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Special education coordinator vs special needs teacher

The differences between special education coordinators and special needs teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education coordinator has an average salary of $70,637, which is higher than the $47,334 average annual salary of a special needs teacher.

The top three skills for a special education coordinator include professional development, ieps and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a special needs teacher are autism, behavioral issues, and mathematics.

Special education coordinator vs special needs teacher overview

Special Education CoordinatorSpecial Needs Teacher
Yearly salary$70,637$47,334
Hourly rate$33.96$22.76
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs65,50774,039
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

What does a special education coordinator do?

A Special Education Coordinator supervises programs that provide educational assistance to children with disabilities. They advise school principals about special educational programs to make sure that the needs of students are accommodated.

What does a special needs teacher do?

A Special Needs Teacher works with children and young people who need support with their learning because they find it difficult. They evaluate students skills to determine their needs, develop teaching plans, and adapt lessons to meet the needs of students.

Special education coordinator vs special needs teacher salary

Special education coordinators and special needs teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Education CoordinatorSpecial Needs Teacher
Average salary$70,637$47,334
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $104,000Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CABerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyBoston Public SchoolsSan Mateo County Office Of Education
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between special education coordinator and special needs teacher education

There are a few differences between a special education coordinator and a special needs teacher in terms of educational background:

Special Education CoordinatorSpecial Needs Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorSpecial EducationSpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Special education coordinator vs special needs teacher demographics

Here are the differences between special education coordinators' and special needs teachers' demographics:

Special Education CoordinatorSpecial Needs Teacher
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 22.6% Female, 77.4%Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between special education coordinator and special needs teacher duties and responsibilities

Special education coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage social media profiles through Facebook for important details and dates pertaining to HeartChase.
  • Integrate technology across all content areas, making mathematics come to life!
  • Assess students in reading, writing, and mathematics base on informal measures.
  • Coordinate the scheduling and facilitation of CSE meetings with district staff and relate service providers.
  • Leverage social media on Facebook to promote sponsor events to reach out to young adults.
  • Conduct CSE and CPSE meetings on a regular basis; coordinating services for students with internal and external agencies.
  • Show more

Special needs teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Work with preschool children with various special needs such as autism, down syndrome, ADHD, cerebral palsy, etc.
  • Tutor elementary school children with learning disabilities, mood disturbances, and ADHD in all school subjects.
  • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects including English, mathematics, and social studies.
  • Develop individual educational plans (IEP) design to promote educational, physical and social development.
  • Train in CPI and paraprofessional.
  • Show more

Special education coordinator vs special needs teacher skills

Common special education coordinator skills
  • Professional Development, 13%
  • IEPs, 12%
  • Rehabilitation, 9%
  • K-12, 5%
  • Student Performance, 4%
  • Mediation, 4%
Common special needs teacher skills
  • Autism, 25%
  • Behavioral Issues, 18%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • Language, 6%
  • Learning Environment, 4%
  • IEPs, 3%

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