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The differences between special education teachers and kindergarten 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 $48,029 average annual salary of a kindergarten teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a kindergarten teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.
| Special Education Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $48,029 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $23.09 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 65,972 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| 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.
Kindergarten teachers teach young children social and emotional skills, reading skills, music, and personal hygiene. They prepare these children for elementary school and certain life aspects. It is also their responsibility to teach children good classroom behavior, plan the curriculum daily and the whole school year, and conduct parent-teach meetings. Kindergarten teachers should encourage children to be observant of activities and give them the chance to ask questions and find the answers. They should also work with parents in putting an action plan to help children with emotional or developmental problems.
Special education teachers and kindergarten teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $48,029 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $37,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Brooklyn Waldorf School |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a kindergarten teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and kindergarten teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Kindergarten Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |