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Professional educator vs certified teacher

The differences between professional educators and certified teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified teacher has an average salary of $50,708, which is higher than the $50,068 average annual salary of a professional educator.

The top three skills for a professional educator include classroom management, curriculum development and training programs. The most important skills for a certified teacher are math, mathematics, and kids.

Professional educator vs certified teacher overview

Professional EducatorCertified Teacher
Yearly salary$50,068$50,708
Hourly rate$24.07$24.38
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs52,44992,051
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a professional educator do?

Professional educators have skills in critical thinking, patience, communication, organization, imaginative thinking, leadership, teamwork, and time management. Those who choose this career field will be required to provide quality educational programs and promote their profession above any personal gain and possess accountability to clients, community, parents, and students.

What does a certified teacher do?

A certified teacher is responsible for designing lesson plans and activities for the students by following the curriculum and the students' learning needs. Certified teachers manage the coordination of the students within the classroom setting, observe their behaviors, and identify their areas of improvement by determining every student's strengths and weaknesses. They also evaluate the students' performance and progress by conducting assessments and facilitating engaging activities that would not only help the students develop their mental skills but their social connections as well.

Professional educator vs certified teacher salary

Professional educators and certified teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Professional EducatorCertified Teacher
Average salary$50,068$50,708
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $73,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYDanbury, CT
Highest paying stateNew YorkConnecticut
Best paying companyHealthTrustUniversal Health Services
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between professional educator and certified teacher education

There are a few differences between a professional educator and a certified teacher in terms of educational background:

Professional EducatorCertified Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Professional educator vs certified teacher demographics

Here are the differences between professional educators' and certified teachers' demographics:

Professional EducatorCertified Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 35.0% Female, 65.0%Male, 25.6% Female, 74.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional educator and certified teacher duties and responsibilities

Professional educator example responsibilities.

  • Manage revolving caseload of students with IEP team including initials, transfer placements, manifestation determinations.
  • Design and organize workshops for parents to provide tools in assisting students to increase literacy and mathematics achievement.
  • Provide urban education, multicultural education and leadership training for a diverse population of new teachers.

Certified teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Prepare and implement daily lessons for reading, math, writing, science, social studies, and global events/locations.
  • Used PBIS behavior and academic model.
  • Serve on PBIS committee to drive school-wide behavior system.
  • Attend IEP meetings, apply accommodations to classroom instruction and assessment, work with co-teacher in inclusion classes.
  • Plan, prepare and demonstrate math instruction materials base on specific learning objectives for 6th , 7th and 8th grades.
  • Show more

Professional educator vs certified teacher skills

Common professional educator skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 7%
  • Training Programs, 7%
  • English Language, 7%
  • Autism, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
Common certified teacher skills
  • Math, 15%
  • Mathematics, 15%
  • Kids, 13%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%

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