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Reading specialist vs special education instructor

The differences between reading specialists and special education instructors 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 $34,380 average annual salary of a special education instructor.

The top three skills for a reading specialist include language arts, student learning and assessment data. The most important skills for a special education instructor are autism, data collection, and ABA.

Reading specialist vs special education instructor overview

Reading SpecialistSpecial Education Instructor
Yearly salary$57,978$34,380
Hourly rate$27.87$16.53
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs2,38682,793
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4343
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 education instructor do?

These education instructors provide verified and special instructions to deal with the instructional objectives/goals featured within each learner's IEP. They assess learners' progress and identify if there is a need to reinforce or adjust instructional techniques. They make it easy for learners to attain their IEP objectives by employing different teaching principles, methods, and techniques. Besides evaluating and re-evaluating special education, These education instructors also direct, supervise and evaluate educational assistants where possible. These professionals also perform their duties based on federal and state regulations and rules and school board policies.

Reading specialist vs special education instructor salary

Reading specialists and special education instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Reading SpecialistSpecial Education Instructor
Average salary$57,978$34,380
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $76,000Between $21,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYMartinez, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCentral State UniversityMissouri State University
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between reading specialist and special education instructor education

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

Reading SpecialistSpecial Education Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorElementary EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Reading specialist vs special education instructor demographics

Here are the differences between reading specialists' and special education instructors' demographics:

Reading SpecialistSpecial Education Instructor
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 13.3% Female, 86.7%Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between reading specialist and special education instructor 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.
  • Show more

Special education instructor example responsibilities.

  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Assist classroom teacher in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • Supervise and assign personnel to meet daily ESE departmental objectives.
  • Facilitate college preparation and scholarship processes and teach remedial and intervention mathematics and strategic reading classes.
  • Administer individualized instruction in reading and math to students in special education and general education as a push-in and pull-out instructor.
  • Design and teach a study skills class for special education students in a pull-out setting.
  • Show more

Reading specialist vs special education instructor 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 education instructor skills
  • Autism, 14%
  • Data Collection, 9%
  • ABA, 8%
  • Early Intervention, 7%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Kids, 7%

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