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The differences between special ed teachers and 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 $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.
The top three skills for a special ed teacher include classroom management, instructional materials and behavior management. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.
| Special ED Teacher | Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $49,456 | $47,989 |
| Hourly rate | $23.78 | $23.07 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,990 | 71,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.14 |
| 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.
Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.
Special ed teachers and teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special ED Teacher | Teacher | |
| Average salary | $49,456 | $47,989 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $32,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Whitby School | King Low Heywood Thomas |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special ed teacher and a teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special ED Teacher | Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special ed teachers' and teachers' demographics:
| Special ED Teacher | Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3% |
| 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, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |