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The differences between special education instructional assistants and para educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education instructional assistant has an average salary of $32,025, which is higher than the $31,394 average annual salary of a para educator.
The top three skills for a special education instructional assistant include CPR, instructional materials and autism. The most important skills for a para educator are behavioral issues, student performance, and IEP.
| Special Education Instructional Assistant | Para Educator | |
| Yearly salary | $32,025 | $31,394 |
| Hourly rate | $15.40 | $15.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 60,974 | 56,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Special education instructional assistant does work under the supervision of the principal and other administrative workers, especially in school and college. They prepare the material aids which are helping to teach in the classroom. Moreover, they are more inclined upon the progress of students. Conducting the exams, preparing the notes, preparing the result and giving the instruction to the students about their life career and course books etc are the main duties of the special education instructional assistant. They preach, instruct, command and come up with the idea about making the school environment more friendly and viable.
Paraeducators' primary role is to provide students with extra guidance and support outside or inside the classroom. They are also called paraprofessional educators or teaching assistants who are expected to support teachers. In small group activities, they take the lead permitting teachers to help their students in many ways. The necessary skills required include organization, intellectual curiosity, and being calm. They should also be creative, a team player, and knowledgeable. A bachelor's degree in education is also a necessity for this job.
Special education instructional assistants and para educators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Instructional Assistant | Para Educator | |
| Average salary | $32,025 | $31,394 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Belmont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Goleta Union School District | Central Valley School District |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education instructional assistant and a para educator in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Instructional Assistant | Para Educator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education instructional assistants' and para educators' demographics:
| Special Education Instructional Assistant | Para Educator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 7.3% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |