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The differences between special education instructors and special ed teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special ed teacher has an average salary of $49,456, 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 a special ed teacher are classroom management, instructional materials, and behavior management.
| Special Education Instructor | Special ED Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $34,380 | $49,456 |
| Hourly rate | $16.53 | $23.78 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 82,793 | 71,990 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Special ED teachers are teaching professionals who create and apply appropriate curricula and assign activities for students with special needs and disabilities. These teachers must work with the parents, general education teachers, and the school administrators to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student. They are required to monitor the behavioral patterns of children with special needs while keeping track of their progress. Special ED teachers must also mentor other professionals who are involved with children with disabilities.
Special education instructors and special ed teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Instructor | Special ED Teacher | |
| Average salary | $34,380 | $49,456 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $54,000 | Between $34,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Martinez, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Missouri State University | Whitby School |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education instructor and a special ed teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Instructor | Special ED Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Special Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education instructors' and special ed teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Instructor | Special ED Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |