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Intervention specialist vs special education teacher

The differences between intervention specialists 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 $50,180 average annual salary of an intervention specialist.

The top three skills for an intervention specialist include mental health, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a special education teacher are classroom management, autism, and behavior management.

Intervention specialist vs special education teacher overview

Intervention SpecialistSpecial Education Teacher
Yearly salary$50,180$54,290
Hourly rate$24.12$26.10
Growth rate9%4%
Number of jobs69,15667,699
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4543
Years of experience4-

What does an intervention specialist do?

An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.

What does a special education teacher do?

A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence. A special education teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist the students with their learning areas. Special education teachers should be able to come up with engaging activities to support the students' behavioral and intellectual development.

Intervention specialist vs special education teacher salary

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

Intervention SpecialistSpecial Education Teacher
Average salary$50,180$54,290
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $70,000Between $39,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityAlameda, CABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyBirchBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between intervention specialist and special education teacher education

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

Intervention SpecialistSpecial Education Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorPsychologySpecial Education
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorthwestern University

Intervention specialist vs special education teacher demographics

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

Intervention SpecialistSpecial Education Teacher
Average age4543
Gender ratioMale, 30.4% Female, 69.6%Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage15%8%

Differences between intervention specialist and special education teacher duties and responsibilities

Intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Conduct mental health triage; make appropriate dispositions to other inpatient units with the local area.
  • Coordinate with parents, general education teachers, service providers in all aspects of the IEP and ETR annual review process.
  • Assist families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
  • Track students' GPA, college and career goals.
  • Supervise employees and train for EIS certification through DARS and state of Texas.
  • Perform crisis phone triage, mobile face to face assessments and arrange for respite services.
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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

Intervention specialist vs special education teacher skills

Common intervention specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 13%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Group Sessions, 5%
  • IEP, 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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