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The differences between para educators and floater teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a para educator has an average salary of $31,394, which is higher than the $28,813 average annual salary of a floater teacher.
The top three skills for a para educator include behavioral issues, student performance and IEP. The most important skills for a floater teacher are CPR, childhood, and classroom management.
| Para Educator | Floater Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $31,394 | $28,813 |
| Hourly rate | $15.09 | $13.85 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 56,897 | 78,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.
A floating teacher is in charge of teaching in various rooms and buildings, unlike most teachers with fixed room assignments. There are also instances where they teach at different schools. However, just like most teachers, their responsibilities still revolve around preparing lesson plans and coursework assessments, grading the students' papers, facilitating discussions, and monitoring the students' progress, assisting them when necessary. Furthermore, as a floating teacher, it is essential to maintain a safe and effective learning environment for students.
Para educators and floater teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Para Educator | Floater Teacher | |
| Average salary | $31,394 | $28,813 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $21,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Belmont, CA | Chili, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Central Valley School District | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Education | Finance |
There are a few differences between a para educator and a floater teacher in terms of educational background:
| Para Educator | Floater Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Boston University |
Here are the differences between para educators' and floater teachers' demographics:
| Para Educator | Floater Teacher | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% | Male, 8.5% Female, 91.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |