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Special education instructional assistant vs special education teacher

The differences between special education instructional assistants and special education teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education teacher has an average salary of $54,290, which is higher than the $32,025 average annual salary of a special education instructional assistant.

The top three skills for a special education instructional assistant include CPR, instructional materials and autism. The most important skills for a special education teacher are classroom management, autism, and behavior management.

Special education instructional assistant vs special education teacher overview

Special Education Instructional AssistantSpecial Education Teacher
Yearly salary$32,025$54,290
Hourly rate$15.40$26.10
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs60,97467,699
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4443
Years of experience--

What does a special education instructional assistant do?

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.

What does a special education teacher do?

A special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained professionals to provide distinct learning instructions for children with special cases for them to achieve their potentials and improve their self-confidence. A special education teacher must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist the students with their learning areas. Special education teachers should be able to come up with engaging activities to support the students' behavioral and intellectual development.

Special education instructional assistant vs special education teacher salary

Special education instructional assistants and special education teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Education Instructional AssistantSpecial Education Teacher
Average salary$32,025$54,290
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $39,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateHawaiiMaryland
Best paying companyGoleta Union School DistrictBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between special education instructional assistant and special education teacher education

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

Special Education Instructional AssistantSpecial Education Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorPsychologySpecial Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Special education instructional assistant vs special education teacher demographics

Here are the differences between special education instructional assistants' and special education teachers' demographics:

Special Education Instructional AssistantSpecial Education Teacher
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 19.3% Female, 80.7%Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between special education instructional assistant and special education teacher duties and responsibilities

Special education instructional assistant example responsibilities.

  • Help to manage activities and assist with projects for autistic and ADHD diagnose preschoolers enroll in the special education summer program.
  • Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teacher or other professionals, achieve institution objectives.
  • Have taught math and done individualize instruction with modifications and adaptations for other students with learning disabilities.
  • Provide individual instruction in math and reading for kindergarten and first grade students identify as having learning and/or developmental disabilities.
  • Familiarize myself with ABA teaching and behavior techniques.
  • Support and assist in implementation of ABA and behavior plans.
  • Show more

Special education teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead a DIBELS intervention group.
  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Design a unique and differentiate curriculum that addressed state standards for both mathematics and special education.
  • Educate special needs kids with mental and physical disabilities using proven conventional and improvise teaching/learning methods.
  • Plan appropriate lessons align to NYS CCSS.
  • Instruct and create ELA lessons through Fountas and Pinnell and Fundations.
  • Show more

Special education instructional assistant vs special education teacher skills

Common special education instructional assistant skills
  • CPR, 14%
  • Instructional Materials, 7%
  • Autism, 7%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • Math, 6%
  • Behavioral Problems, 5%
Common special education teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 11%
  • Autism, 10%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • IEPs, 6%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%

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