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The differences between special education assistants and student 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 $25,439 average annual salary of a student assistant.
The top three skills for a special education assistant include paraprofessional, behavior management and IEP. The most important skills for a student assistant are customer service, front desk, and administrative assistance.
| Special Education Assistant | Student Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $32,149 | $25,439 |
| Hourly rate | $15.46 | $12.23 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 62,239 | 29,093 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Student assistants are university students who are working part-time for a staff member or department. They are usually assigned to do administrative or clerical activities to help ease the load of their supervisor. They may manage files and information dissemination channels of the department. They may extend assistance during the registration period by helping other students fill out forms, managing the department's enrollment procedure, or doing any other activity required by their supervisor. They may also be asked to mentor younger students. Student assistants should be organized and trustworthy.
Special education assistants and student assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Assistant | Student Assistant | |
| Average salary | $32,149 | $25,439 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $17,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Albany, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Benicia Unified School District | Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a special education assistant and a student assistant in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Assistant | Student Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education assistants' and student assistants' demographics:
| Special Education Assistant | Student Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| 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, 9.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 8.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |