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The differences between special education teachers and head 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 $51,715 average annual salary of a head teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a head teacher are classroom management, child care, and creative curriculum.
| Special Education Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $51,715 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $24.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 73,756 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| 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 headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.
Special education teachers and head teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $51,715 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $32,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Grand View Health |
| Best paying industry | Government | Retail |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a head teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Early Childhood Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and head teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Head Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |