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The differences between special ed teachers and resource 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 $43,487 average annual salary of a resource teacher.
The top three skills for a special ed teacher include classroom management, instructional materials and behavior management. The most important skills for a resource teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Special ED Teacher | Resource Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $43,487 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $20.91 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 73,796 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
A Resource Teacher is responsible for providing curriculum support systems for students, teachers, and administrators. Another role of a Resource Teacher is to assist the class teacher and provide additional support for children with moderate learning difficulties.
Special ed teachers and resource teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Resource Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $43,487 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $15,000 And $123,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Salinas, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and a resource teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Resource Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Special Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and resource teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Resource Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |