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Special education instructor vs early childhood special educator

The differences between special education instructors and early childhood special educators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an early childhood special educator has an average salary of $36,798, which is higher than the $34,380 average annual salary of a special education instructor.

The top three skills for a special education instructor include autism, data collection and ABA. The most important skills for an early childhood special educator are autism, classroom management, and CPR.

Special education instructor vs early childhood special educator overview

Special Education InstructorEarly Childhood Special Educator
Yearly salary$34,380$36,798
Hourly rate$16.53$17.69
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs82,79362,487
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4343
Years of experience-2

What does a special education instructor do?

These education instructors provide verified and special instructions to deal with the instructional objectives/goals featured within each learner's IEP. They assess learners' progress and identify if there is a need to reinforce or adjust instructional techniques. They make it easy for learners to attain their IEP objectives by employing different teaching principles, methods, and techniques. Besides evaluating and re-evaluating special education, These education instructors also direct, supervise and evaluate educational assistants where possible. These professionals also perform their duties based on federal and state regulations and rules and school board policies.

What does an early childhood special educator do?

Early childhood special educators are professionals who provide direct services for infants and young children that are experiencing delays in their development. These educators are required to collaborate with parents to provide a program of activities that can encourage the growth of the children's skills. By incorporating the advice of other professionals, early childhood special educators must create individual education plans that address the specific learning challenges of children. They must also identify signs of child abuse and neglect so that they can take the necessary actions to remediate the situation.

Special education instructor vs early childhood special educator salary

Special education instructors and early childhood special educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Education InstructorEarly Childhood Special Educator
Average salary$34,380$36,798
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $54,000Between $23,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CityMartinez, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMissouri State UniversityBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between special education instructor and early childhood special educator education

There are a few differences between a special education instructor and an early childhood special educator in terms of educational background:

Special Education InstructorEarly Childhood Special Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorSpecial EducationEarly Childhood Education
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Special education instructor vs early childhood special educator demographics

Here are the differences between special education instructors' and early childhood special educators' demographics:

Special Education InstructorEarly Childhood Special Educator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 36.8% Female, 63.2%Male, 7.1% Female, 92.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between special education instructor and early childhood special educator duties and responsibilities

Special education instructor example responsibilities.

  • Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
  • Assist classroom teacher in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • Supervise and assign personnel to meet daily ESE departmental objectives.
  • Facilitate college preparation and scholarship processes and teach remedial and intervention mathematics and strategic reading classes.
  • Administer individualized instruction in reading and math to students in special education and general education as a push-in and pull-out instructor.
  • Design and teach a study skills class for special education students in a pull-out setting.
  • Show more

Early childhood special educator example responsibilities.

  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Collaborate with other Pre-K teachers to plan and team-teach with a multicultural focus.
  • Develop IFSP's design to promote students' educational, physical, or social needs.
  • Assist in other classrooms as needed, from infants to pre-k, to help gain knowledge of children of all ages.
  • Adapted/Individualize curriculum base on individual student needs, including all need self-help skills.
  • Develop IEP objectives consistent with daily instruction as provided, base on developmentally appropriate activities.
  • Show more

Special education instructor vs early childhood special educator skills

Common special education instructor skills
  • Autism, 14%
  • Data Collection, 9%
  • ABA, 8%
  • Early Intervention, 7%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Kids, 7%
Common early childhood special educator skills
  • Autism, 9%
  • Classroom Management, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Child Development, 6%
  • IEP, 5%
  • Child Care, 5%

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