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The differences between special education teachers and behavior analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a behavior analyst has an average salary of $73,616, which is higher than the $54,290 average annual salary of a special education teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a behavior analyst are autism, applied behavior analysis, and BCBA.
| Special Education Teacher | Behavior Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $73,616 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $35.39 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 67,013 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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.
A behavior analyst is responsible for supporting patients and students with mental and social difficulties, developing treatment plans to address their learning and/or social disabilities. Behavior analysts monitor the students' progress by evaluating their learning and providing them with comprehensive materials and resources according to a targeted curriculum. They also adjust therapy programs as needed, coordinating with other health professionals, students' families, and teachers to provide the best techniques to support their development.
Special education teachers and behavior analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Behavior Analyst | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $73,616 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $51,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Empower U |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a behavior analyst in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Behavior Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and behavior analysts' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Behavior Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |