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The differences between special ed teachers and lead 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 $33,652 average annual salary of a lead teacher.
The top three skills for a special ed teacher include classroom management, instructional materials and behavior management. The most important skills for a lead teacher are CPR, customer service, and child care.
| Special ED Teacher | Lead Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $33,652 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $16.18 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 56,131 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
The Lead Teacher works with parents to resolve student issues and train new teachers on effective teaching techniques. A Lead Teacher is a licensed teacher with extensive teaching experience and preferably has a master's in education or related studies. They are an integral part of a school's faculty and the principal's arm in drafting policies for implementation.
Special ed teachers and lead teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Lead Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $33,652 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $22,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | Success Preparatory Academy |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and a lead teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Lead Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and lead teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Lead Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8% |
| 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |