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Learning disabilities teacher vs special educator

The differences between learning disabilities teachers and special educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special educator has an average salary of $53,565, which is higher than the $39,809 average annual salary of a learning disabilities teacher.

The top three skills for a learning disabilities teacher include professional development, student learning and learning disabilities. The most important skills for a special educator are autism, student learning, and math.

Learning disabilities teacher vs special educator overview

Learning Disabilities TeacherSpecial Educator
Yearly salary$39,809$53,565
Hourly rate$19.14$25.75
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs73,70062,545
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

What does a learning disabilities teacher do?

A Learning Disability Teacher plays a vital role in ensuring that every child with special needs can be able to learn even though they are physically and mentally struggling because of their disability. This career does a lot of intervention and production of outcomes for the individual to understand the importance of studying. They use different guides and materials like diagrams, pictures, and other graphics to improve their cognitive, psychological, and analytical thinking of an individual who has disability issues.

What does a special educator do?

A special education teacher's role is to facilitate learning for students with disabilities. The responsibilities of a special education teacher typically revolve around identifying the needs of students, devising lesson plans and strategies to meet their needs, developing test structure to assess their learning, and assisting them in areas of difficulties. It is also essential to coordinate with families and guardians, reporting to them should there be any problems. Furthermore, as a special education teacher, it is necessary to monitor the students' progress and behavior, maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for them.

Learning disabilities teacher vs special educator salary

Learning disabilities teachers and special educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Learning Disabilities TeacherSpecial Educator
Average salary$39,809$53,565
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $54,000Between $38,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityNewton, MAOceanside, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew York
Best paying companyBaptist Health South FloridaCapistrano Unified
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between learning disabilities teacher and special educator education

There are a few differences between a learning disabilities teacher and a special educator in terms of educational background:

Learning Disabilities TeacherSpecial Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorSpecial EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Learning disabilities teacher vs special educator demographics

Here are the differences between learning disabilities teachers' and special educators' demographics:

Learning Disabilities TeacherSpecial Educator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 20.5% Female, 79.5%Male, 21.3% Female, 78.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between learning disabilities teacher and special educator duties and responsibilities

Learning disabilities teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead parent/teacher conferences, write report cards, attend CSE meetings.
  • Work with general education teachers to modify lessons in the areas of math, science, history, and language arts.
  • Develop ABA interventions for students and staff.
  • Improve children's mathematics, reading, and writing skills.
  • Implement IEP goals and curriculum through ABA strategies and methodologies.
  • Serve as the ESE liaison for a team of four teachers.
  • Show more

Special educator example responsibilities.

  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Develop individual lesson plans at Pre-K level.
  • Work collaboratively with teachers in mathematics and writing.
  • Counsele and provide special education to senior kindergarten students.
  • Implement an individualize curriculum for a kindergarten student with a moderate cognitive impairment.
  • Develop interactive computer lessons to enhance science and math curriculum and student engagement utilizing technology.
  • Show more

Learning disabilities teacher vs special educator skills

Common learning disabilities teacher skills
  • Professional Development, 13%
  • Student Learning, 10%
  • Learning Disabilities, 9%
  • Public Schools, 8%
  • IEPs, 7%
  • Student Achievement, 6%
Common special educator skills
  • Autism, 9%
  • Student Learning, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • Public Schools, 7%
  • Learning Environment, 6%
  • Mathematics, 6%

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