Reading specialist vs special ed teacher

The differences between reading specialists and special ed teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a reading specialist has an average salary of $57,978, which is higher than the $49,456 average annual salary of a special ed teacher.

The top three skills for a reading specialist include language arts, student learning and assessment data. The most important skills for a special ed teacher are classroom management, instructional materials, and behavior management.

Reading specialist vs special ed teacher overview

	Reading Specialist	Special ED Teacher
Yearly salary	$57,978	$49,456
Hourly rate	$27.87	$23.78
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	2,386	71,990
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a reading specialist do?

Reach truck operators are responsible for safely using reach trucks (forklifts). They operate their reach truck to load, move, and unload new warehouse or sizeable retail store materials. Operators will need various mechanical and communication skills, as well as good visual acuity. Obtaining the proper licensure and understanding the safety protocols involved with heavy machinery is important to the job.

What does a special ed teacher do?

Special ED teachers are teaching professionals who create and apply appropriate curricula and assign activities for students with special needs and disabilities. These teachers must work with the parents, general education teachers, and the school administrators to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student. They are required to monitor the behavioral patterns of children with special needs while keeping track of their progress. Special ED teachers must also mentor other professionals who are involved with children with disabilities.

Reading specialist vs special ed teacher salary

Reading specialists and special ed teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Reading Specialist	Special ED Teacher
Average salary	$57,978	$49,456
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $76,000	Between $34,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Central State University	Whitby School
Best paying industry	Education	Education

Differences between reading specialist and special ed teacher education

There are a few differences between a reading specialist and a special ed teacher in terms of educational background:

	Reading Specialist	Special ED Teacher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Elementary Education	Special Education
Most common college	Northwestern University	Northwestern University

Reading specialist vs special ed teacher demographics

Here are the differences between reading specialists' and special ed teachers' demographics:

	Reading Specialist	Special ED Teacher
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 13.3% Female, 86.7%	Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between reading specialist and special ed teacher duties and responsibilities

Reading specialist example responsibilities.

Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
Coordinate and direct the annual drama production.
Provide direct services to the RTI students through the best guide reading practices.
Coordinate and execute all festive cultural events for families of students in grades k-12.
Organize school-wide educational events and activities specific to the needs of children with autism.
Review basics of writing essays, discussion of reading selection, and development of writing skills.

Special ed teacher example responsibilities.

Manage a classroom conducive to learning by creating an environment that encourages students to read, write, and master math.
Assist children with autism and special needs navigate the school curriculum.
Develop individualize lessons to accommodate learning differences and write IEPs.
Challenge students to master basic math concepts through implementation of manipulative.
Conduct assessments for children with developmental disabilities, and develop IEPs.
Collaborate with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other professionals to develop and implement IFSP goals.

Reading specialist vs special ed teacher skills

Common reading specialist skills

Language Arts, 6%
Student Learning, 5%
Assessment Data, 5%
K-8, 4%
Staff Development, 4%
Instructional Strategies, 4%

Common special ed teacher skills

Classroom Management, 20%
Instructional Materials, 11%
Behavior Management, 9%
Classroom Environment, 9%
Math, 7%
Professional Development, 5%

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Reading Specialist vs Special ED Teacher

Updated January 8, 2025

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