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The differences between special ed teachers and kindergarten teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special ed teacher has an average salary of $49,456, which is higher than the $48,029 average annual salary of a kindergarten teacher.
The top three skills for a special ed teacher include classroom management, instructional materials and behavior management. The most important skills for a kindergarten teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Special ED Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $48,029 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $23.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 65,972 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| 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.
Kindergarten teachers teach young children social and emotional skills, reading skills, music, and personal hygiene. They prepare these children for elementary school and certain life aspects. It is also their responsibility to teach children good classroom behavior, plan the curriculum daily and the whole school year, and conduct parent-teach meetings. Kindergarten teachers should encourage children to be observant of activities and give them the chance to ask questions and find the answers. They should also work with parents in putting an action plan to help children with emotional or developmental problems.
Special ed teachers and kindergarten teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $48,029 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | Brooklyn Waldorf School |
| Best paying industry | Education | Finance |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and a kindergarten teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and kindergarten teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |