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The differences between special education teachers and learning support 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 $33,914 average annual salary of a learning support teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a learning support teacher are classroom management, math, and mathematics.
| Special Education Teacher | Learning Support Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $33,914 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $16.30 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 120,054 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| 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.
Learning support teachers focus on offering out-of-school education to pupils who need additional help. Their duties include planning and implementing constructive teaching policies as well as collaborating with parents, other relevant professionals, and personnel. They assist pupils in adapting and overcoming problems that emerge due to learning difficulties. Also, the design and foster suitable skills and social abilities as well as motivate students to develop independence, self-confidence, and to achieve their full potential. Additionally, they develop and deliver lessons as well as record and assess children's progress.
Special education teachers and learning support teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Learning Support Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $33,914 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $23,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a learning support teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Learning Support Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Special Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and learning support teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Learning Support Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |