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Elementary educator vs resource teacher

The differences between elementary educators and resource teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a resource teacher has an average salary of $43,487, which is higher than the $38,957 average annual salary of an elementary educator.

The top three skills for an elementary educator include mathematics, math and elementary education. The most important skills for a resource teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.

Elementary educator vs resource teacher overview

Elementary EducatorResource Teacher
Yearly salary$38,957$43,487
Hourly rate$18.73$20.91
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs32,90073,796
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does an elementary educator do?

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.

What does a resource teacher do?

A Resource Teacher is responsible for providing curriculum support systems for students, teachers, and administrators. Another role of a Resource Teacher is to assist the class teacher and provide additional support for children with moderate learning difficulties.

Elementary educator vs resource teacher salary

Elementary educators and resource teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elementary EducatorResource Teacher
Average salary$38,957$43,487
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $56,000Between $15,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSalinas, CA
Highest paying stateMarylandCalifornia
Best paying companyErie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCESBoston Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationManufacturing

Differences between elementary educator and resource teacher education

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

Elementary EducatorResource Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorElementary EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Elementary educator vs resource teacher demographics

Here are the differences between elementary educators' and resource teachers' demographics:

Elementary EducatorResource Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 20.2% Female, 79.8%Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between elementary educator and resource teacher duties and responsibilities

Elementary educator example responsibilities.

  • Provide departmentalized instruction in language arts, mathematics, and social studies.
  • Provide general classroom support with administrative duties such as obtaining and distributing worksheets, reading packets and math packets for students.
  • Recommend and implement online math programs for school wide implementation.
  • Develop high quality standards-base lessons including extension menus, differentiate instruction, depth and complexity charts, and literature circles.
  • Adapt curricula to meet the specific needs and interests of students from Pre-K all the way through high school.
  • Strengthen student's cumulative learning and preparedness with FCAT reinforcement lessons.

Resource teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Provide remedial services to students with language impairments and learning disabilities in mathematics.
  • Provide special education support for students grades k-5 who have IEP.
  • Introduce social skills instruction to kindergarten students.
  • Demonstrate effective science and mathematics instructional practices when working with students.
  • Teach reading and math to students requiring remedial work that incorporates district approve curriculum objectives.
  • Show more

Elementary educator vs resource teacher skills

Common elementary educator skills
  • Mathematics, 13%
  • Math, 13%
  • Elementary Education, 7%
  • Public Schools, 7%
  • Kindergarten, 6%
  • Autism, 6%
Common resource teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • Math, 7%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Mathematics, 7%
  • Student Learning, 6%
  • Behavior Management, 6%

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