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Elementary education teacher vs special education teacher

The differences between elementary education teachers 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 $48,987 average annual salary of an elementary education teacher.

The top three skills for an elementary education teacher include elementary education, classroom management and professional development. The most important skills for a special education teacher are classroom management, autism, and behavior management.

Elementary education teacher vs special education teacher overview

Elementary Education TeacherSpecial Education Teacher
Yearly salary$48,987$54,290
Hourly rate$23.55$26.10
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs72,02467,699
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

Elementary education teacher vs special education teacher salary

Elementary education teachers and special education teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elementary Education TeacherSpecial Education Teacher
Average salary$48,987$54,290
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $57,000Between $39,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityNorth Tonawanda, NYBaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMaryland
Best paying companyBaltimore City Public SchoolsBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between elementary education teacher and special education teacher education

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

Elementary Education TeacherSpecial Education Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorElementary EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Elementary education teacher vs special education teacher demographics

Here are the differences between elementary education teachers' and special education teachers' demographics:

Elementary Education TeacherSpecial Education Teacher
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 17.5% Female, 82.5%Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.4% 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 elementary education teacher and special education teacher duties and responsibilities

Elementary education teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Plan and implement lessons in reading, math, arts and humanities, social studies, science, and health.
  • Certify ESL teacher as well.
  • Collaborate with preschool autism classroom staff and lead teacher to enhance and encourage social skills with peers.
  • Addressed the needs of the student with autism by providing multi-sensory lessons and a variety of manipulatives.
  • Assign to various non-public schools to provide remediation (reading, writing, and math basic skills) for special-needs students.
  • 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

Elementary education teacher vs special education teacher skills

Common elementary education teacher skills
  • Elementary Education, 22%
  • Classroom Management, 12%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Math, 5%
  • Core Curriculum, 4%
  • Student Performance, 4%
Common special education teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Autism, 10%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • IEPs, 6%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%

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