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The differences between special ed teachers and student teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student teacher has an average salary of $59,035, 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 a student teacher are classroom management, math, and language arts.
| Special ED Teacher | Student Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $59,035 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $28.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 79,071 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| 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 student-teacher is responsible for assisting their supervising instructors in maintaining the class orderliness during lectures and class activities. Student teachers' duties include helping with lesson plans, organizing learning activities, managing student behaviors, observing classroom procedures, preparing visual materials and other educational equipment, providing feedback for students, and keeping students' records for evaluation. A student-teacher must maintain excellent communication and decision-making skills to set goals and make consistent progress to the class while keeping students engaged.
Special ed teachers and student teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Student Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $59,035 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $46,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | Great Hearts Academies |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and a student teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Student Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and student teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Student Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 26.4% Female, 73.6% |
| 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, 9.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |