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What is a life skills teacher and how to become one
A life skills teacher is an individual who specializes in helping individuals with learning or physical disabilities develop skills for independent living.
This can include instruction in daily tasks and social interactions, as well as teaching about personal care and basic job skills. For instance, life skills teachers may offer instructional sessions in exercise, shopping, or cooking. They may also organize job shadowing or volunteering opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Many work as special education instructors in schools, but there are also jobs in specialized clinics and nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing opportunities for disabled patients. Skills such as resolving and defusing behavioral issues and ensuring a cooperative environment are highly important as a life skills teacher.
Key responsibilities for a life skills teacher include designing individualized learning plans, collecting and interpreting data, and managing the physical needs of their students.
The path to becoming a life skills teacher starts with obtaining a bachelor's degree in an area such as behavioral management or special education. Most programs will also require the completion of a teaching internship. Some states require their special education teachers to have a minimum of a master's degree.
In addition to your degree, all states require that teachers have a license before working in the industry.
What general advice would you give to a life skills teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $41,179
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%
Asian 3.67%
Black or African American 9.83%
Hispanic or Latino 12.65%
Unknown 3.91%
White 69.41%
Genderfemale 74.47%
male 25.53%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Life skills teacher career paths
Key steps to become a life skills teacher
Explore life skills teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific life skills teacher skills
Skills Percentages Behavioral Issues 16.67% IEP 12.63% Autism 7.50% CPR 7.17% Mathematics 5.15% Research life skills teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
- Participate in ARD meetings to plan student education.
- Collaborate with autism consultant to guide evidence practices for those students with autism.
- Use writing to develop language skills and activities to stress grammar and usage.
Prepare your life skills teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your life skills teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a life skills teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable life skills teacher resume templates
Build a professional life skills teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your life skills teacher resume.
Apply for life skills teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a life skills teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first life skills teacher job
Are you a life skills teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average life skills teacher salary
The average life skills teacher salary in the United States is $41,179 per year or $20 per hour. Life skills teacher salaries range between $31,000 and $54,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do life skills teachers rate their job?
Life skills teacher reviews
The kids light up my days.
The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.
You got to work with learners who will love you unconditionally. It gives a great satisfaction to be able to help them. I love learners with Special Needs and I am a Mom of one.
I can't say, maybe because there is none.
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Updated January 8, 2025
