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Special education preschool teacher vs special needs teacher

The differences between special education preschool teachers and special needs teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a special education preschool teacher has an average salary of $48,705, which is higher than the $47,334 average annual salary of a special needs teacher.

The top three skills for a special education preschool teacher include autism, classroom environment and ieps. The most important skills for a special needs teacher are autism, behavioral issues, and mathematics.

Special education preschool teacher vs special needs teacher overview

Special Education Preschool TeacherSpecial Needs Teacher
Yearly salary$48,705$47,334
Hourly rate$23.42$22.76
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs64,23974,039
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

Special education preschool teacher vs special needs teacher salary

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

Special Education Preschool TeacherSpecial Needs Teacher
Average salary$48,705$47,334
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $70,000Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCBerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyBaltimore City Public SchoolsSan Mateo County Office Of Education
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between special education preschool teacher and special needs teacher education

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

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

Special education preschool teacher vs special needs teacher demographics

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

Special Education Preschool TeacherSpecial Needs Teacher
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 5.1% Female, 94.9%Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.8% 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 preschool teacher and special needs teacher duties and responsibilities

Special education preschool teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work in collaboration with a team of PTs, OTs, and SLPs to achieve educational goals.
  • Instruct students with disabilities, including autism, learning disabilities and early childhood delays.
  • Work as the lead classroom teacher in a preschool classroom for children with autism and relate disorders.
  • Communicate with supervising instructional staff and professional support personnel for the purpose of assisting in evaluating progress and/or implementing IEP objectives.
  • Improve students' communication and self-help skills.
  • Conduct FBA's and create BIP's as needed.
  • 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.
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Special education preschool teacher vs special needs teacher skills

Common special education preschool teacher skills
  • Autism, 23%
  • Classroom Environment, 12%
  • IEPs, 7%
  • Classroom Management, 6%
  • ABA, 6%
  • NYS, 5%
Common special needs teacher skills
  • Autism, 25%
  • Behavioral Issues, 18%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • Language, 6%
  • Learning Environment, 4%
  • IEPs, 3%

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