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Professional educator vs teacher

The differences between professional educators and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a professional educator has an average salary of $50,068, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a professional educator include classroom management, curriculum development and training programs. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

Professional educator vs teacher overview

Professional EducatorTeacher
Yearly salary$50,068$47,989
Hourly rate$24.07$23.07
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs52,44971,918
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
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 teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

Professional educator vs teacher salary

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

Professional EducatorTeacher
Average salary$50,068$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $73,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateNew YorkMaryland
Best paying companyHealthTrustKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between professional educator and teacher education

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

Professional EducatorTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Professional educator vs teacher demographics

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

Professional EducatorTeacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 35.0% Female, 65.0%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
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, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional educator and 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.

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

Professional educator vs teacher skills

Common professional educator skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 7%
  • Training Programs, 7%
  • English Language, 7%
  • Autism, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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