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Online instructor vs educator

The differences between online instructors and educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an online instructor has an average salary of $45,114, which is higher than the $43,760 average annual salary of an educator.

The top three skills for an online instructor include skype, math and zoom. The most important skills for an educator are customer service, product knowledge, and patients.

Online instructor vs educator overview

Online InstructorEducator
Yearly salary$45,114$43,760
Hourly rate$21.69$21.04
Growth rate2%4%
Number of jobs37,21928,019
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does an online instructor do?

An Online Instructor teaches remote post-secondary classes through the use of email, discussion pages, and video. They develop a curriculum based on the best knowledge in the field.

What does an educator do?

An educator is responsible for teaching students and contributes to their learning development. Duties of an educator include creating learning modules and materials, developing engaging activities, and facilitating learners' discussions. They are also in charge of monitoring the learners' progress, evaluating learners' knowledge by providing a series of assessments, helping a learner to gain self-confidence, and encouraging the learners to reach their maximum potential. An educator should have excellent communication and adaptation skills, especially on adjusting to different learning methods and approaches that the students will need.

Online instructor vs educator salary

Online instructors and educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Online InstructorEducator
Average salary$45,114$43,760
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $61,000Between $29,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateVermontNew York
Best paying companyNew York UniversityGoogle
Best paying industryManufacturingEducation

Differences between online instructor and educator education

There are a few differences between an online instructor and an educator in terms of educational background:

Online InstructorEducator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessEducation
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Online instructor vs educator demographics

Here are the differences between online instructors' and educators' demographics:

Online InstructorEducator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 33.5% Female, 66.5%Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between online instructor and educator duties and responsibilities

Online instructor example responsibilities.

  • Utilize blackboard management system to encourage online discussions and manage grades.
  • Prepare and deliver instruction to students in topics such as literature, grammar, and writing.
  • Develop course materials such as course calendar, syllabus, handouts, and additional resources for students.
  • Develop rubric syllabus, and introduction materials.
  • Serve as theory instructor for medical-surgical nursing and pharmacology for junior students and leadership and management nursing for senior students.
  • Collaborate with faculty to provide input for student IEP's and PPT meetings.
  • Show more

Educator example responsibilities.

  • Manage classroom behavior, oversee instruction for under-performing, over-achieving and ESL students, and lead private tutoring lessons.
  • Manage revolving caseload of students with IEP team including initials, transfer placements, manifestation determinations.
  • Develop curriculum and teach PC, GED and ABE adult education classes.
  • Involve in new employee orientation to the facility as well as teaching BLS and ACLS
  • Collaborate with math professionals in reinforcing concepts acquire within the student's primary learning environment.
  • Help meet WIC program participation goals.
  • Show more

Online instructor vs educator skills

Common online instructor skills
  • Skype, 14%
  • Math, 13%
  • Zoom, 12%
  • Learning Objectives, 10%
  • K-12, 7%
  • Mathematics, 6%
Common educator skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Product Knowledge, 10%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%

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