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Head teacher vs teacher

The differences between head teachers and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a head teacher has an average salary of $51,715, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a head teacher include classroom management, child care and creative curriculum. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

Head teacher vs teacher overview

Head TeacherTeacher
Yearly salary$51,715$47,989
Hourly rate$24.86$23.07
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs73,75671,918
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a head teacher do?

A headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.

What does a teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

Head teacher vs teacher salary

Head teachers and teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Head TeacherTeacher
Average salary$51,715$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $83,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMaryland
Best paying companyGrand View HealthKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryRetailEducation

Differences between head teacher and teacher education

There are a few differences between a head teacher and a teacher in terms of educational background:

Head TeacherTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorEarly Childhood EducationElementary Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Head teacher vs teacher demographics

Here are the differences between head teachers' and teachers' demographics:

Head TeacherTeacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 13.8% Female, 86.2%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between head teacher and teacher duties and responsibilities

Head teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Plan and implement cohesive, age-appropriate curriculum for severely disable children in Pre-K program.
  • Develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum for toddler program, ensuring that appropriate opportunities are provided in order to maximize learning potential.
  • Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

Head teacher vs teacher skills

Common head teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 26%
  • Child Care, 13%
  • Creative Curriculum, 5%
  • Language Arts, 5%
  • Pre-K, 5%
  • Mathematics, 5%
Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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