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The differences between special ed teachers and elementary school teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an elementary school teacher has an average salary of $52,161, which is higher than the $49,456 average annual salary of a special ed teacher.
The top three skills for a special ed teacher include classroom management, instructional materials and behavior management. The most important skills for an elementary school teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Special ED Teacher | Elementary School Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $52,161 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $25.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 84,607 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Elementary school teachers are trained to provide education to children from kindergarten through fifth grade. The teachers are responsible for children's emotional and educational growth in the classroom. They manage the resources and materials to be used for their education. It is part of their duties to evaluate the students' performance, social development, physical health, and behavior. Also, they adapt to teaching methods and instructions to meet the interests and needs of the children.
Special ed teachers and elementary school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Elementary School Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $52,161 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $37,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | German International School New York |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and an elementary school teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Elementary School Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and elementary school teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Elementary School Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |