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The differences between elementary educators and para educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an elementary educator has an average salary of $38,957, which is higher than the $31,394 average annual salary of a para educator.
The top three skills for an elementary educator include mathematics, math and elementary education. The most important skills for a para educator are behavioral issues, student performance, and IEP.
| Elementary Educator | Para Educator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,957 | $31,394 |
| Hourly rate | $18.73 | $15.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 32,900 | 56,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An Elementary Educator is mainly responsible for teaching basic academics among children while facilitating their social skills development. They are in charge of developing lesson plans and learning materials, organizing individual and group activities, creating quizzes and tests, utilizing audio and visual equipment, and developing strategies to meet the students' needs. They also monitor the students' academic progress and behavior, updating parents or guardians regularly. Moreover, an Elementary Educator develops various learning approaches while maintaining a safe and healthy classroom environment for everyone.
Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.
Elementary educators and para educators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Elementary Educator | Para Educator | |
| Average salary | $38,957 | $31,394 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $56,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Belmont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Central Valley School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an elementary educator and a para educator in terms of educational background:
| Elementary Educator | Para Educator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between elementary educators' and para educators' demographics:
| Elementary Educator | Para Educator | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |