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The differences between special education assistants and learning 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 $28,576 average annual salary of a learning assistant.
The top three skills for a special education assistant include paraprofessional, behavior management and IEP. The most important skills for a learning assistant are mathematics, math, and student learning.
| Special Education Assistant | Learning Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,149 | $28,576 |
| Hourly rate | $15.46 | $13.74 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 62,239 | 14,674 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 learning assistant is often also known as a student assistant who is tasked with different school divisions. They are responsible for preparing and writing weekly accomplishment reports, taking down notes in a training program or meeting, as well as managing discussions and interacting with students and school officials if there are other activities to be done. Meaning, this career is for someone who has a sufficient communication skill, research-oriented and actively participates in a lot of discussions.
Special education assistants and learning assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Assistant | Learning Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,149 | $28,576 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $21,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Cambridge, MA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Benicia Unified School District | |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education assistant and a learning assistant in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Assistant | Learning Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between special education assistants' and learning assistants' demographics:
| Special Education Assistant | Learning Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% |
| 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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |