Post job

Learning specialist vs lead teacher

The differences between learning specialists and lead teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a learning specialist, becoming a lead teacher takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a learning specialist has an average salary of $57,035, which is higher than the $33,652 average annual salary of a lead teacher.

The top three skills for a learning specialist include customer service, professional development and project management. The most important skills for a lead teacher are CPR, customer service, and child care.

Learning specialist vs lead teacher overview

Learning SpecialistLead Teacher
Yearly salary$57,035$33,652
Hourly rate$27.42$16.18
Growth rate8%5%
Number of jobs38,22956,131
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4443
Years of experience42

What does a learning specialist do?

Learning specialists are highly skilled teachers providing educational support to students who struggle academically at schools. They are responsible for working closely with students and their parents to develop a learning strategy suitable for a student's learning style to improve their grades and academic progress. Other responsibilities of a learning specialist include educating teachers and parents on learning differences, communicating with teachers and parents regularly about a student's progress, and keeping abreast of current teaching methods.

What does a lead teacher do?

The Lead Teacher works with parents to resolve student issues and train new teachers on effective teaching techniques. A Lead Teacher is a licensed teacher with extensive teaching experience and preferably has a master's in education or related studies. They are an integral part of a school's faculty and the principal's arm in drafting policies for implementation.

Learning specialist vs lead teacher salary

Learning specialists and lead teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Learning SpecialistLead Teacher
Average salary$57,035$33,652
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $87,000Between $22,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaSuccess Preparatory Academy
Best paying industryInsurance-

Differences between learning specialist and lead teacher education

There are a few differences between a learning specialist and a lead teacher in terms of educational background:

Learning SpecialistLead Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorBusinessEarly Childhood Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversitySan Diego State University

Learning specialist vs lead teacher demographics

Here are the differences between learning specialists' and lead teachers' demographics:

Learning SpecialistLead Teacher
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 32.8% Female, 67.2%Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between learning specialist and lead teacher duties and responsibilities

Learning specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead strategic planning for eLearning initiatives and manage company-wide training for laboratory information system update.
  • Manage the integration of the student information system Jenzabar CX/JICS with Moodle.
  • Lead experiential learning in supervisory skills, conflict management, leadership, team building and organization process effectiveness.
  • Instruct on how to create PowerPoint presentations and debate an argument during an oral defense.
  • Develop individualized education plans for students who receive math intervention services.
  • Tutor and advise undergraduate level courses in introductory statistics and mathematics.
  • Show more

Lead teacher example responsibilities.

  • Plan and implement theme and project-base lessons that incorporate math, literacy, science, physical development, and social/emotional skills.
  • Cultivate and foster safe and effective learning environment conducive for Pre-K students.
  • Model positive behavior management techniques through daily contact with children and early childhood staff in the classroom.
  • Develop lesson plans on a bi-weekly basis that comply with early childhood standards and relate to the weekly theme.
  • Require CPR certification and ongoing continuing education.
  • Develop programs that introduce math and literacy concepts.
  • Show more

Learning specialist vs lead teacher skills

Common learning specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Instructional Design, 4%
Common lead teacher skills
  • CPR, 19%
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Child Care, 17%
  • Child Development, 15%
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Pre-K, 3%

Browse business and financial jobs