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Reading specialist vs special educator

The differences between reading specialists and special educators 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 $53,565 average annual salary of a special educator.

The top three skills for a reading specialist include language arts, student learning and assessment data. The most important skills for a special educator are autism, student learning, and math.

Reading specialist vs special educator overview

Reading SpecialistSpecial Educator
Yearly salary$57,978$53,565
Hourly rate$27.87$25.75
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs2,38662,545
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
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 educator do?

A special education teacher's role is to facilitate learning for students with disabilities. The responsibilities of a special education teacher typically revolve around identifying the needs of students, devising lesson plans and strategies to meet their needs, developing test structure to assess their learning, and assisting them in areas of difficulties. It is also essential to coordinate with families and guardians, reporting to them should there be any problems. Furthermore, as a special education teacher, it is necessary to monitor the students' progress and behavior, maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for them.

Reading specialist vs special educator salary

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

Reading SpecialistSpecial Educator
Average salary$57,978$53,565
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $76,000Between $38,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYOceanside, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew York
Best paying companyCentral State UniversityCapistrano Unified
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between reading specialist and special educator education

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

Reading SpecialistSpecial Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorElementary EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Reading specialist vs special educator demographics

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

Reading SpecialistSpecial Educator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 13.3% Female, 86.7%Male, 21.3% Female, 78.7%
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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between reading specialist and special educator 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 educator example responsibilities.

  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Develop individual lesson plans at Pre-K level.
  • Work collaboratively with teachers in mathematics and writing.
  • Counsele and provide special education to senior kindergarten students.
  • Implement an individualize curriculum for a kindergarten student with a moderate cognitive impairment.
  • Develop interactive computer lessons to enhance science and math curriculum and student engagement utilizing technology.
  • Show more

Reading specialist vs special educator 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 educator skills
  • Autism, 9%
  • Student Learning, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • Public Schools, 7%
  • Learning Environment, 6%
  • Mathematics, 6%

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