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The differences between special education assistants and classroom assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education assistant has an average salary of $32,149, which is higher than the $27,801 average annual salary of a classroom assistant.
The top three skills for a special education assistant include paraprofessional, behavior management and IEP. The most important skills for a classroom assistant are CPR, mathematics, and photocopying.
| Special Education Assistant | Classroom Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,149 | $27,801 |
| Hourly rate | $15.46 | $13.37 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 62,239 | 49,273 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A special education assistant is responsible for supporting class activities in an inclusive classroom setting, assisting students with their tasks under the supervision of a special education teacher. Special education assistants create comprehensive lesson plans which adhere to the students' curriculum and special needs. They also help with developing engaging activities to promote an active learning environment while monitoring the students' personal and social behavior. A special education assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, ensuring the progress of the students by regular interaction, and managing their needs.
A classroom assistant is responsible for monitoring the class activities and the students' learning progress under the command of a head instructor. Classroom assistants help the teachers in conducting engaging learning activities, creating comprehensive lesson plans, and gathering educational materials to support the students' needs. They take the initiative on observing the class when the teacher is away, leaving them activities to work on as the teacher instructed. A classroom assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills, as they also serve as a liaison between the students and the teacher for inquiries and concerns.
Special education assistants and classroom assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Assistant | Classroom Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,149 | $27,801 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $22,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Belmont, MA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Benicia Unified School District | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a special education assistant and a classroom assistant in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Assistant | Classroom Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between special education assistants' and classroom assistants' demographics:
| Special Education Assistant | Classroom Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |