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The differences between special education aides and para educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education aide has an average salary of $31,638, which is higher than the $31,394 average annual salary of a para educator.
The top three skills for a special education aide include behavior management, paraprofessional and IEP. The most important skills for a para educator are behavioral issues, student performance, and IEP.
| Special Education Aide | Para Educator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,638 | $31,394 |
| Hourly rate | $15.21 | $15.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 95,429 | 56,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A special education aide works with therapists and special education teachers to teach children with disabilities. Special education aides teach children with behavioral and emotional disorders, intellectual disorders, and those with physical and communication disabilities. They perform their job in a small group or individual setting. The scope of their job is performed outside or inside the classroom. Patience, attention to detail, and communication are necessary for performing their job.
Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.
Special education aides and para educators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Aide | Para Educator | |
| Average salary | $31,638 | $31,394 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Riverhead, NY | Belmont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Bear Valley Unified School District | Central Valley School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education aide and a para educator in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Aide | Para Educator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education aides' and para educators' demographics:
| Special Education Aide | Para Educator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |