Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between special education teachers and general 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 $36,253 average annual salary of a general education teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a general education teacher are classroom management, professional development, and mathematics.
| Special Education Teacher | General Education Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $36,253 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 101,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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 general education teacher teaches all students in a general education classroom a primary academic curriculum. They are tasked with the implementation of any modifications that affect a general classroom. They may also be expected to conduct academic assessments for all students to check their progress in the classroom. They may also have to conduct regular consultations with students, families, and specialists.
Special education teachers and general education teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | General Education Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $36,253 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Daly City, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Shepherd University |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a general education teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | General Education Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and general education teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | General Education Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 22.1% Female, 77.9% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |