position include possessing strong communication and interpersonal skills and a bachelor's or master's degree.

Educational assistant vs special projects assistant salary

Educational assistants and special projects assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Educational AssistantSpecial Projects Assistant
Average salary$31,100$36,997
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $47,000Between $25,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew York
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkUrban Institute
Best paying industryNon ProfitsGovernment

Differences between educational assistant and special projects assistant education

There are a few differences between an educational assistant and a special projects assistant in terms of educational background:

Educational AssistantSpecial Projects Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Educational assistant vs special projects assistant demographics

Here are the differences between educational assistants' and special projects assistants' demographics:

Educational AssistantSpecial Projects Assistant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 23.2% Female, 76.8%Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 8.6% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between educational assistant and special projects assistant duties and responsibilities

Educational assistant example responsibilities.

  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Perform basic administrative tasks like photocopying student work displays etc.
  • Support class teachers in photocopying and other tasks in order to support teaching.
  • Used CPI blocks, restraints, and escorts when necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff.
  • Serve special needs Pre-K students in a PPCD classroom, under the direction of a certify classroom teacher.
  • Provide assistance to non-English speaking students
  • Show more

Special projects assistant example responsibilities.

  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Process deposits weekly in PeopleSoft.
  • Maintain Medicaid paperwork and skil some in sign language.
  • Help create a user-friendly online billing program concept to streamline Medicare claims billing.
  • Develop and maintain networking database including: social media through the website, twitter, blogs, and Facebook.
  • Assist students with science relate coursework including: nursing, chemistry, biology, physics, and earth sciences.
  • Show more

Educational assistant vs special projects assistant skills

Common educational assistant skills
  • CPR, 12%
  • IEP, 7%
  • Direct Supervision, 6%
  • Behavioral Issues, 6%
  • Clerical Support, 6%
  • Autism, 6%
Common special projects assistant skills
  • PowerPoint, 11%
  • Policy Issues, 10%
  • Administrative Tasks, 8%
  • Office Equipment, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Press Releases, 5%

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