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The differences between special education assistants and early childhood special educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an early childhood special educator has an average salary of $36,798, which is higher than the $32,149 average annual salary of a special education assistant.
The top three skills for a special education assistant include paraprofessional, behavior management and IEP. The most important skills for an early childhood special educator are autism, classroom management, and CPR.
| Special Education Assistant | Early Childhood Special Educator | |
| Yearly salary | $32,149 | $36,798 |
| Hourly rate | $15.46 | $17.69 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 62,239 | 62,487 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
Early childhood special educators are professionals who provide direct services for infants and young children that are experiencing delays in their development. These educators are required to collaborate with parents to provide a program of activities that can encourage the growth of the children's skills. By incorporating the advice of other professionals, early childhood special educators must create individual education plans that address the specific learning challenges of children. They must also identify signs of child abuse and neglect so that they can take the necessary actions to remediate the situation.
Special education assistants and early childhood special educators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Assistant | Early Childhood Special Educator | |
| Average salary | $32,149 | $36,798 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $23,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Benicia Unified School District | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education assistant and an early childhood special educator in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Assistant | Early Childhood Special Educator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education assistants' and early childhood special educators' demographics:
| Special Education Assistant | Early Childhood Special Educator | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 8% |