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The differences between special education teachers and school psychologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school psychologist has an average salary of $78,431, which is higher than the $54,290 average annual salary of a special education teacher.
The top three skills for a special education teacher include classroom management, autism and behavior management. The most important skills for a school psychologist are professional development, mental health, and psychological services.
| Special Education Teacher | School Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,290 | $78,431 |
| Hourly rate | $26.10 | $37.71 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 67,699 | 25,457 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| 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.
School psychologists are knowledgeable professionals whose responsibilities include identifying, addressing, and overcoming the educational and behavioral needs of school-aged children. They generally work in schools and focus their observations on children and youth who often face issues related to education, social relationships, decision-making, as well as managing emotions. They help families, counselors, and members of the community understand and solve these issues the children may encounter. Additionally, they provide comprehensive psychological services to help students achieve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success.
Special education teachers and school psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Education Teacher | School Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $54,290 | $78,431 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $55,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | CORA Services |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a special education teacher and a school psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Special Education Teacher | School Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Special Education | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between special education teachers' and school psychologists' demographics:
| Special Education Teacher | School Psychologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.6% Female, 75.4% | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |