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The differences between special education teachers and middle school 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 $53,363 average annual salary of a middle school teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a middle school teacher are classroom management, professional development, and math.
| Special Education Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $53,363 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $25.66 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 82,230 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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 middle school teacher is responsible for teaching students in grades six to eight, following a curriculum that fits on their grade levels to prepare them for the next advancement. Middle school teachers strategize effective lesson plans, engaging activities, and assessments to test the students' knowledge and understanding of the learning materials. They also observe the personal and developmental behaviors of the students by conducting group activities and performance. A middle school teacher identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, adjusting the learning approach as needed to cater to each student's needs and difficulties.
Special education teachers and middle school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $53,363 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a middle school teacher in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and middle school teachers' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | Middle School Teacher | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% |
| 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, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |